11.9 Weak masculine nouns

As the name suggests, this a group of masculine nouns which predominantly denote living beings. Although they are occasionally confused by students with adjectival nouns, they decline in a different way: weak masculine nouns add "-(e)n" throughout the plural and in all singular cases other than the nominative.

 

The table below gives the endings for "der Student" (= (male) student) and "der Name" (= name):
 

Examples

 

Ihr Bruder ist Student.

(Her brother is a student (= nominative).)

Das ist ziemlich viel für einen Studenten.

(That's quite a lot for a student (= accusative).)

Meine Schwester ist mit einem Studenten verlobt.

(My sister is engaged to a student (= dative).)

Alle Studenten müssen nach dem Essen abwaschen!

(All of the male students (= nominative) must wash up after the meal!)

Wie ist Ihr Name?

(What is your name (= nominative)?)

Auf welchen Namen geht das Zimmer?

(In what name (= accusative) should I book the room?)