How to Choose: Accusative or Nominative
The main difference between nominative and accusative is their function: nominative is for the subject, accusative is for the direct object.
This is one of the first case distinctions learners need to master.
This lesson covers how to distinguish between nominative and accusative.
Explanation
Nominative = Subject (who/what does the action): 'Der Mann liest' (The man reads) - 'Der Mann' is nominative subject.
Accusative = Direct object (what/who receives the action): 'Ich sehe den Mann' (I see the man) - 'den Mann' is accusative direct object.
Only masculine articles change: nominative 'der' → accusative 'den'. Feminine, neuter, and plural stay the same.
After 'sein' (to be), both are nominative: 'Er ist ein Lehrer' (He is a teacher) - both 'Er' and 'ein Lehrer' are nominative.
Question test: 'Who/what does the action?' = Nominative. 'What/whom do I see/buy/etc.?' = Accusative.
Nominative vs Accusative
| Case | Function | Masculine Article | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | Subject | der | Der Mann liest | The man reads |
| Accusative | Direct object | den | Ich sehe den Mann | I see the man |
| Nominative | After 'sein' | der | Er ist der Mann | He is the man |
| Accusative | After transitive verbs | den | Ich kaufe den Apfel | I buy the apple |
Examples
Der Mann liest. (nominative - subject)
The man reads.
Ich sehe den Mann. (accusative - direct object)
I see the man.
Er ist der Lehrer. (nominative - both after 'sein')
He is the teacher.
Sie kauft die Zeitung. (accusative - direct object)
She buys the newspaper.
Common Mistakes
Den Mann liest
Der Mann liest
The subject is always nominative. Use 'der', not 'den' (accusative).
Ich sehe der Mann
Ich sehe den Mann
Direct objects are accusative. Masculine 'der' becomes 'den' in accusative.
Er ist den Lehrer
Er ist der Lehrer
After 'sein', both are nominative. Use 'der', 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.