n-Declination (Weak Masculine Nouns)
📺 Instructional Video
An instructional video explaining this grammar topic with practical examples.
🎯 Lesson goals
- Recognise weak masculine nouns that add -n / -en in every case except Nominative.
- Learn the full declension tables for both definite (der) and indefinite (ein) articles.
- Practice with common everyday nouns.
📚 Core rule
Weak masculine nouns (often called n‑declension nouns) end in -(e)n in the Accusative, Dative and Genitive. The Nominative stays unchanged. This pattern applies to both definite and indefinite articles.
Declension table
| Case | Definite article (der) | Indefinite article (ein) |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Student | ein Student |
| Accusative | den Studenten | einen Studenten |
| Dative | dem Studenten | einem Studenten |
| Genitive | des Studenten | eines Studenten |
Common nouns with n‑declension
- der Student
- der Name
- der Herr
- der Mensch
- der Nachbar
- der Kollege
- der Junge
- der Franzose
- der Journalist
- der Polizist
Examples
- der Student → den Studenten, dem Studenten, des Studenten
- der Name → den Namen, dem Namen, des Namens
- der Herr → den Herrn, dem Herrn, des Herrn
📖 Related Lessons
📌 *This topic is not linked to specific lessons yet.*
Interactive exercise
✏️ Fill in the blank with the correct word: Write only one word in each field.
| # | Sentence | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | I see ___ (the student) in the park. | |
| 2 | We met ___ (a student) yesterday. | |
| 3 | She gives ___ (the student) the book. | |
| 4 | That is the house ___ (the student) lives in. | |
| 5 | I don't know ___ (the name). |