die
Frage
🤔 What does "die Frage" mean?
Die Frage (noun, feminine) primarily has the following meanings:
- An utterance seeking an answer or information: This is the most common meaning, a question. You ask a Frage to find something out. Example: "Ich habe eine Frage zur Hausaufgabe." (I have a question about the homework.)
- A problem, issue, or topic that needs to be discussed or resolved: This often refers to more complex matters. Example: "Die Frage der Finanzierung ist noch offen." (The question/issue of financing is still open.)
- Uncertainty or doubt: In the expression "in Frage stellen", it means to call something into question, to doubt it. Example: "Er stellte ihre Entscheidung in Frage." (He called her decision into question.)
The word Frage is always feminine, so it always uses the article die. There are no other articles for this noun. ✅
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar of "die Frage" in Detail
The noun "die Frage" is feminine. Here are the declension tables for singular and plural:
Singular Declension
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die Frage | eine Frage (a question) |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der Frage | einer Frage (of a question) |
| Dative (To whom?) | der Frage | einer Frage (to/for a question) |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die Frage | eine Frage (a question) |
Plural Declension
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article / No Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Fragen | Fragen / einige Fragen (questions / some questions) |
| Genitive | der Fragen | Fragen / einiger Fragen (of questions / of some questions) |
| Dative | den Fragen | Fragen / einigen Fragen (to/for questions / to/for some questions) |
| Accusative | die Fragen | Fragen / einige Fragen (questions / some questions) |
Example Sentences
- Nominative: Die Frage war schwierig zu beantworten. (The question was difficult to answer.)
- Genitive: Die Beantwortung der Frage dauerte lange. (Answering the question took a long time.)
- Dative: Er widmete sich der Frage mit großer Aufmerksamkeit. (He devoted himself to the question with great attention.)
- Accusative: Kannst du die Frage bitte wiederholen? (Can you please repeat the question?)
- Plural: Die Schüler hatten viele Fragen zum Test. (The students had many questions about the test.)
💡 How to Use "die Frage"?
"Die Frage" is a very common word. Here are some typical contexts:
- In conversation and learning: You ask questions ("eine Frage stellen"), answer questions ("eine Frage beantworten"), or have questions ("Fragen haben").
- With problems and discussions: Often it's about "die Frage nach dem Warum" (the question of why) or "die Frage, wie etwas gelöst werden kann" (the question of how something can be solved). People talk about "offene Fragen" (open/unanswered questions) or "strittige Fragen" (contentious/disputed issues).
- Fixed expressions (Idioms):
- "etwas in Frage stellen": to call something into question, to challenge it.
- "nicht in Frage kommen": to be out of the question, impossible.
- "eine Frage der Zeit sein": to be (only) a matter of time.
- "außer Frage stehen": to be beyond question, doubtless.
Difference to "Anfrage": While "die Frage" is general, "die Anfrage" often refers to a more formal, specific request for information or an offer (e.g., a price inquiry - Preisanfrage).
🧠 Mnemonics for "die Frage"
Article Mnemonic: Most nouns ending in -e are feminine (die), and Frage fits this pattern. Think of asking a queen (feminine) a question - die Frage for die Königin.
Meaning Mnemonic: The English word "fragile" sounds a bit like Frage. Sometimes asking a question can feel like handling a fragile topic, or the answer might be fragile.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Anfrage (die): inquiry, request (often more formal, specific).
- Problem (das): problem (when the question represents a difficulty).
- Thema (das): topic, subject, issue (the subject of discussion or investigation).
- Angelegenheit (die): matter, affair, issue (something that needs clarification).
- Punkt (der): point (a specific aspect of a discussion).
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Antwort (die): answer, response (the direct reply to a question).
- Lösung (die): solution (the resolution of a problem or difficult question).
- Aussage (die): statement, assertion (a declaration, not a question).
- Gewissheit (die): certainty (the opposite of doubt, which is often expressed through questions).
⚠️ Caution: Not all synonyms are interchangeable in every context. "Ich habe ein Problem" (I have a problem) is not the same as "Ich habe eine Frage" (I have a question), even though a question might relate to a problem.
😂 A Little Joke
German: Warum stellen Skelette keine Fragen?
Weil sie keine Nerven haben! 😄
English: Why don't skeletons ask questions?
Because they have no nerves! (Pun: "Nerven" means nerves, but colloquially also means courage/guts).
✍️ Poem about the Question
German:
Eine kleine Frage, zart und fein,
will wissen, will verstehen, will sein.
Sie bohrt und sucht nach dem Verstand,
nimmt die Antwort gern zur Hand.
Manchmal leicht und schnell geklärt,
manchmal tief und unbeschwert.
Die Frage treibt die Welt voran,
seit die Menschheit denken kann.
English Translation:
A little question, soft and fine,
wants to know, understand, wants to shine.
It probes and seeks for the mind's light,
takes the answer gladly into sight.
Sometimes easy and quickly cleared,
sometimes deep and unhindered.
The question drives the world ahead,
since humanity first thought, it's said.
🧩 Riddle Time
German:
Ich habe keinen Mund, doch bitte um Antwort.
Ich habe keine Füße, doch reise von Ort zu Ort (im Gespräch).
Ich kann einfach sein oder sehr komplex.
Manchmal stelle ich etwas in Frage, welch ein Reflex!
Was bin ich? (Lösung: die Frage)
English:
I have no mouth, yet I ask for a reply.
I have no feet, yet I travel from place to place (in conversation).
I can be simple or very complex.
Sometimes I call things into question, what a reflex!
What am I? (Solution: the question / die Frage)
✨ Other Interesting Facts
- Word Family: The word "Frage" belongs to the verb fragen (to ask).
- Compound Nouns: There are many compound words, e.g., die Fragestellung (the phrasing of a question, the problem definition), das Fragezeichen (question mark ?), der Fragebogen (questionnaire), die Fangfrage (trick question).
- Punctuation: In German, a direct question always ends with a question mark (Fragezeichen) - ?.
Summary: is it der, die or das Frage?
The noun "Frage" is always feminine. The correct form is: die Frage. The plural is "die Fragen".