Accusative Pronouns
Accusative pronouns replace nouns in the accusative case (direct objects). They're essential for avoiding repetition and making sentences more natural.
Learning accusative pronouns is one of the first steps in mastering German pronouns.
This lesson covers all accusative pronouns and how to use them.
Explanation
Accusative pronouns: mich (me), dich (you), ihn (him/it), sie (her/it), es (it), uns (us), euch (you), sie (them), Sie (you formal).
Accusative pronouns replace direct objects: 'Ich sehe den Mann' → 'Ich sehe ihn' (I see him).
Pronouns come before nouns in the sentence: 'Ich sehe ihn und den Lehrer' (I see him and the teacher).
Accusative pronouns are used with verbs that require accusative: sehen (to see), kaufen (to buy), lesen (to read), essen (to eat).
Accusative Pronouns
| Person | Pronoun | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ich | mich | Er sieht mich | He sees me |
| du | dich | Ich sehe dich | I see you |
| er | ihn | Ich sehe ihn | I see him |
| sie (she) | sie | Ich sehe sie | I see her |
| es | es | Ich sehe es | I see it |
| wir | uns | Er sieht uns | He sees us |
| ihr | euch | Ich sehe euch | I see you |
| sie (they) | sie | Ich sehe sie | I see them |
| Sie (formal) | Sie | Ich sehe Sie | I see you |
Examples
Ich sehe dich.
I see you.
Er kauft ihn.
He buys it/him.
Wir lesen es.
We read it.
Sie essen uns nicht.
They don't eat us.
Ich sehe sie und ihn.
I see her and him.
Common Mistakes
Ich sehe du
Ich sehe dich
Direct objects use accusative pronouns. Use 'dich', not 'du' (nominative).
Er sieht wir
Er sieht uns
Accusative of 'wir' is 'uns', not 'wir'. Use 'uns' for direct objects.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!
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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.