German grammar › A1

The four cases — overview

Level A1 · Who does what to whom?

What is a case?

A case shows what job a noun is doing in the sentence. English mostly shows the job with word order. German also changes the article (and pronouns).

Why German needs it

  • To show who does the action and who receives it.
  • Many verbs and prepositions need a specific case.
  • Because the article shows the job, German word order can move more freely.

Cause → effect

job in the sentence → case → article form

What changes

the article (der → den); the nouns stay the same

Examples

  • **Der** Mann sieht **den** Hund. — The man sees the dog. — der = doer, den = receiver
  • **Den** Hund sieht **der** Mann. — Same meaning — the articles still show who does what.

Remember: Find the verb, then ask who does it — that noun is the nominative.

Watch out: Dative doesn’t always mean English “to”: Ich helfe dem Mann = I help the man. Some verbs and prepositions simply need it.

The article shows the noun’s job

{Der} Mann sieht {den} Hund. — The man sees the dog.

Four cases, four questions

  • nom: Wer? Was? (who does it) · akk: Wen? Was? (whom / what) · dat: Wem? (to whom) · gen: Wessen? (whose)
  • der Mann · den Mann · dem Mann · des Mannes
  • The article changes — the noun mostly stays the same.
  • All article forms: next lesson, Definite article declension.

who does it

  • The subject: Der Mann liest. · After sein · werden · bleiben: Das ist ein Hund. · Er wird Lehrer.

whom / what

  • The direct object — most verbs take it: Ich sehe den Hund. · Ich brauche einen Stift. · Only der-words change: der → den · ein → einen · kein → keinen
  • After für, ohne, durch, gegen, um: lesson Accusative prepositions — DOGFU.

to whom

  • The receiver: Ich gebe dem Mann das Buch. · Some verbs always take it: Ich helfe dem Mann. · Das gefällt mir. · Everyday phrases: Wie geht es dir? · Mir ist kalt.
  • Dativ is not always “to”: Ich helfe dem Mann = I help the man.
  • After mit, bei, nach, aus, von, zu: lesson Dative prepositions.

whose

  • Possession — der / das words add -(e)s: das Buch des Mannes · In speech: von + Dativ: das Buch vom Mann · Names: just -s: Karls Auto
  • At A1 you mostly need to recognise it.

How to find the case

  • 1. Find the verb. 2. Who does it? Wer? → Nominativ 3. Does the verb or a preposition need a case? (helfen → Dativ) 4. Whom / what? Wen? → Akkusativ · To whom? Wem? → Dativ

Watch out

  • Word order can move: Den Mann sieht die Frau. = The woman sees the man.
  • die, das and plural look the same in Nominativ and Akkusativ — the verb tells you: Ich sehe die Frau.
  • More: er → ihn → ihm · mit den Kindern

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