Indefinite quantities / materials / money in general: Kapital, Investitionen
Rule 1: Abstract concepts usually have no article
When you talk about the concept in general (not a specific one), German often drops the article.
Correct (general concept)
Wrong / changes the meaning
Ich habe Angst vor der Konkurrenz.
Ich habe eine Angst vor der Konkurrenz. (sounds like “a specific fear”)
Du musst Mut haben.
Du musst einen Mut haben. (not idiomatic)
Rule 2: Indefinite amounts often have no article
With “money/resources in general”, German typically uses no article.
Correct (general / indefinite)
Wrong / changes the meaning
Wir brauchen Kapital für die Gründung.
Wir brauchen ein Kapital … (sounds like one defined sum)
Viele Gründer suchen Kapital und Investitionen.
… das Kapital und die Investitionen (would mean specific, already known ones)
The meaning difference: “no article” vs “the” vs “a/an”
No article = the idea in general Wir brauchen Kapital. (capital as a resource)
Definite article (der/die/das) = a specific, known thing (already identified) Wir brauchen das Kapital aus dem Vertrag. (that particular capital)
Indefinite article (ein/eine) = one instance / a particular type (less common with these nouns) Sie hat eine Angst, die sie blockiert. (a specific fear)
Typical A2 patterns to memorize (sounds natural)
Angst haben vor + Dativ Ich habe Angst vor der Präsentation.
Mut haben, … zu … Sie hat Mut, neue Kunden anzurufen.
Kapital brauchen für + Akkusativ Wir brauchen Kapital für die Gründung.
Investitionen planen in + Dativ Wir planen Investitionen in neue Geräte.
Self-check: should I drop the article here?
Is it an abstract concept (fear, courage, time, patience, trust)? → usually no article.
Is it a resource/amount in general (capital, water, information, equipment)? → often no article.
Do I mean a specific one (already mentioned / defined)? → use der/die/das.
Do I mean one particular instance (a certain kind of fear, a specific investment)? → consider ein/eine or plural with details.
Common learner mistake (English influence)
English often uses a with abstract nouns (“a fear”, “a courage” in some contexts). German usually does not do this in everyday statements.
EN: “I have a fear of…” → DE: Ich habe Angst vor …
EN: “You need some courage…” → DE: Du brauchst Mut …
No article with abstract terms such as Angst, Mut.
No article with indefinite quantities, e.g. Kapital, Investitionen.
Begriff (term)
Beispiel (example)
Angst (fear)
Ich habe Angst vor der Konkurrenz. (I am afraid of the competition.)
Mut (courage)
Du musst Mut haben, das Projekt zu starten. (You must have courage to start the project.)
Kapital (capital)
Wir brauchen Kapital für die Gründung. (We need capital for the start-up.)
Exercise 1: Multiple choice
Instruction:
Choose the correct answer
Fetching your corrections... Please don't close this page yet.
FreeDE
Preparing audio…
0:00
0:00
Audio transcript
DE + EN
Preparing audio…
0:00
0:00
Audio transcript
Flashcards
You have seen all cards.
1.Ich habe ___ vor der Konkurrenz.Ich habe Angst vor der Konkurrenz.
I am ___ of the competition.
2.Du brauchst ___, um dein eigenes Geschäft zu starten.Du brauchst Mut, um dein eigenes Geschäft zu starten.
You need ___ to start your own business.
3.Für die Gründung brauchen wir ___.Für die Gründung brauchen wir Kapital.
For the founding we need ___.
4.Im ersten Jahr planen wir ___ in neue Geräte.Im ersten Jahr planen wir Investitionen in neue Geräte.
In the first year we are planning ___ in new equipment.
Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases
Instruction:
Rewrite the sentences and remove inappropriate articles: In German, abstract concepts and indefinite quantities often have no article (e.g. “have fear”, “have courage”, “need capital”).
Fetching your corrections... Please don't close this page yet.
Aprender alemão A2 básico. Curso completo com app e exercícios
Aprender alemão A2 com atividades, gramática, exercícios, áudio e vocabulário. Ideal para aprendizagem autónoma ou uso em sala de aula. Para o Goethe-Zertifikat.
