der Schlüssel
Plural: die Schlüssel
Nominativ
Akkusativ
Dativ
Genitiv
| Case | Definite | Indefinite | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Schlüssel | ein Schlüssel | die Schlüssel |
| Akkusativ | den Schlüssel | einen Schlüssel | die Schlüssel |
| Dativ | dem Schlüssel | einem Schlüssel | den Schlüsseln |
| Genitiv | des Schlüssels | eines Schlüssels | der Schlüssel |
Nominative — the subject of the sentence: who or what is doing something.
der Schlüssel · ein Schlüssel
Accusative — the direct object (whom or what?), and always after für, durch, gegen, ohne and um.
den Schlüssel · einen Schlüssel · für den Schlüssel
Dative — the indirect object (to or for whom?), and always after mit, nach, aus, zu, von and bei.
dem Schlüssel · einem Schlüssel · mit dem Schlüssel
Genitive — possession (whose?), and after wegen, trotz and während.
des Schlüssels · eines Schlüssels · wegen des Schlüssels
In the plural it is die Schlüssel in the nominative and accusative, den Schlüsseln in the dative and der Schlüssel in the genitive. There is no indefinite article in the plural.
Wo ist mein Schlüssel?
Where is my key?