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 an indefinite 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 | Neuter | ||||
| Nominative | ein | eine | ein | |||
| Accusative | einen | eine | ein |
| Verb + nominative | Verb + accusative | |||
| Masculine | Das ist ein Stadtplan. | Ich brauche einen Stadtplan. | ||
| Feminine | Das ist eine Zeitung. | Ich brauche eine Zeitung. | ||
| Neuter | Das ist ein Auto. | Ich brauche ein Auto. | ||
| Plural | Das sind Autos. | Ich brauche Autos. |
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Never leave a verb all alone! Always learn verbs along with the case required by the components they modify! |