TOPIC · Miscellaneous (Anders)

The word type beid- in German

After this lesson you can confidently use **beide**, **beides**, **beiden** and **beider** as pronouns and before nouns in German.

This lesson focuses on beid- and its forms beide, beides, beiden, beider etc. You will learn how beid- works as a pronoun and as an adjective-like word before a noun, and how it is declined.

1Basic meaning of beid-

beid- always refers to exactly two people or things. It can mean:

“both together” (not only one of the two)
“each of the two” (every single one of the two)

Two main uses:

as an independent word: Pronomen (pronoun)
before a noun: adjektivische Deklination (declined like an adjective)

2beid- as a pronoun

2.1 Forms

Form	Function	Explanation
beide	Nominativ / Akkusativ Plural	refers to two people/things together
beides	Neutrum Singular	“both of them together (as one unit)”
beiden	Dativ Plural	“to/with the two people/things”
beider	Genitiv Plural	rather written, formal

2.2 Examples with beide (plural)

Example	Meaning
Hast du Anna und Lisa gesehen? Ich habe beide getroffen.	I met both (Anna and Lisa).
Beide sind müde.	Both are tired.
Mit beiden habe ich gesprochen.	I spoke with both (of them).
Ich erinnere mich an beide.	I remember both.

2.3 Examples with beides (neuter)

beides often refers to two options, things or activities taken together.

Example	Meaning
Magst du lieber Tee oder Kaffee? Beides ist gut.	Both (tea and coffee) are good.
Arbeitest du lieber im Büro oder zu Hause? Beides gefällt mir.	I like both (options).
Ich finde beides interessant.	I find both (things) interesting.

3beid- before nouns (adjectival use)

When beid- stands before a noun, it is declined like an adjective.

3.1 ohne Artikel (without article)

Here you almost always use beide (plural) with plural nouns.

Case	Mask./Fem./Neut. Plural
Nominativ	beide Kinder
Akkusativ	beide Kinder
Dativ	beiden Kindern
Genitiv	beider Kinder

Example	Meaning
Beide Kinder spielen im Garten.	Both children are playing in the garden.
Ich kenne beide Lehrer gut.	I know both teachers well.
Ich helfe beiden Nachbarn.	I help both neighbours.
Die Meinung beider Eltern ist wichtig.	The opinion of both parents is important.

3.2 mit bestimmtem Artikel (with definite article)

Here you combine the definite article (der, die, das) with beiden.

Case	Masc.	Fem.	Neut.
Nominativ	die beiden Freunde	die beiden Schwestern	die beiden Häuser
Akkusativ	die beiden Freunde	die beiden Schwestern	die beiden Häuser
Dativ	den beiden Freunden	den beiden Schwestern	den beiden Häusern
Genitiv	der beiden Freunde	der beiden Schwestern	der beiden Häuser

Example	Meaning
Die beiden Freunde lachen.	The two friends are laughing.
Ich habe die beiden Bücher gelesen.	I have read both books.
Ich wohne mit den beiden Brüdern zusammen.	I live together with the two brothers.
Das Auto der beiden Nachbarn ist neu.	The car of the two neighbours is new.

4Typical mistakes and tips

No singular meaning “one of the two”: you cannot say der beide Mann; you must say der eine Mann.
Use beides only when no noun follows: Beides ist wichtig, but beide Themen sind wichtig.
Word order: die beiden Kinder, not beiden die Kinder.

After this lesson you should be able to use beide, beides, beiden and beider correctly in typical B2-level situations.