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.
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
Case
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
Plural
Nominative
der Mann
die Frau
das Kind
die Menschen
Accusative
den Mann
die Frau
das Kind
die Menschen
Indefinite Articles
Case
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
Nominative
ein Mann
eine Frau
ein Kind
Accusative
einen Mann
eine Frau
ein Kind
Personal Pronouns
Person
Nominative
Accusative
ich (I)
ich
mich
du (you)
du
dich
er (he)
er
ihn
sie (she)
sie
sie
es (it)
es
es
wir (we)
wir
uns
ihr (you all)
ihr
euch
sie/Sie (they/you formal)
sie/Sie
sie/Sie
Example Sentences in the Accusative Case
Here are some sentences that use the accusative case:
German Sentence
English Translation
Ich kaufe einen Apfel.
I am buying an apple.
Sie liest das Buch.
She is reading the book.
Wir besuchen unsere Freunde.
We are visiting our friends.
Er hat einen Hund.
He has a dog.
Kannst du mich hören?
Can you hear me?
Accusative Prepositions
Feel confident mastering the German accusative case—study online and enjoy the process!
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:
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:
