In this article, we will detail as simply as possible the German nominative and accusative cases. Let’s go !
I- Nominative
The nominative case is used for nouns that are the subject of a sentence – who or what is performing the action
He expresses the function of :
• Subject :
Example: Die Katze schläft. ( The cat sleeps )
Example: Es gehen viele Leute. ( Many people leave )
In the last example, viele leute is the real subject, es the apparent subject.
• Attribute subject, with the verbs sein, bleiben, werden, scheinen :
Example: Ist das die Frau ? Lea bleibt die Beste in Marketing. ( Is this the woman ? Lea stays the best in Marketing )
• Salutations : Lieber Freund! ( Dear Friend ), Du armes Baby! ( Poor baby ), Liebe Freunde! ( Dear Friends )
II- Accusative
The accusative is used when the noun is the direct object in a sentence. Also to mark it by changing the article of masculine nouns and adding -n/en.
To verify that it is an accusative, we ask the question : « Wen/Was? »
A. Without prepositions
Accusative cases not preceded by a preposition expresses the function of :
Direct object : Ich hänge meinen Mantel auf. ( I hang up my coat )
Complement indicating age or measurement : Mein Neffe ist einen Monat alt. ( My nephew is one month old ) / Die Mauer ist einen Meter hoch. ( The wall is one meter high )
Adverbial phrase of time :
• Duration : Mein Onkel bleibt einen Tag in Japan. ( My uncle ist staying in Japan for a month )
• Date : Mittwoch, den 10. April. ( Wednesday, April 10th )
• Repetition : Jeden Morgen trinke ich Kaffee. ( Every morning, I drink coffee )
B. With prepositions
We use the accusative :
• After the prepositions durch (through), für (for), gegen (against) , ohne (without), um (around)
Example¹: Die Leute joggen jeden Tag durch den Wald. ( People jog through the forest everyday )
Example²: Das Haus ist für meinen Opa. ( This house is for my grandfather )
• After the prepositions in, an, auf, über, unter, neben, zwischen, hinter, when the prepositional group indicates a direction, a movement :
Example¹: Ich fahre in die Stadt. ( I’m going to the city )
Example²: Du fliegst über das Wochenende aufs Land. ( You’re going to the country for the weekend )
• After the verbs that impose a prepositional complement
Example¹: Wir verlassen uns auf dich. ( We’re counting on you )
Example²: Ich schreibe oft an meinen Vater. ( I often write to my father )
Declination of the definite and indefinite article
| Defined article | Indefinite article | |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | Den Mann | Einen Mann |
| Feminine | Die Frau | Eine Mutter |
| Neutral | Das Kind | Ein Auto |
| Plural | Die Eltern | Eltern |
► The feminine, neutral and plural forms are the same as in the nominative.
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