The accusative case identifies the direct object of a sentence — the person or thing receiving the action directly. If you've read our nominative case guide, accusative is the natural next step: it's the case where German finally starts changing an article on you.
Simple Definition
Accusative = Who/What is receiving the action?
Ich sehe einen Mann. (I see a man.)
Question: "Wen sehe ich?" (Whom do I see?) → Einen Mann = Accusative
Accusative Articles: Den, Die, Das, Die
The accusative articles change only for masculine nouns. Feminine, neuter, and plural stay exactly the same as nominative:
| Gender | Article | Example | Change from Nominative? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | den | den Mann | YES (der → den) |
| Feminine | die | die Frau | No |
| Neuter | das | das Kind | No |
| Plural | die | die Männer | No |
Key point: Only the masculine article changes. This is exactly why gender matters so much in German — miss the gender, and you won't know whether to change the article at all.
Why Only Masculine Changes?
German marks masculine nouns in the accusative (der → den) to show clearly which noun is being acted upon. Feminine (die → die) and neuter (das → das) don't change because context usually makes the role clear without it.
How to Identify the Accusative Case
Ask yourself: "Who or what is receiving the action directly?" The answer is accusative.
Sentence: Ich kaufe einen Apfel.
Question: Was kaufe ich? (What do I buy?)
Answer: Einen Apfel = Accusative (direct object)
Sentence: Der Lehrer erklärt die Lektion.
Question: Was erklärt der Lehrer? (What does the teacher explain?)
Answer: Die Lektion = Accusative (direct object)
Sentence: Wir sehen die neuen Filme.
Question: Was sehen wir? (What do we see?)
Answer: Die neuen Filme = Accusative (direct object)
Accusative with Adjectives
When accusative is modified by an adjective, the ending changes too — and again, masculine is the one that stands out:
| Gender + Article | Adjective Ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| den + adjective | -en | den großen Mann |
| die + adjective | -e | die große Frau |
| das + adjective | -e | das große Kind |
| die (plural) + adjective | -en | die großen Kinder |
Common Accusative Verbs
These verbs take a direct object (accusative):
- sehen (to see) → Ich sehe den Mann
- kaufen (to buy) → Ich kaufe einen Apfel
- essen (to eat) → Ich esse das Brot
- trinken (to drink) → Sie trinkt Kaffee
- lesen (to read) → Er liest ein Buch
- schreiben (to write) → Wir schreiben einen Brief
- verstehen (to understand) → Ich verstehe die Frage
- lieben (to love) → Sie liebt ihren Bruder
- kennen (to know) → Wir kennen diese Stadt
Accusative Practice Sentences
Identify the accusative object in each sentence:
- Ich kaufe einen neuen Computer. (I buy a new computer.) — Accusative: einen neuen Computer
- Der Hund frisst das Fleisch. (The dog eats the meat.) — Accusative: das Fleisch
- Maria sieht ihre Freunde. (Maria sees her friends.) — Accusative: ihre Freunde
- Wir besuchen das Museum morgen. (We visit the museum tomorrow.) — Accusative: das Museum
- Der Mann trägt einen schweren Koffer. (The man carries a heavy suitcase.) — Accusative: einen schweren Koffer
Accusative vs. Nominative: Key Differences
| Aspect | Nominative | Accusative |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Subject (doing action) | Direct object (receiving action) |
| Question | Wer/Was? | Wen/Was? |
| Masculine Article | der | den (changes!) |
| Feminine Article | die | die (no change) |
| Neuter Article | das | das (no change) |
| Plural Article | die | die (no change) |
Common Mistakes with Accusative
Mistake 1: Forgetting Masculine Changes
Wrong: Ich sehe der Mann. (using nominative)
Right: Ich sehe den Mann. (using accusative)
This is the most common mistake — forgetting that the masculine article changes.
Mistake 2: Changing Non-Masculine Articles Unnecessarily
Wrong: Ich sehe dene Frau. (changing feminine unnecessarily)
Right: Ich sehe die Frau. (feminine stays the same)
Mistake 3: Confusing Direct and Indirect Objects
Wrong: Ich gebe den Mann ein Buch. (accusative used for an indirect object)
Right: Ich gebe dem Mann ein Buch. (dative for the indirect object)
Geben = give → TO someone (dative), something (accusative).
Mistake 4: Not Changing Adjective Endings
Wrong: Ich sehe den große Mann.
Right: Ich sehe den großen Mann.
Accusative adjectives after a masculine article need the -en ending.
Accusative in Different Verb Constructions
Transitive verbs (take direct objects): Der Schüler schreibt einen Test. (The student writes a test.) — Accusative: einen Test
Reflexive verbs with accusative: Ich wasche mich. (I wash myself.) — Accusative: mich (accusative reflexive pronoun)
Two objects (accusative + dative): Der Lehrer gibt den Schülern ein Buch. (The teacher gives the students a book.) — Accusative: ein Buch (what) · Dative: den Schülern (to whom)
Summary Table: Accusative Case
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Function | Direct object of the sentence |
| Question | Wen? (Whom?) / Was? (What?) |
| Masculine Article | den (changes from der!) |
| Feminine Article | die (no change) |
| Neuter Article | das (no change) |
| Plural Article | die (no change) |
| Adjective Ending | -en (mostly) |
| Common Verb | sehen (to see) |
| Example | Ich sehe den Mann. |
Practice Exercises
Fill in the correct accusative form:
- Ich kaufe _____ Buch. (I buy a book.) — Answer: ein
- Sie sieht _____ Freundin. (She sees her girlfriend.) — Answer: ihre
- Wir essen _____ Apfel. (We eat an apple.) — Answer: einen
- Er kennt _____ neue Stadt. (He knows the new city.) — Answer: die
- Die Mutter liebt _____ Sohn. (The mother loves her son.) — Answer: ihren
Real-World Accusative
In everyday German, accusative appears constantly:
- Ich möchte einen Kaffee. (I want a coffee.)
- Sie trägt einen Rucksack. (She carries a backpack.)
- Wir verstehen die Aufgabe. (We understand the task.)
- Das System akzeptiert die Zahlung. (The system accepts the payment.)
FAQ
Why does only masculine change in accusative?
German marks masculine nouns in the accusative (der → den) to clarify
which noun is being acted upon. It's a historical remnant of Old Germanic case marking.
Is accusative the same as "object" in English?
Yes — accusative = direct object, dative = indirect object.
How do I practice accusative?
Identify the direct object in every German sentence you read. Ask "Wen/Was?" every time.
Do feminine and neuter nouns really not change?
Correct — only the masculine article changes (der → den).
Related Grammar
Accusative makes the most sense alongside the case it's compared against — see our nominative case guide and the full German cases overview. Ready to put it into practice? Our A1 grammar lessons and grammar exercises both cover case practice directly.
Not sure where your German currently stands? Take our free placement test — about 20 minutes, and it tells you exactly which level to start from. Prefer to talk it through first? Book a free consultation to discuss your grammar goals, or go straight to enrolling in a live batch that fits your schedule.