Why does the noun Kasten have the article der?

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 Kasten

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativder Kastenein Kastenkein Kasten
Akkusativden Kasteneinen Kastenkeinen Kasten
Dativdem Kasteneinen Kastenkeinem Kasten
Genitivdes Kastenseines Kastenskeines Kastens

Examples in context

Real sentences using Kasten in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Der große Kasten ist leer.The large box is empty.
Ein alter Kasten steht dort.An old box stands there.
Kein neuer Kasten ist hier.No new box is here.
Akkusativ
Ich trage den schweren Kasten.I carry the heavy box.
Er sucht einen leeren Kasten.He is looking for an empty box.
Wir haben keinen großen Kasten.We have no large box.
Dativ
Ich sitze auf dem alten Kasten.I am sitting on the old box.
Er legt etwas in einen neuen Kasten.He puts something in a new box.
Ich gebe keinem kaputten Kasten eine Funktion.I don't give any broken box a function.
Genitiv
Der Inhalt des alten Kastens ist geheim.The content of the old box is secret.
Der Deckel eines neuen Kastens fehlt.The lid of a new box is missing.
Der Boden keines kaputten Kastens ist stabil.The bottom of no broken box is stable.

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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 Kasten?

It is der Kasten. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Kasten is masculine. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.

What is the plural of der Kasten?

The plural form of der Kasten is die Kästen. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”

What does der Kasten mean in English?

The German word der Kasten translates to “box, crate” in English.

How do you decline der Kasten?

Like all German nouns, Kasten changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
  • Nominativ: der Kasten
  • Akkusativ: den Kasten
  • Dativ: dem Kasten
  • Genitiv: des Kastens

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.