The Four Cases

German has four grammatical cases that change article and adjective forms based on a noun's role in the sentence.

Overview

Definite Articles (der/die/das)

Indefinite Articles (ein/eine)

Nominative Case

Use: The subject of the sentence (who/what is doing the action)

Der Mann liest ein Buch.
↑ nominative (subject)
(The man reads a book.)

Die Frau ist Ärztin.
↑ nominative
(The woman is a doctor.)

Das Kind spielt.
↑ nominative
(The child plays.)

Also used after sein (to be) and werden (to become):

Er ist ein guter Lehrer.
         ↑ nominative (predicate nominative)
(He is a good teacher.)

Accusative Case

Use: The direct object (who/what receives the action)

Ich sehe den Mann.
         ↑ accusative (direct object)
(I see the man.)

Sie kauft einen Computer.
          ↑ accusative
(She buys a computer.)

Wir haben das Buch.
           ↑ accusative (but neuter looks same)
(We have the book.)

Note: Only masculine changes: der → den, ein → einen

Accusative Prepositions

Always use accusative after these prepositions:

Das Geschenk ist für den Mann.
                     ↑ accusative
(The gift is for the man.)

Wir gehen durch die Stadt.
(We walk through the city.)

Er kommt ohne seinen Bruder.
              ↑ accusative
(He comes without his brother.)

Dative Case

Use: The indirect object (to/for whom the action is done)

Ich gebe dem Mann das Buch.
         ↑ dative    ↑ accusative
(I give the book to the man.)

Sie schreibt ihrer Mutter einen Brief.
             ↑ dative      ↑ accusative
(She writes a letter to her mother.)

Pattern: Subject + Verb + Dative (to whom) + Accusative (what)

Dative Prepositions

Always use dative after these prepositions:

Ich wohne bei meinem Bruder.
              ↑ dative
(I live with my brother.)

Sie kommt aus der Schweiz.
              ↑ dative
(She comes from Switzerland.)

Wir fahren mit dem Zug.
               ↑ dative
(We're going by train.)

Common Dative Verbs

Some verbs always take dative objects:

Genitive Case

Use: Showing possession (whose?)

Das ist das Auto des Mannes.
                     ↑ genitive (+ -s ending)
(That is the man's car.)

Die Tasche der Frau ist rot.
               ↑ genitive
(The woman's bag is red.)

Note: Masculine and neuter nouns add -s or -es in genitive:

• der Mann → des Mannes
• das Kind → des Kindes

Genitive Prepositions

Wegen des Wetters bleiben wir zu Hause.
      ↑ genitive
(Because of the weather, we're staying home.)

Note: In spoken German, genitive is often replaced by "von + dative":

• das Auto des Mannes → das Auto von dem Mann

Two-Way Prepositions

These prepositions use accusative (motion toward) or dative (location):

Accusative = motion (Wohin? Where to?) Dative = location (Wo? Where?)

Accusative (motion):
Ich gehe in die Küche.
(I'm going into the kitchen.)

Dative (location):
Ich bin in der Küche.
(I'm in the kitchen.)

Accusative: Er legt das Buch auf den Tisch.
(He puts the book onto the table. Motion.)

Dative: Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch.
(The book is on the table. Location.)

Personal Pronouns in Cases

Siehst du mich?
(Do you see me? Accusative.)

Hilfst du mir?
(Will you help me? Dative.)

Ich gebe es ihm.
(I give it to him.)

Quick Decision Guide

1. Is it the subject? → Nominative
2. After sein/werden? → Nominative
3. Direct object (what is being verbed)? → Accusative
4. After accusative preposition? → Accusative
5. Indirect object (to/for whom)? → Dative
6. After dative preposition? → Dative
7. Two-way preposition + motion? → Accusative
8. Two-way preposition + location? → Dative
9. Showing possession? → Genitive