It helps me to understand German grammar if I have an example to work from. These are intended to be grammar examples only: they reflect possible, correctly declined phrases rather than phrases that Germans are likely to use in everyday conversation. The idea is that by changing only the key parts of a sentence, the grammatical meaning becomes easier to understand intuitively. At least, I think it helps me…
Singular, definite article
Example phrase: __________ bringt mir ein Eis.
Possible subjects:
- Die kleine Frau
- Der kleine Mann
- Das kleine Mädchen
Singular, indefinite article
Example phrase: __________ bringt mir ein Eis.
Possible subjects:
- Eine kleine Frau
- Ein kleiner Mann
- Ein kleines Mädchen
Singular, no article
Example phrase: __________ schmekt mir gut.
Possible subjects:
- Deutscher Eis
- Deutscher Kuchen
- Deutsche Torte
Plural
Example phrase: __________ bringen mir ein Eis.
Possible subjects:
- Die kleinen Frauen
- Keine kleinen Frauen
- Kleine Frauen
Since all genders use the same form in plural, “Frauen” here could also be “Männer” or “Mädchen.”