das Muster
pattern / sample
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 Muster | die Muster |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | das Muster | die Muster |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Muster | den Mustern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Musters | der Muster |
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 Muster | Muster |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | ein Muster | Muster |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Muster | Mustern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Musters | Muster |
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 Muster | keine Muster |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | kein Muster | keine Muster |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Muster | keinen Mustern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Musters | keiner Muster |
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 Muster | meine Muster |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | mein Muster | meine Muster |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Muster | meinen Mustern |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Musters | meiner Muster |
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: Muster → Mustern.
Example Sentences in Context
Das Muster auf dem Kleid gefällt mir.
I like the pattern on the dress.
Erkennst du das Muster in diesen Zahlen?
Do you recognize the pattern in these numbers?
Wir arbeiten nach einem festen Muster.
We work according to a fixed pattern.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Culture & Ideas
FAQs: das Muster
Is "Muster" der, die, or das in German?
"Muster" takes the neuter definite article "das" (das Muster). Gender cue: Exception: ends in -er but neuter (das Muster).
What is the plural and Dative plural of "das Muster"?
The Nominative plural of das Muster is "die Muster" (pattern: -). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Mustern".
How does "das Muster" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong neuter noun, "Muster" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Musters); Accusative and Dative keep "Muster".