Master the German Accusative Case: Rules, Examples & Quizzes

Introduction

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.

Understanding German Cases

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.

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.

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

Example Sentences in the Accusative Case

Here are some sentences that use the accusative case:

Accusative Prepositions

Certain 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.)

You can get more detailed information about accusative prepositions: here. 

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.)

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 some the accusative prepositions?

These are accusative prepositions:

• 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)