How to Choose: Accusative or Dative
Choosing between accusative and dative can be challenging. The key is understanding the function of the noun in the sentence.
Accusative is for direct objects (what/who receives the action directly). Dative is for indirect objects (to/for whom something is done).
This lesson covers rules and strategies for choosing between accusative and dative.
Explanation
Direct objects (what/who receives the action) = Accusative: 'Ich sehe den Mann' (I see the man) - 'den Mann' is accusative.
Indirect objects (to/for whom) = Dative: 'Ich gebe dem Mann das Buch' (I give the man the book) - 'dem Mann' is dative, 'das Buch' is accusative.
Some verbs require dative: helfen (to help), geben (to give), schenken (to give), danken (to thank), folgen (to follow), gehören (to belong to).
Some verbs require accusative: sehen (to see), kaufen (to buy), lesen (to read), machen (to make), essen (to eat).
Two-way prepositions can take either accusative (movement) or dative (location): 'Ich gehe in die Schule' (accusative - movement) vs 'Ich bin in der Schule' (dative - location).
Accusative vs Dative - Key Differences
| Case | Function | Question | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accusative | Direct object | What/Whom? | Ich sehe den Mann | I see the man |
| Dative | Indirect object | To/For whom? | Ich gebe dem Mann das Buch | I give the man the book |
| Accusative | After certain verbs | What? | Ich kaufe die Zeitung | I buy the newspaper |
| Dative | After certain verbs | To/For whom? | Ich helfe der Frau | I help the woman |
Examples
Ich sehe den Mann. (accusative - direct object)
I see the man.
Ich gebe dem Mann das Buch. (dative - indirect object)
I give the man the book.
Er hilft der Frau. (dative - required by verb)
He helps the woman.
Ich kaufe die Zeitung. (accusative - direct object)
I buy the newspaper.
Ich gehe in die Schule. (accusative - movement)
I go into the school.
Ich bin in der Schule. (dative - location)
I am in the school.
Common Mistakes
Ich helfe die Frau
Ich helfe der Frau
'Helfen' requires dative, not accusative. Use 'der', not 'die'.
Ich gebe den Mann
Ich gebe dem Mann
Indirect objects (to/for whom) are dative. Use 'dem', not 'den'.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!
Start Exercises →Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which article to use?
German articles (der, die, das) depend on the gender of the noun. While there are some patterns, many nouns must be memorized. Practice and exposure to German will help you learn them naturally.
What's the difference between definite and indefinite articles?
Definite articles (der, die, das) mean 'the' and refer to specific things. Indefinite articles (ein, eine) mean 'a/an' and refer to non-specific things. Both must match the noun's gender: use 'ein' for masculine/neuter and 'eine' for feminine.
Are there rules for determining noun gender?
While there are some helpful patterns (e.g., words ending in -ung are usually feminine), there are many exceptions. The best approach is to learn nouns with their articles from the beginning.
What happens if I use the wrong article?
While using the wrong article is a common mistake, native speakers will usually still understand you. However, using the correct article is important for sounding natural and fluent in German.