Deutsch · A1 · grammar · 4 minutes
Nominative and accusative
Mark the doer as nominative and a direct object as accusative, where masculine articles visibly change.
Understand the choice
Case shows each noun phrase’s job even when word order varies. At A1, focus on the visible masculine contrast: der Mann acts, einen Apfel receives the action.
Core rule: The subject is nominative; a direct object is accusative. Masculine der/ein become den/einen, while feminine and neuter articles keep their basic forms.
Notice it in context
Der Mann kauft einen Apfel und eine Zeitung.
The man buys an apple and a newspaper.
Der Mann is nominative subject; einen Apfel is masculine accusative; eine Zeitung is feminine accusative.
Die Frau sieht den Hund.
The woman sees the dog.
Die Frau is subject; masculine der Hund changes to den Hund as object.
Das Kind liest ein Buch.
The child reads a book.
Neuter ein Buch looks the same in nominative and accusative; role comes from syntax.
What to remember
- Only masculine singular articles visibly change between these two cases.
- A form that looks unchanged can still be accusative by function.
Common trap: Do not label the first noun nominative only because it comes first; identify who performs the verb.