Nouns

Accusative

Akkusativ

One of the four cases in German. It answers the questions Wen/Was? (whom/what?). In a sentence with two objects, it usually describes the object of the activity being performed. The accusative case Akkusativ is also used with certain prepositions (in particular when an activity involves motions or a change of state).

Examples

  • Translation
  • I am eating an apple.
  • Explanation
  • Was esse ich? (What am I eating? / What do I eat?)
  • Translation
  • I am giving my dog a toy.
  • Explanation
  • Was gebe ich meinem Hund? (What am I giving [to] my dog? What do I give [to] my dog?)
  • Translation
  • I am calling my dad.
  • Explanation
  • Wen rufe ich an? (Whom am I calling?)
  • jdn +Akkusativ an|rufen - to call sb on the phone (separable verb)

Construction

We almost never add anything else to the noun in Akkusativ (the form of the noun in Akkusativ and Nominativ are most often the same).

Declension of the noun in the accusative case
masculine feminine neutral plural
definite article den Mann die Frau das Kind die Leute
indefinite article einen Mann eine Frau ein Kind Leute

Applications

The accusative case after certain prepositions

The noun is always in the accusative case after the following prepositions: bis, durch, für, gegen, ohne, um.

  • Translation
  • I am walking/going through the forest.
  • Translation
  • I have to buy a present for my girlfriend.
The accusative case after certain verbs

A noun is always in the accusative case after the following verbs: haben, sehen, hören, an|rufen, brauchen, essen, lesen. (There are many more.)

  • Translation
  • He is searching for a flat in Berlin.
  • Translation
  • I have a good idea.
  • Translation
  • I am reading a newspaper.
  • Translation
  • She called the landlord.

Exceptions and special cases

Nouns that belong to the N-Deklination group

The nouns belonging to the N-Deklination group are nouns (almost always masculine) that in the following cases Genitiv, Akkusativ and Dativ get an additional suffix -n or -en. (Details in the chapter about N-Deklination)

  • Translation
  • The doctor is examining the patient.
  • Translation
  • The viewer sees the hero die.
  • Translation
  • Please say your last name.