> They don't mention the most important reform they need, hoping not to > offend any Germans or Germanophiles, but what is the reasoning for having > five different ways to say the word 'the' or alternatively 'a' ? > > Don't the different forms of "the" and "a" have to do with the gender or > tense of the word following? Never studied german but thought that was > mentioned by someone when I asked why so many different ways to say the same > thing. > > Lita That's right. It depends on the gender. Anita