Nominative and accusative basics
The nominative marks the subject, while the accusative often marks the direct object.
Examples
GermanTranslation
Der Lehrer sieht den Studenten.
The teacher sees the student.
Ich kaufe einen Apfel.
I am buying an apple.
Die Frau liest das Buch.
The woman is reading the book.
Pattern
subject in nominative + object in accusative
How it works
The nominative marks the subject, while the accusative often marks the direct object. This pattern typically appears as subject in nominative + object in accusative and becomes easier when you meet it again in short, readable examples.
What to notice
- Watch the article first: der can change to den in the accusative masculine.
- The object often answers “whom?” or “what?” in relation to the verb.
Why it matters
Start with the highest-frequency verb patterns and the first visible case contrasts.
Use in context
German article changes carry much of the case information, so they deserve focused attention early.