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Definite article 'den' (the, plural, dative)
Bestimmter Artikel 'den' (Plural, Dativ)
'den' is the ; the also adds an -n.
Structure
den + Nomen im Plural + -n (Dativ)
den + noun in the plural + -n (dative)
Details
- Part of Speech
- Article
- Word Type
- Definite article
- Register
- Standard
Explanation
In the dative plural the is den - and there is a second, very important step: the noun itself takes an extra -n.
The rule: die () → den, and add -n to the (unless it already ends in -n or -s).
- die Kinder → den Kindern
- die Freunde → den Freunden
- die Männer → den Männern
Examples:
- Ich helfe den Kindern. - I am helping the children.
- Ich spreche mit den Freunden. - I am talking with the friends.
- Das Auto gehört den Eltern. - The car belongs to the parents.
Common mistakes:
- Forgetting the -n: den Kindern, not den Kinder - this is the most common - error.
- Confusing den with masculine den (different /, same spelling).
- Adding -n when the already ends in -n or -s (den Autos, not den Autosn).
About Definite article 'den' (the, plural, dative)
'den' is the ; the also adds an -n.
'den'; the takes an extra -n (den Kindern, den Männern).
'den' ist der ; das bekommt zusätzlich ein -n.
Caution
In the dative plural use 'den' AND add -n to the noun: die Kinder → den Kindern, die Freunde → den Freunden.