How to Choose: Nominative, Accusative or Dative
Mastering case selection requires understanding the function of each noun in the sentence.
Each case has a specific role: nominative (subject), accusative (direct object), dative (indirect object).
This lesson provides a comprehensive guide to choosing the correct case.
Explanation
Nominative = Subject (who/what does the action): 'Der Mann gibt' (The man gives) - 'Der Mann' is nominative.
Accusative = Direct object (what/who receives the action directly): 'Ich gebe das Buch' (I give the book) - 'das Buch' is accusative.
Dative = Indirect object (to/for whom): 'Ich gebe dem Mann das Buch' (I give the man the book) - 'dem Mann' is dative.
Question strategy: 'Who/what does the action?' = Nominative. 'What/whom?' = Accusative. 'To/for whom?' = Dative.
Some verbs require specific cases: 'helfen' requires dative, 'sehen' requires accusative, 'sein' requires nominative for both subject and complement.
Case Selection Guide
| Case | Function | Question | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | Subject | Who/what does? | Der Mann liest | The man reads |
| 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 |
| Nominative | After 'sein' | Who/what is? | Er ist der Lehrer | He is the teacher |
Examples
Der Mann gibt dem Kind das Buch.
The man gives the child the book. (Der Mann = nominative, dem Kind = dative, das Buch = accusative)
Ich helfe der Frau.
I help the woman. (Ich = nominative, der Frau = dative)
Er sieht den Film.
He sees the movie. (Er = nominative, den Film = accusative)
Wir schenken dem Kind ein Spielzeug.
We give the child a toy. (Wir = nominative, dem Kind = dative, ein Spielzeug = accusative)
Common Mistakes
Der Mann gibt den Kind
Der Mann gibt dem Kind
Indirect objects (to/for whom) are dative. Use 'dem', not 'den'.
Ich helfe die Frau
Ich helfe der Frau
'Helfen' requires dative, not accusative. Use 'der', not 'die'.
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.