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Guidebook · Unit 2 · A1

First Words

Articles, three genders, greetings, and numbers

  1. 1

    Der, die, das: three genders

    Every German noun is masculine, feminine or neuter — learn each one with its article.

    • German has three genders: der (masculine), die (feminine), das (neuter).
    • All nouns are capitalised — learn each one with its article: der Tisch, die Lampe, das Buch.
    • -ung, -heit, -keit, -schaft → die; -chen, -lein → das.
    • Das Mädchen is neuter: grammar follows the ending.
    • Pronouns follow the gender, even for things: er (der), sie (die), es (das).
    Open lesson
  2. 2

    Ein, eine — and more than one

    The words for “a”, plural nouns, and simple adjectives — at the Sunday flea market.

    • A / an: ein for masculine and neuter, eine for feminine: ein Stuhl, eine Lampe, ein Buch.
    • Every plural takes die, whatever the gender.
    • Plural endings vary (-e, -n, -en, -er, -s, sometimes an umlaut) — learn them with the noun: das Buch, die Bücher.
    • After sein, adjectives never change: Die Bücher sind alt.
    • ß is a sharp ss: groß.
    Open lesson
  3. 3

    Numbers: eins to zwanzig

    Count to twenty, say how old you are, give your phone number — and ask what something costs.

    • null, eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn, elf, zwölf.
    • 13–19 add -zehn — but sechzehn and siebzehn are shortened.
    • zwanzig is 20; above that the units come first: einundzwanzig.
    • zwo is a common spoken form of zwei, especially on the phone.
    • Age: Wie alt bist du? — Ich bin … (Jahre alt).
    • Prices: Was kostet das? — one thing kostet, several things kosten.
    Open lesson
  4. 4

    Bitte, danke — and a welcome dinner

    The courtesy words you'll use every day, then Marina's welcome dinner at Marcos's house.

    • Bitte = please, you're welcome, and (as Bitte schön) here you are.
    • Danke / Danke schön / Vielen Dank — answered with Bitte or Gern geschehen.
    • Entschuldigung! to get attention or say sorry; Wie bitte? when you didn't catch something.
    • Mir geht's gut, danke. Und dir? / Und Ihnen?
    • Tschüss for everyday goodbyes, Auf Wiedersehen when formal; Gute Nacht never greets.
    Open lesson
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