Word Formation: Nouns
Form German nouns with -chen, -lein, -er, -in, and -ung, and use nominalized infinitives. Learn the gender, plural, and typical meaning of each pattern.
Explanation
Forming nouns from other words
German nouns can often be recognized by their endings. Every new noun is capitalized.
| Pattern | Meaning | Gender and plural | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| noun + **-chen/-lein** | something small | always **das**; no extra plural ending; often an umlaut | der Ball → das Bällchen |
| verb stem + **-er** | person or device | usually **der**; plural often unchanged | drucken → der Drucker |
| masculine term + **-in** | female person | **die**; plural **-innen** | der Lehrer → die Lehrerin → die Lehrerinnen |
| verb stem + **-ung** | action or result | always **die**; plural usually **-en** | prüfen → die Prüfung |
| infinitive as noun | an activity | always **das**; normally no plural | kochen → das Kochen |
With **-chen/-lein**, a, o, or u may take an umlaut. Person nouns in **-er** often have the same singular and plural. A nominalized infinitive keeps the verb form but starts with a capital letter and often follows **beim** or **zum**: **beim Kochen**, **zum Lernen**.
Exercises
- Sort every word into the correct formation pattern. (2)
- Use the cue to form the requested noun with its article. (10)
- Choose between a verb and a noun in context and enter the correct form. (10)
- Insert the nominalized infinitives from the word bank. (3)
A2 · German · Grammar