der Autor
author
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? | der Autor | die Autoren |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | den Autor | die Autoren |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | dem Autor | den Autoren |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | des Autors | der Autoren |
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 Autor | Autoren |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | einen Autor | Autoren |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | einem Autor | Autoren |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | eines Autors | Autoren |
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 Autor | keine Autoren |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | keinen Autor | keine Autoren |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | keinem Autor | keinen Autoren |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | keines Autors | keiner Autoren |
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 Autor | meine Autoren |
Accusative Akkusativ (Wenfall) | Wen oder was? | meinen Autor | meine Autoren |
Dative Dativ (Wemfall) | Wem? | meinem Autor | meinen Autoren |
Genitive Genitiv (Wesfall) | Wessen? | meines Autors | meiner Autoren |
Why These Endings Work
Standard pattern for most masculine (der) and neuter (das) nouns: genitive singular ends in -s or -es.
- Plural "Autoren" already ends in -n or -s, so Dative plural stays Autoren.
Example Sentences in Context
Der Autor liest heute Abend aus seinem neuen Roman.
The author is reading from his new novel this evening.
Nach der Lesung bitten viele Leser den Autor um ein Autogramm.
After the reading, many readers ask the author for an autograph.
Interactive Tools & Related Guides
More Nouns in Professions & Roles
FAQs: der Autor
Is "Autor" der, die, or das in German?
"Autor" takes the masculine definite article "der" (der Autor). Gender cue: Latin -or -> masculine (der); strong sg, -en plural.
What is the plural and Dative plural of "der Autor"?
The Nominative plural of der Autor is "die Autoren" (pattern: -en). In the Dative plural it becomes "den Autoren".
How does "der Autor" change in the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative?
As a strong masculine noun, "Autor" changes only in the Genitive singular (des Autors); Accusative and Dative keep "Autor".