What is the Accusative Case?
- We use the accusative case after certain verbs and prepositions
- It is also known as the direct object.
- The direct object is the thing that is acted upon (it „receives“ the action)
- The question for the accusative case is : „Wen?“ or „Was?“
Accusative Case – Examples
- „Der Mann hat ein Pferd.“Declension in Accusative Case
What does the man have? – Ein Pferd!
The accusative case is always used after the verb „haben“. The noun in the accusative case is also the direct object.
- „Der Junge schenkt einer Freundin die Blumen.“
What does the boy give to a friend? – Die Blumen!
„Die Blumen“ is the direct object, which is acted upon!
Declension in Accusative Case
The article must match the case:
| Masculine | den Mann | Masculine | einen Mann |
| Feminine | die Frau | Feminine | eine Frau |
| Neuter | das Kind | Neuter | ein Kind |
| Plural | die Eltern | Plural | - Eltern |
Use of the Accusative Case
Use: Direct Object
In sentences with only one object, the object uses the accusative case unless the verb or preposition specifically requires the use of the nominative, genitive, or dative case.
- „Er gibt der Frau die Blumen.“
(The flowers are acted upon, but they don’t do anything on their own and don´t receive anything ⇒ direct object)
- „Er schenkt ihr ein Auto.“
(The car is acted upon, but it doesn’t do anything on its own and it doesn´t receive anything ⇒ direct object)
Use: Accusative Object
In sentences that have just the subject and a single object, the nouns use the accusative case, except when the preposition or the verb requires nominative, dative or genitive.
- „Ich habe ein Eis.“
- „Er singt ein Liebeslied.“
- „Er spielt den Ball.“
The verbs require the accusative case. (More about that in unit: Verbs with Complements) That´s not that hard because at the same time it´s the direct object. It is acted upon; it doesn’t do anything on its own and doesn’t receive anything.
⇒ direct object ⇒ Accusative Case
Use: After Prepositions
The prepositions „um“, „durch“, „ohne“, „bis“, „für“ and „gegen“ ALWAYS use the accusative case
- „Er fährt durch den Tunnel.“
- „Die Blumen sind für meine Freundin.“
- „Der Mann geht um das Haus.“
The prepositions don´t care if it´s a direct or indirect object. It also doesn’t matter which case the verb requires. If you have a preposition in front of a noun, the preposition determine the case. ALWAYS! (More about that in Chapter 6: Prepositions)
Memorize: If you have a preposition in front of a noun, none of the other rules apply anymore. Only the rule of the preposition is still valid. Direct or indirect object doesn´t matter, the same with verbs that require a special case! The preposition shows you the case, ALWAYS!
Further Information:
- All information about the nominative case: The Nominative Case
- All information about the dative case: The Dative Case
- All information about the genitive case: The Genitive Case
- Troubles determining the correct case? Check out my guide: Step-by-Step Guide to the Correct German Case
- Some prepositions use dative and accusative case. More about that in: Two-Way-Prepositions
- You can learn which verbs require a special case in the unit: Verbs with Complements
- All articles have to match the case. Go to German Articles and learn which types of articles exist.
- Pronouns are placeholders for nouns. That means the get declined as well. Learn more here: Pronouns
- Some masculine nouns need an extra „n“ at the end: N-Declension
- Adjectives change their endings to match the case as well: Adjective Declension
The Dative Case
Cases │ Dative case │ Usage, Declension, examples and an easy explanation about dative case. │ When do we use dative case? │ Irregularities? │ EasyDeutsch
The Genitive Case
Cases │ Genitive case │ Usage, Declension, examples and an easy explanation about genitive case. │ When do we use genitive case? │ Irregularities?
Nominative Case
Cases │ Nominative case │ Usage, Declension, examples and an easy explanation about nominative case. │ When do we use nominative case? │ Irregularities?
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