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Nominative and Accusative in German
Understanding the difference between nominative and accusative is the fastest way to start building correct German sentences. Most beginner sentences are simply: Subject (nominative) + Verb + Object (accusative).
Nominative: the Subject
The nominative is the subject — who does the action (Wer? Was?).
- Der Mann sieht…
- Die Frau kauft…
Accusative: the Direct Object
The accusative is often the direct object (Wen? Was?).
- Der Mann sieht den Hund.
- Die Frau kauft das Brot.
The Key Article Change (der → den)
Most confusion comes from masculine nouns:
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der / ein | die / eine | das / ein | die |
| Accusative | den / einen | die / eine | das / ein | die |
How to Decide Fast
- Find the verb.
- Ask: who does it? → nominative.
- Ask: what/whom? → accusative.
Mini Practice
- Der Mann sieht (der/den) Hund.
- Ich habe (ein/einen) Bruder.
- Wir kaufen (das/den) Brot. (Hint: “Brot” is neuter → “das Brot”)
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