Ein, Eine Or Einen - Accusative Rules
When a masculine noun is the object of a verb such as haben, the indefinite article, ein, changes to einen. Fortunately for the sanity of the German-learning population, feminine and neuter nouns do not require a change in the accusative: The word eine, used for feminine nouns, remains the same in the accusative. The word ein, used for neuter nouns, remains the same in the accusative. Exactly the same rule applies to the words kein, mein and dein. In order to apply this rule, you must know the gender of the noun. Fortunately, even when you don't know, Germans still understand you. They may experience pain, of course: a dull, repetitive ache in their poor ears. That's why you have to try to get it right. With the verb to be, sein, there is no change. This quiz tests your understanding of these rules and these rules only. It is quick and painless. Sort of. Examples Ich habe eine Katze. (Feminine noun, eine remains eine) Ich habe ein Haustier. (Neuter noun, ein remains ein) Das ist mein Hund. - This is my dog. (Verb to be, mein does not change) Ich habe einen Hund. I have a dog. (Masculine noun in the accusative, ein changes to einen) Ich habe keinen Hund. I don't have a dog. (Same rule, kein changes to keinen)
- 1.
Der Bruder die Schwester Ich habe _________ Bruder und _______ Schwester.
- A.
Eine; einen
- B.
Kein; keine
- C.
Einen; eine
- D.
Keine; keinen
Correct Answer
C. Einen; eineExplanation
The correct answer is "einen; eine." In German, the noun "Bruder" is masculine and requires the article "einen" in the accusative case. The noun "Schwester" is feminine and requires the article "eine" in the accusative case. Therefore, the sentence should be "Ich habe einen Bruder und eine Schwester."Rate this question:
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- 2.
Der Bleistift - pencil Ich habe __________ Bleistift.
- A.
Kein
- B.
Keinen
- C.
Keine
- D.
Ein
Correct Answer
B. KeinenExplanation
The only grammatically correct answer is keinen, since Bleistift is a masculine noun and in this sentence it is the object of the verb haben.Rate this question:
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- 3.
Das Haus - house Wir haben _____ Haus.
- A.
Ein
- B.
Einen
- C.
Eine
- D.
Keinen
Correct Answer
A. EinExplanation
The correct answer is "ein" because the sentence "Wir haben ein Haus" translates to "We have a house" in English. "Ein" is the correct form of the indefinite article "a" in German when referring to a singular masculine noun like "Haus".Rate this question:
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- 4.
Das Buch - book Hast du _____ Buch?
- A.
Ein
- B.
Eine
- C.
Einen
- D.
Keinen
Correct Answer
A. EinExplanation
The question is asking "Do you have _____ book?" The correct answer is "ein" because it is the correct form of the indefinite article "a" or "an" in German. "eine" is the feminine form, "einen" is the masculine form, and "keinen" is the negative form. Since the noun "Buch" is neuter, the correct article is "ein".Rate this question:
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- 5.
Die Schere - pair of scissors Ich brauche ______ Schere. - I need a pair of scissors.
- A.
Ein
- B.
Eine
- C.
Einen
- D.
Kein
Correct Answer
B. EineExplanation
The correct answer is "eine". In the sentence, "Ich brauche ______ Schere," the word "Schere" is feminine, so the correct form of the indefinite article "a" in German is "eine".Rate this question:
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- 6.
Der Spitzer - sharpener Hast du _______ Spitzer?
- A.
Ein
- B.
Eine
- C.
Einen
- D.
Keine
Correct Answer
C. EinenExplanation
The correct answer is "einen". In German, "der Spitzer" is a masculine noun, so the correct article to use is "einen".Rate this question:
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- 7.
Der Hund - dog Er hat ______ Hund.
- A.
Kein
- B.
Keine
- C.
Ein
- D.
Einen
Correct Answer
D. EinenExplanation
The sentence "Er hat einen Hund" translates to "He has a dog" in English. In German, the article "einen" is used when referring to a masculine noun in the accusative case, which is the case used for the direct object of a sentence. Since "Hund" is a masculine noun and the subject "er" is possessing the dog, the correct answer is "einen".Rate this question:
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- 8.
Die Katze - cat Sie hat ______ Katze.
- A.
Ein
- B.
Eine
- C.
Einen
- D.
Kein
Correct Answer
B. EineExplanation
The correct answer is "eine." The sentence structure indicates that "Katze" is a feminine noun, so the appropriate article to use is "eine."Rate this question:
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- 9.
Das Pferd - horse; reiten - to ride Ich reite _____ Pferd. - I ride my horse.
- A.
Mein
- B.
Meinen
- C.
Meine
Correct Answer
A. MeinExplanation
The correct answer is "mein" because it is the possessive pronoun that matches the gender and case of the noun "Pferd". In this case, "Pferd" is neuter and in the nominative case, so the correct form of "mein" to use is "mein".Rate this question:
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- 10.
Der Wellensittich - budgerigar Ich habe _______ Wellensittich.
- A.
Kein
- B.
Keinen
- C.
Keine
- D.
Eine
Correct Answer
B. KeinenExplanation
The correct answer is "keinen" because "Wellensittich" is a masculine noun in the accusative case. In German, when negating a masculine noun in the accusative case, the indefinite article "ein" changes to "kein" and the ending of the adjective also changes to match the accusative case. Therefore, "Ich habe keinen Wellensittich" translates to "I don't have a budgerigar."Rate this question:
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- 11.
Das Kind - child; die Kinder - children Wir haben _______ Kinder.
- A.
Eine
- B.
Keine
- C.
Keinen
- D.
Einen
Correct Answer
B. KeineExplanation
Sorry, this was nasty. "Kinder" is plural, so the only alternative is "We have no children", i.e. "Wir haben keine Kinder". You can't write "We have one children". There can be no indefinite article before a plural, because a/an and the German version, ein/e/n, refers to one of something.Rate this question:
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- 12.
Der Kuli - pen Der Schüler hat ______ Kuli.
- A.
Ein
- B.
Dein
- C.
Meine
- D.
Keinen
Correct Answer
D. KeinenExplanation
The correct answer is "keinen". In this sentence, "der Kuli" is the direct object of the verb "hat". Since "Kuli" is a masculine noun in the accusative case, the correct form of the indefinite article "a" is "keinen" in German. This means that the sentence translates to "The student does not have a pen."Rate this question:
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- 13.
Der Radiergummi - eraser Die Lehrerin hat ________ Radiergummi.
- A.
Meinen
- B.
Dein
- C.
Keine
- D.
Deine
Correct Answer
A. MeinenExplanation
The correct answer is "meinen" because it matches the possessive pronoun "meinen" with the masculine noun "Radiergummi." This indicates that the eraser belongs to the speaker or someone associated with the speaker.Rate this question:
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- 14.
Wo ist ______ Radiergummi?
- A.
Meinen
- B.
Mein
- C.
Meine
- D.
Deinen
Correct Answer
B. MeinExplanation
Another nasty one. After the verb to be, sein, there is no change to the accusative. The noun remains in the nominative, i.e., it is still the subject of the sentence. That's why there is no need for an ending and "mein" is the correct answer.Rate this question:
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- 15.
Das Heft - exercise book Hat der Lehrer ______ Heft?
- A.
Mein
- B.
Deinen
- C.
Deine
- D.
Meine
Correct Answer
A. MeinExplanation
A neuter noun requires no change of ending in the accusative. That's why "Hat der Lehrer mein Heft?" is the only correct answer.Rate this question:
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Mar 14, 2023Quiz Edited by
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May 03, 2013Quiz Created by
Roslyn Green
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