German · A2 · Everyday language
Which One Fits in German
Describe school belongings using colours and sizes. Practise adjective endings after definite articles when naming an item and when asking your child to do something with it.
What you'll learn
- Describe familiar school belongings with adjectives.
- Recognise nominative forms such as der kleine Bleistift.
- Use accusative forms such as den kleinen Bleistift in everyday requests.
- Use -en after die with plural adjectives.
German phrases for which one fits
Der kleine Bleistift ist in deinem Federmäppchen.
The small pencil is in your pencil case.
Der kleine Bleistift is the subject: masculine nominative, with adjective ending -e.
Bitte nimm den kleinen Bleistift.
Please take the small pencil.
The pencil is the direct object: der kleine becomes den kleinen. Nimm is the command form of nehmen for one child.
Die rote Tasche steht neben der Tür.
The red bag is beside the door.
Die rote Tasche is the subject: feminine nominative, with adjective ending -e.
Bitte bring die rote Tasche.
Please bring the red bag.
Die rote Tasche is the direct object. The feminine accusative looks the same as the nominative.
Das lange Lineal liegt auf deinem Schreibtisch.
The long ruler is on your desk.
Das lange Lineal is the subject: neuter nominative, with adjective ending -e. Liegt is natural for an object lying flat.
Leg das lange Lineal in deine Schultasche.
Put the long ruler in your school bag.
Das lange Lineal is the direct object. The neuter accusative looks the same as the nominative.
Die schmutzigen Schuhe sind draußen.
The dirty shoes are outside.
Die schmutzigen Schuhe is a plural subject. After plural die, the adjective takes -en.
Bitte mach die schmutzigen Schuhe sauber.
Please clean the dirty shoes.
The shoes are the direct object. Plural die schmutzigen stays the same in the accusative. Mach ... sauber means 'clean'.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
der Bleistift
pencil
Masculine: der kleine Bleistift, but den kleinen Bleistift as a direct object.
das Federmäppchen
pencil case
In deinem Federmäppchen means 'in your pencil case'.
die Tasche
bag
Feminine: die rote Tasche in both the nominative and accusative.
das Lineal
ruler
Neuter: das lange Lineal in both the nominative and accusative.
der Schreibtisch
desk
Auf deinem Schreibtisch means 'on your desk'.
die Schultasche
school bag
A compound of Schule ('school') and Tasche ('bag').
die Schuhe
shoes
Plural of der Schuh. Use -en after plural die: die schmutzigen Schuhe.
klein, rot, lang, schmutzig
small, red, long, dirty
These are the base forms. Before a noun, their endings change: kleine, rote, lange, schmutzigen.
Nominative: describing the subject
The subject is the person or thing the sentence is about. After nominative der, die or das, a singular adjective takes -e. After plural die, it takes -en.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine singular | der kleine + noun | Der kleine Bleistift ist hier. |
| Feminine singular | die kleine + noun | Die kleine Tasche ist hier. |
| Neuter singular | das kleine + noun | Das kleine Lineal ist hier. |
| Plural | die kleinen + noun | Die kleinen Schuhe sind hier. |
Accusative: describing the direct object
The direct object is the thing someone takes, brings, puts or cleans. In these patterns, only masculine singular changes: der kleine becomes den kleinen. Feminine die kleine, neuter das kleine and plural die kleinen stay the same.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine singular | den kleinen + noun | Bitte nimm den kleinen Bleistift. |
| Feminine singular | die kleine + noun | Bitte bring die kleine Tasche. |
| Neuter singular | das kleine + noun | Bitte nimm das kleine Lineal. |
| Plural | die kleinen + noun | Bitte bring die kleinen Schuhe. |
More examples
Der rote Bleistift ist hier. Bitte nimm den roten Bleistift.
The red pencil is here. Please take the red pencil.
Masculine changes from der rote in the nominative to den roten in the accusative.
Die kleinen Schuhe sind draußen. Bitte bring die kleinen Schuhe.
The small shoes are outside. Please bring the small shoes.
Plural die kleinen has the same form as a subject and as a direct object.