das Heft
exercise book / notebook
Full 4-Case Declension Table
Switch determiner types to inspect how articles and noun endings change together.
Definite (der / die / das): Used for specific, already known, or general-category nouns.
| Case (Fall) | Question | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
Nominative Nominativ (Werfall) | Wer oder was? | das Heft | die Hefte |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | das Heft | die Hefte |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Heft | den Heften |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Heftes | der Hefte |
Indefinite (ein / eine): Used when introducing a countable singular noun; has no plural article in German.
| Case (Fall) | Question | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
Nominative Nominativ (Werfall) | Wer oder was? | ein Heft | Hefte |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | ein Heft | Hefte |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Heft | Heften |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Heftes | Hefte |
Negative (kein / keine): Negates nouns with or without an indefinite article; follows ein-words in singular and die in plural.
| Case (Fall) | Question | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
Nominative Nominativ (Werfall) | Wer oder was? | kein Heft | keine Hefte |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | kein Heft | keine Hefte |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Heft | keinen Heften |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Heftes | keiner Hefte |
Possessive (mein / dein / …): Uses ein-word endings in singular and definite-like endings in plural (mein/dein/sein/ihr/unser/euer/Ihr).
| Case (Fall) | Question | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
Nominative Nominativ (Werfall) | Wer oder was? | mein Heft | meine Hefte |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | mein Heft | meine Hefte |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Heft | meinen Heften |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Heftes | meiner Hefte |
Why These Endings Work
Standard pattern for most masculine (der) and neuter (das) nouns: genitive singular ends in -s or -es.
- Dative plural adds -n to the plural stem: Hefte → Heften.
Example Sentences in Context
Das Heft liegt auf dem Tisch.
The notebook is on the table.
Öffnet bitte euer Heft auf Seite zehn.
Please open your exercise book at page ten.
Schreib die Wörter in dein Heft.
Write the words in your notebook.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Study & Grammar
FAQs: das Heft
Is "Heft" der, die, or das in German?
"Heft" takes the neuter definite article "das" (das Heft). Gender cue: Lexical gender — memorize together with its article.
What is the plural and Dative plural of "das Heft"?
The Nominative plural of das Heft is "die Hefte" (pattern: -e). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Heften".
How does "das Heft" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong neuter noun, "Heft" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Heftes); Accusative and Dative keep "Heft".