German Accusative Case: Rules, Articles & Example Sentences

The German accusative case is essential for anyone learning German. It indicates the direct object of a sentence—the person or thing directly affected by the action of the verb. Understanding the accusative case helps you form correct sentences and communicate more effectively.

What Is the Accusative Case?

The accusative case answers the question “whom?” or “what?. It shows who or what is receiving the action.

Example: Ich sehe den Mann. (I see the man.)

In this sentence, den Mann is the direct object in the accusative case because he is receiving the action of seeing.

Example Sentences in the Accusative Case

Here are some sentences that use the accusative case:

The Role of the Accusative Case in German Grammar

German has four grammatical cases:

• Nominative Case: Indicates the subject of the sentence.
• Genitive Case: Shows possession.
• Dative Case: Used for the indirect object.
• Accusative Case: Used for the direct object.

Each case changes the articles and sometimes the endings of nouns and adjectives. Mastering the cases is essential, as they are one of the most important topics in German grammar.

Declension of the Accusative Case

In the accusative case, definite and indefinite articles, as well as pronouns, change form. Here’s how they decline:

Definite Articles

Indefinite Articles

Personal Pronouns

Accusative Prepositions

Accusative-only prepositions in German always take the accusative case. Memorizing these will help you use the accusative correctly.

• durch (through)
• für (for)
• gegen (against)
• ohne (without)
• um (around)
• bis (until)

Examples with Accusative Prepositions

• Wir gehen durch den Park. (We are walking through the park.)
• Das Geschenk ist für dich. (The gift is for you.)

Accusative Verbs

Some verbs in German always require a direct object in the accusative case. Here are common ones:

• haben (to have)
• sehen (to see)
• finden (to find)
• brauchen (to need)
• mögen (to like)
• kaufen (to buy)
• hören (to hear)

Examples with Accusative Verbs

• Ich habe einen neuen Computer. (I have a new computer.)
• Sie findet den Schlüssel nicht. (She can’t find the key.)
• Wir brauchen Hilfe. (We need help.).

Accusative Exercises

Practicing is essential for mastering sentence structure and grammar rules. Below, you’ll find exercises along with the correct answers.

1. Fill in the Correct Article

Complete the sentences by choosing the correct article (den, die, das, einen, eine).

1. Ich sehe ___ Mann. (I see the man.)
2. Sie kauft ___ Auto. (She buys the car.)
3. Wir besuchen ___ Freunde. (We are visiting the friends.)
4. Er trinkt ___ Kaffee. (He drinks the coffee.)
5. Ich habe ___ Katze. (I have a cat.)

Answers:
1: den
2: das
3: die
4: den
5: eine

2. Choose the Correct Pronoun

Replace the direct object with the correct pronoun (mich, dich, ihn, sie, es, uns, euch, sie/Sie).

1. Ich mag meinen Bruder. → Ich mag___. (I like him.)
2. Er sieht die Frau. → Er sieht ___. (He sees her.)
3. Sie ruft ihre Eltern an. → Sie ruft ___ an. (She calls them.)
4. Wir hören die Musik. → Wir hören ___. (We hear it.)
5. Kannst du mich verstehen? → Ja, ich verstehe ___. (Yes, I understand you.)

Answers:
1: ihn
2: sie
3: sie
4: sie
5: dich

Accusative Quizzes

For more practice, try these interactive quizzes to test your understanding of the German accusative case:

• Accusative case quiz –
• German dative vs. accusative quiz
• Nominative vs. accusative cases quiz
• Dative vs. Accusative Prepositions (A1-B1) –

Common Mistakes

Learning the German accusative case is essential, but many learners make common errors. Understanding these mistakes will help you improve your grammar and form correct sentences.

1. Using the Wrong Article for Masculine Nouns

Only masculine singular articles change in the accusative case, but many learners mistakenly keep the nominative form.

❌ Ich sehe der Mann.
✅ Ich sehe den Mann. (I see the man.)

Tip: Remember that der (masculine nominative) becomes den in the accusative case.

2. Confusing Accusative and Dative Cases

Many learners mix up accusative and dative, especially after certain prepositions or verbs.

❌ Ich danke den Mann. (wrong, because “danken” takes the dative case)
✅ Ich danke dem Mann. (I thank the man.)

❌ Ich helfe meinen Bruder. (wrong, because “helfen” takes the dative case)
✅ Ich helfe meinem Bruder. (I help my brother.)

Tip: Learn which verbs require dative instead of accusative (e.g., “danken,” “helfen,” “folgen”).

3. Forgetting Prepositions

Accusative prepositions always require the accusative case. Learners often forget this rule and use another case instead.

❌ Ich gehe mit den Hund in dem Park. (wrong, because “mit” takes the dative, but “durch” takes the accusative)
✅ Ich gehe durch den Park. (I walk through the park.)

4. Misplacing the Direct Object in the Sentence

Word order in German is flexible, but the direct object should come best after the indirect object.

❌ Der Junge gibt das Geschenk der Frau. (correct, but not ideal in standard German word order)
✅ Der Junge gibt der Frau das. (The boy gives the present to the woman.)

5. Using the Wrong Pronoun Form

Personal pronouns change in the accusative case, and using the wrong form is a common mistake.

❌ Er sieht ich.
✅ Er sieht mich. (He sees me.)

❌ Kannst du sie helfen? (wrong, because “helfen” takes dative)
✅ Kannst du sie sehen? (Can you see her?)

6. Forgetting That Some Verbs Always Take the Accusative Case

Certain verbs always need an accusative object, but learners sometimes forget this and use the nominative or dative instead.

❌ Ich brauche ein neuer Computer. (wrong, because “brauchen” requires accusative, and “ein neuer” should be “einen neuen”)
✅ Ich brauche einen neuen Computer. (I need a new computer.)

Conclusion

Understanding the accusative case is vital for constructing correct sentences in German. By learning how articles and pronouns change and recognizing accusative prepositions and verbs, you’ll improve your German language skills significantly. Practice using the accusative case in your daily conversations and writing to become more fluent.

Frequently Asked Questions

What questions does the accusative case answer?

The accusative case answers the questions “whom?” (wen?) and “what?” (was?).

How do articles change in the accusative case?

In the accusative case, only the masculine singular articles change:

• der becomes den
• ein becomes einen

What are accusative prepositions?

These are prepositions that always take the accusative:

• durch (through)
• für (for)
• gegen (against)
• ohne (without)
• um (around)
• bis (until)

Do all verbs require the accusative case?

No, only transitive verbs and certain specific verbs require the accusative case. Some verbs take the dative case or other cases. It’s best to start by learning the dative verbs since there are fewer of them.

How can I practice the accusative case?

You can practice by reading German texts, writing sentences with accusative verbs and prepositions, and speaking with native speakers or other learners. Regular practice is essential. Here are some free quizzes to help:

1. Accusative Case Quiz
2. German Dative VS Accusative Quiz
3. Nominative VS Accusative Cases Quiz
4. Dative vs Accusative Prepositions (A1-B1)