das Patent
patent
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 Patent | die Patente |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | das Patent | die Patente |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Patent | den Patenten |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Patents | der Patente |
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 Patent | Patente |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | ein Patent | Patente |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Patent | Patenten |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Patents | Patente |
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 Patent | keine Patente |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | kein Patent | keine Patente |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Patent | keinen Patenten |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Patents | keiner Patente |
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 Patent | meine Patente |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | mein Patent | meine Patente |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Patent | meinen Patenten |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Patents | meiner Patente |
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: Patente → Patenten.
Example Sentences in Context
Die Firma hat ein neues Patent angemeldet.
The company has applied for a new patent.
Der Schutz des Patents gilt zwanzig Jahre.
The patent's protection lasts twenty years.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Work & Bureaucracy
FAQs: das Patent
Is "Patent" der, die, or das in German?
"Patent" takes the neuter definite article "das" (das Patent). Gender cue: Inanimate -ent loanword -> neuter (das), unlike animate N-declension -ent.
What is the plural and Dative plural of "das Patent"?
The Nominative plural of das Patent is "die Patente" (pattern: -e). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Patenten".
How does "das Patent" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong neuter noun, "Patent" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Patents); Accusative and Dative keep "Patent".