German · CEFR Band 1 (A1) · Chapter 4
Ich bin StudentI'm a student
Now comes German's biggest hurdle: GENDER. Every noun is der (masculine), die (feminine) or das (neuter) — and this is often NOT predictable (das Mädchen, "girl", is neuter!). English has two genders, French and Spanish two — German has three. The indefinite articles: ein (m/n), eine (f). Learn each noun WITH its article; that is the most important A1 habit. And nouns are written CAPITALISED. But careful: after sein the profession takes NO article — Ich bin Student, not "ich bin ein Student". Mike, as always, tacks on the "ein".
Dialogue
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Welcher Beruf?— Which job?
- LukasIch bin Student. Und du, Lena?I'm a student. And you, Lena?
- LenaIch bin Studentin. Herr Weber ist Lehrer.I'm a student. Mr Weber is a teacher.
- LukasLehrer? Ist er Arzt?A teacher? Is he a doctor?
- LenaNein! Er ist Lehrer. Der Beruf ist gut.No! He's a teacher. It's a good job.
Dialogue
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Mike und das „ein" zu viel— Mike and the Extra "ein"
- LukasMike, bist du Student?Mike, are you a student?
- MikeJa! Ich bin ein Student.Yes! I'm "a" student. (wrong: no article after sein with a profession)
- LenaMike — „Ich bin Student"! (kein „ein")Mike — "Ich bin Student"! (drop the ein — professions take no article after sein)
- MikeAh! Ich bin Student. Danke, Lena!Ah! I'm a student. Thank you, Lena!
Vocabulary
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- der Student
nounstudent (m)
- der Lehrer
nounteacher (m)
- der Arzt
noundoctor (m)
- der Beruf
nounjob, profession
- der Mann
nounman
- die Frau
nounwoman
- er
pronounhe
- sie
pronounshe
- ein
art.a, an (m/n)
- eine
art.a, an (f)
- der / die / das
art.the (m / f / n)
Grammar
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Three genders: der, die, das (ein/eine)
Explanation
Every German noun has a gender, and the definite article shows it: der (masculine), die (feminine), das (neuter). The indefinite article is ein for der/das-words and eine for die-words: ein Mann, eine Frau, ein Kind. Three things are new for English speakers. First: there are THREE genders, not two. Second: the gender is mostly NOT predictable — the famous example is das Mädchen (a girl is neuter, not feminine!). Third: all nouns are CAPITALISED (Mann, Frau, Beruf). The only safe method: learn each word WITH its article — think "die Frau", not just "Frau".
Examples
- der Mann (m), die Frau (f), das Kind (n)the man (m), the woman (f), the child (n)
- ein Mann, eine Frau, ein Freunda man, a woman, a friend
- Der Student ist ein Freund.The student is a friend.
Grammar
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After sein: the profession without an article
Explanation
A simple rule that lures every English speaker into the trap. In English you say "I am A student", with "a". In German NOT: after the verb sein the profession or role takes NO article. You say Ich bin Student, Sie ist Lehrerin, Er ist Arzt — never "ich bin ein Student". Exactly like Spanish and French. The idea behind it: the profession describes WHO you are, not a single thing. So the ein/eine drops. This is Mike's classic: he translates word for word from English and tacks on an "ein".
Examples
- Ich bin Student. (nicht „ein Student")I'm a student. (not "ein Student")
- Sie ist Lehrerin. Er ist Arzt.She is a teacher. He is a doctor.
- Bist du Lehrer? Ja, ich bin Lehrer.Are you a teacher? Yes, I am a teacher.
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