Most German sentences contain at least one conjugated verb and a component in the nominative that it modifies - a subject.
Many verbs, however, also require other components in the nominative - or components in the accusative, dative or genitive (objects). Direct objects (accusative) are the most common.
| Nominative component |
| for instance with the verb "sein" |
| Accusative component |
| for instance with the verbs "haben", "möchten", "rauchen", "trinken" |
| Dative component |
| for instance with the verb "zuhören" |
| Genitive component |
| extremely rare |
If the subject or object is a noun, you usually need an article for the singular. If you use a definite article, only the masculine form changes in the accusative.
The other forms stay the same. The noun itself doesn't change in the accusative.
| Masculine | Feminine | |||||
| Nominative | ein | der | eine | die | ||
| Accusative | einen | den | eine | die | ||
| Neuter | Plural | |||||
| Nominative | ein | das | / | die | ||
| Accusative | ein | das | / | die |
| Verb + nominative | Verb + accusative | |||
| Masculine | Das ist der Regenschirm. | Ich nehme den Regenschirm. | ||
| Feminine | Das ist die Uhr. | Sie bekommen die Uhr. | ||
| Neuter | Das ist das Auto. | Ich möchte das Auto. | ||
| Plural | Das sind die Brötchen. | Ich brauche die Brötchen. |
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Reminder: Never leave a verb all alone! Always learn verbs along with the case required by the components they modify! |
More:
The following charts show you how personal pronouns, definite and indefinite articles, possessive determiners and the negation word "kein" change in the nominative, accusative and dative. Can you detect any patterns?
| Nominative | Masculine | Feminine | ||
| Personal pronouns | er | sie | ||
| Definite articles | der Mann | die Frau | ||
| Indefinite articles | ein Mann | eine Frau | ||
| Possessive articles | mein Mann | meine Frau | ||
| Negation | kein Mann | keine Frau | ||
| Nominative | Neuter | Plural | ||
| Personal pronouns | es | sie | ||
| Definite articles | das Kind | die Kinder | ||
| Indefinite articles | ein Kind | Kinder | ||
| Possessive articles | mein Kind | meine Kinder | ||
| Negation | kein Kind | keine Kinder |
| Accusative | Masculine | Feminine | ||
| Personal pronouns | ihn | sie | ||
| Definite articles | den Mann | die Frau | ||
| Indefinite articles | einen Mann | eine Frau | ||
| Possessive articles | meinen Mann | meine Frau | ||
| Negation | keinen Mann | keine Frau | ||
| Accusative | Neuter | Plural | ||
| Personal pronouns | es | sie | ||
| Definite articles | das Kind | die Kinder | ||
| Indefinite articles | ein Kind | Kinder | ||
| Possessive articles | mein Kind | meine Kinder | ||
| Negation | kein Kind | keine Kinder |
| Dative | Masculine | Feminine | ||
| Personal pronouns | ihm | ihr | ||
| Definite articles | dem Mann | der Frau | ||
| Indefinite articles | einem Mann | einer Frau | ||
| Possessive articles | meinem Mann | meiner Frau | ||
| Negation | keinem Mann | keiner Frau | ||
| Dative | Neuter | Plural | ||
| Personal pronouns | ihm | ihnen | ||
| Definite articles | dem Kind | den Kindern | ||
| Indefinite articles | einem Kind | Kindern | ||
| Possessive articles | meinem Kind | unseren Kindern | ||
| Negation | keinem Kind | keinen Kindern |