There are two numbers in the German language, the singular and the plural.
The singular number refers to only one thing, while the plural to more than one things.
| Examples | |||
| number | singular | Mann | Frau |
| plural | Männer | Frauen | |
The number of a noun can be identified
- By its form or
- by words that accompany the noun, like articles or adjectives.
|
form
|
|
words that accompany the noun
|
||||
| singular |
Haus
|
Auto
|
|
das Mädchen
|
ein Wagen
|
guter Lehrer
|
| plural |
Häuser
|
Autos
|
|
die Mädchen
|
fünf Wagen
|
gute Lehrer
|
Most nouns have both a singular and a plural number. There are, however, some noun groups that form only one of the two numbers.