Why does the noun Gen have the article das?
This noun follows no general suffix rule — its gender is part of the core vocabulary you simply learn alongside the word.
Declension table for German noun Gen
How it changes across the four cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | das Gen | ein Gen | kein Gen |
| Akkusativ | das Gen | ein Gen | kein Gen |
| Dativ | dem Gen | einem Gen | keinem Gen |
| Genitiv | des Gens | eines Gens | keines Gens |
| Nominativ | die Gene | Gene | keine Gene |
| Akkusativ | die Gene | Gene | keine Gene |
| Dativ | den Genen | Genen | keinen Genen |
| Genitiv | der Gene | Gene | keiner Gene |
Examples in context
Real sentences using Gen in different cases.
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | Das neue Gen ist wichtig.The new gene is important. | Ein seltenes Gen wurde entdeckt.A rare gene was discovered. | Kein defektes Gen ist hier.No defective gene is here. |
| Akkusativ | Sie finden das neue Gen.They find the new gene. | Wir suchen ein seltenes Gen.We are looking for a rare gene. | Er hat kein defektes Gen.He has no defective gene. |
| Dativ | Sie arbeiten an dem neuen Gen.They are working on the new gene. | Man forscht an einem seltenen Gen.One researches a rare gene. | Er arbeitet an keinem defekten Gen.He works on no defective gene. |
| Genitiv | Die Funktion des neuen Gens ist bekannt.The function of the new gene is known. | Die Analyse eines seltenen Gens dauert lang.The analysis of a rare gene takes long. | Die Wirkung keines defekten Gens ist gut.The effect of no defective gene is good. |
| Nominativ | Die neuen Gene sind interessant.The new genes are interesting. | Viele Gene sind aktiv.Many genes are active. | Keine defekten Gene sind gefunden.No defective genes are found. |
| Akkusativ | Forscher untersuchen die neuen Gene.Researchers examine the new genes. | Sie sehen viele Gene.They see many genes. | Ich finde keine defekten Gene.I find no defective genes. |
| Dativ | Sie forschen an den neuen Genen.They research the new genes. | Man arbeitet mit vielen Genen.One works with many genes. | Ich arbeite mit keinen defekten Genen.I work with no defective genes. |
| Genitiv | Die Struktur der neuen Gene ist komplex.The structure of the new genes is complex. | Die Erforschung vieler Gene ist wichtig.The research of many genes is important. | Die Analyse keiner defekten Gene ist einfach.The analysis of no defective genes is simple. |
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Frequently asked questions
Everything you might wonder about der, die, das — and the Der Artikel app.
Is it der, die, or das Gen?
It is das Gen. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Gen is neuter. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.
What CEFR level is the word Gen?
The German noun Gen is categorized as Upper-Intermediate (B2) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.
What is the plural of das Gen?
The plural form of das Gen is die Gene. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”
What does das Gen mean in English?
The German word das Gen translates to “gene” in English.
How do you decline das Gen?
Like all German nouns, Gen changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
- Nominativ: das Gen
- Akkusativ: das Gen
- Dativ: dem Gen
- Genitiv: des Gens
These changes are necessary because German uses cases to indicate the noun’s role in a sentence (such as the subject or object). Knowing these forms allows you to build grammatically correct sentences.
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