The accusative case in German
Understanding the Accusative Case in German
What is the Accusative Case?
In German, the accusative case is used to mark the direct object of a sentence — the person or thing that is directly affected by the action of the verb. It answers the question "whom?" or "what?" after the verb.
Articles in the Accusative
German articles change depending on the case. For the accusative case, the definite and indefinite articles change as follows:
| Gender | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | den | einen |
| Feminine | die | eine |
| Neuter | das | ein |
| Plural | die | (no indefinite) |
Notice that only the masculine definite and indefinite articles change in the accusative case.
Example Sentences
- Ich sehe den Hund. (I see the dog.)
- Sie kauft eine Blume. (She buys a flower.)
- Er hat das Buch. (He has the book.)
Cultural Note
German is a language with four cases, which can be challenging for learners. The accusative case is one of the most frequently used cases because it marks the direct object, making it essential to master early on.
Tips
- Pay special attention to masculine nouns, as their articles change in the accusative.
- Practice with common verbs that take direct objects, such as "sehen" (to see), "haben" (to have), and "kaufen" (to buy).
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