Articles – free exercise

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Exercise

Complete the table with the definite and indefinite articles.

Indefinite Article Definite Article
  Buch   Buchneuter: ein, dasthe book
  Wissenschaft   Wissenschaftall nouns ending in -schaft are feminine: eine, diethe science
  Schmetterling   Schmetterlingall nouns ending in -ling are masculine: ein, derthe butterfly
  Schwester   Schwesterfemale people are generally feminine: eine, die
(Exceptions: das Mädchen, das Fräulein)
the sister
  Präsident   Präsidentmale people are masculine: ein, derthe president

Complete the gaps with the contracted form of the article + preposition.

  1. Die Frau hält ihren Hund (an + neuter)   Halsband fest.Woran? → dative
    an + dem = am
    The woman holds her dog by the collar.
  2. Seid ihr auch (zu + feminine)   Party eingeladen?zu takes the dative
    zu + der = zur
    Are you also invited to the party?
  3. Ich habe heute einen Termin (bei + masculine)   Friseur.bei takes the dative
    bei + dem = beim
    I have an appointment at the hairdresser’s today.
  4. Wollen wir (in + neuter)   Kino gehen?Wohin? → accusative
    in + das = ins
    Shall we go to the cinema?
  5. Ute ist gestern (von + neuter)   Pferd gefallen.Wovon? → dative
    von + dem = vom
    Ute fell off the horse yesterday.

Decide if you should use the definite article, indefinite article, or no article at all. If no article should be used, select the dash (-).

  1. Das Haus ist aus Holz gebaut.We are just saying in general what material was used to build the house. → no articleThe house is built of wood.
  2. Im Sommer machen wir immer Urlaub in Türkei und im Winter fahren wir nach Bayern.Names of countries and places usually don’t take an article (Bayern).
    But there are a few exceptions (e.g. die Türkei)
    In summer we always go to Turkey on holiday and in winter we go to Bavaria.
  3. Wir haben zu Hause Geige, dabei kann keiner in meiner Familie Geige spielen.1. When we’re talking about something that is not specifically defined, we use the indefinite article.
    2. If we’re talking about an ability, we don’t use an article.
    We have a violin at my house, although no one in my family can play violin.

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