The accusative
Mark direct objects with the correct article.
The rule
The accusative often marks the direct object. Masculine der becomes den and ein becomes einen; feminine, neuter and plural articles keep their nominative forms.
der → den · ein → einen | die/eine, das/ein, plural die stay unchanged
First identify the nominative subject: who or what performs the action? Then ask Wen? for a person or Was? for a thing directly receiving that action. The answer is usually the accusative object.
Masculine articles show the key change: der → den and ein → einen. The same -n marker appears in kein → keinen and possessives such as mein → meinen.
Feminine, neuter, and plural article forms look the same in nominative and accusative at this level: die/eine, das/ein, and plural die/no indefinite article.
Nominative and accusative article forms
| Gender / number | Nominative | Accusative | Example object |
|---|---|---|---|
| masculine | der / ein | den / einen | Ich sehe den Mann. |
| feminine | die / eine | die / eine | Ich sehe die Frau. |
| neuter | das / ein | das / ein | Ich sehe das Kind. |
| plural | die / — | die / — | Ich sehe die Kinder. |
The masculine -n family
| Determiner type | Nominative | Accusative |
|---|---|---|
| definite | der Mann | den Mann |
| indefinite | ein Mann | einen Mann |
| negative | kein Mann | keinen Mann |
| possessive | mein Mann | meinen Mann |
Common verbs with direct objects
| Verb | German chunk | English |
|---|---|---|
| haben | ein Auto haben | to have a car |
| brauchen | einen Termin brauchen | to need an appointment |
| sehen | den Mann sehen | to see the man |
| lesen | die Zeitung lesen | to read the newspaper |
| suchen | den Schlüssel suchen | to look for the key |
German examples with English meanings
Die Frau kauft den Mantel.
The woman buys the coat.
Mantel is masculine accusative
Ich brauche einen Termin.
I need an appointment.
Er liest die Zeitung.
He reads the newspaper.
Wir suchen das Hotel.
We are looking for the hotel.
Der Schüler liest den Text.
subject: der Schüler · object: den Text
Das Kind isst einen Apfel.
subject: das Kind · object: einen Apfel
Mia besucht ihre Freunde.
subject: Mia · object: ihre Freunde
Sie trinkt keinen Kaffee.
She does not drink coffee.
Wir besuchen unseren Freund.
We visit our friend.
Den Bus nehme ich heute nicht.
I am not taking the bus today.
Die Zeitung liest mein Vater.
My father reads the newspaper.
Das Hotel suchen wir noch.
We are still looking for the hotel.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Ich sehe der Mann.
Correct: Ich sehe den Mann.
The masculine direct object requires den.
Incorrect: Sie braucht ein Termin.
Correct: Sie braucht einen Termin.
Masculine accusative ein becomes einen.
Incorrect: Ich besuche mein Bruder.
Correct: Ich besuche meinen Bruder.
Masculine accusative possessives take -en.
Incorrect: Den Mann kauft das Brot.
Correct: Der Mann kauft das Brot.
The man performs the action and must be nominative.
Details and useful distinctions
Frequent accusative verbs include haben, brauchen, kaufen, sehen, besuchen, lesen, essen, trinken, suchen, nehmen, and finden. Learn a verb with a natural object phrase.
Word order does not itself create the accusative. In Den Mantel kauft die Frau heute, den Mantel remains accusative because it receives kaufen, even though it occupies position one.
The question word wen is accusative and asks about people; was can ask about things: Wen besuchst du? Was kaufst du? Wer, by contrast, normally asks for the nominative subject.
Ask two questions in order. First: who or what performs the action? That answer is nominative. Second: whom or what does the action directly affect? That answer is accusative.
In Die Frau kauft den Mantel, Die Frau answers Wer kauft? and den Mantel answers Was kauft die Frau? The roles—not the noun order alone—determine the case.
When the direct object is masculine, add the accusative -n signal to the determiner: den, einen, keinen, meinen, deinen, seinen, ihren, unseren, euren, Ihren.
Do not add this ending to the noun itself. The difference appears on the article or possessive: ein Termin → einen Termin; mein Bruder → meinen Bruder.
German can move an object to position one to highlight it. The conjugated verb stays second, and the subject follows, but case roles remain unchanged.
Compare Die Frau kauft den Mantel and Den Mantel kauft die Frau heute. The -n in den continues to mark the coat as the direct object.
Practise this grammar
Find subject and object by meaning, then mark masculine objects with the -n family: den, einen, keinen, meinen. Other A1 article forms stay unchanged.
Open The accusative exercises →
For source references and editorial level notes, see the grammar reference. You can report a correction if an explanation or example seems wrong.