Indefinite articles

In English, we use indefinite articles to specify the context of its associated object, for instance: this squirrel has a different meaning than a squirrel, as the former is directed at a specific squirrel while the latter can be pointed at any squirrel.

dieses Eichhörnchen

this squirrel

jedes Eichhörnchen

each, every squirrel

jenes Eichhörnchen

that squirrel

(ein) manches Eichhörnchen

many (a) squirrel

(ein) solches Eichhörnchen

such (a) squirrel

welches Eichhörnchen

which, what squirrel

alle Eichhörnchen

all squirrels

All the squirrels:

You may have noticed on the table that alle uses the plural of squirrel, this is because alle is the only indefinite article which can't be used in its singular.

Unlike the three definite articles, indefinite articles have different endings for each combination of gender and case. Luckily for us these endings are regular so indefinite articles share the same endings as dies-:

Masculine

Feminine

Neuter

Plural

Nominative

dieser

diese

dieses

diese

Accusative

diesen

diese

dieses

diese

Dative

diesem

dieser

diesem

diesen

Genitive

dieses

dieser

dieses

dieser

Töskirelon Uferlos Yi
Mein Glanz spiegelt sich in diesen Fenstern.
My shine is reflected in those windows.

Just like with der, die, das, the associated word of the indefinite article, the der- word, gets a weak noun ending if necessary, such as -n on dative, plural.

The latter and the former:

Dieses and jenes can also appear as the latter and the former respectively. In this case these are not used like regular articles and don't follow up with its noun.

Continue to exercises