Nominative and Accusative• What is the subject of a sentence?

The subject of a sentence is the person or thing that is “doing” the verb. To find the subject, look for the verb and ask “Who or what is doing?” (substitute the verb for “doing” -- Who or what is singing? Who or what is sleeping?) Subjects are always in the NOMINATIVE CASE.

• What is the direct object of a sentence?The direct object receives the action of the verb. To find the direct object, look for the verb and ask “Who or what is being verbed?” (as in Who or what is being kicked? Who or what is being read?) Direct objects take the ACCUSATIVE CASE.

• For example:

• The woman sees the girl. The woman is the subject & is nominative. the girl is the direct object and is accusative.

• The girl sees the woman. The girl is the subject and is nominative. the woman is the direct object & is

accusative.

• Kevin Rudd is the Prime Minister. Kevin Rudd is the subject and is nominative. the Prime Minister is ALSO

nominative because it follows “to be” (is).

Nominative

Masc. Der Tisch ist braun. (The table is brown.)

Fem. Die Lampe ist neu. (The lamp is new.)

Neut. Das Fenster ist offen. (The window is open.)

Plural Die Bücher sind interessant.(The books are interesting.)

or

Masc. Das ist der Tisch.(That is the table.)

All of the nouns above are in the nominative case because they are the subjects of the sentences or because they follow the verb “sein.”

Accusative 

Masc. Ich sehe den Tisch. Ich habe einen Tisch.

I see the table. I have a table.

Fem. Ich sehe die Lampe. Ich habe eine Lampe.

I see the lamp. I have a lamp.

Neut. Ich sehe das Fenster. Ich habe ein Fenster.

I see the window. I have a window.

Plural Ich sehe die Bücher. Ich habe keine Bücher.

I see the books. I have no books.

The nouns above are all in the accusative case because they are direct objects.

To summarise in a few words:

Nominative case is used:

- for the subjects of sentences 

- after any form of the verb “to be” 

Accusative case is used:   

- for direct objects (the thing being hit,

being read, being had)

- after accusative prepositions

Table Summary:Masculine Feminine Neuter Plural

Nominativederder

einein

diedie

eineeine

dasdas

einein

diedie

keinekeineAccusative

denden

eineneinen

diedie

eineeine

dasdas

einein

diedie

keinekeineDative dem

einem

dereiner

demeinem

denkeinen

Some more examples:

• Ich schlage meinen Bruder.

• I hit my brother.

• Ich frage den Lehrer.

• I am asking the (male) teacher.

• Meine Mutter liebt mich.

• My mum loves me.

NominativeNominative AccusativeAccusative

ich ich II mich mich meme

du du youyou dich dich youyou

er er he, ithe, it ihn ihn him, ithim, it

sie sie she, itshe, it sie sie her, ither, it

es es itit es es itit

wir wir wewe uns uns usus

ihr ihr you you (plural)(plural) euch euch you you (plural)(plural)

sie sie theythey sie sie them them

Sie Sie you you (formal)(formal) Sie Sie you you (formal)(formal)

Remember: pronouns change in the accusative case too!

Circle all nouns in the nominative, and underlineunderline all nouns in the accusative.

1. I meet them on Tuesday.

2. He plays the piano.

3. They invited me.

4. Run Lola Run is a German movie.

5. Paul hit the ball.

6. I am sleeping.

7. Martin and Petra like books.

8. Is that a Mercedes?

9. Have you seen a Shakespeare play?

10. Donald owns a hotel and a car.

themthem

Und jetzt ihr!

(and now you!)

1. I meet themthem on Tuesday.

2. He plays the pianopiano.

3. They invited meme.

4. Run Lola Run is a German movie.

5. Paul hit the ballball.

6. I am sleeping.

7. Martin and Petra like booksbooks.

8. Is that a Mercedes?

9. Have you seen a Shakespeare playplay?

10. Donald owns a hotelhotel and a carcar.

1. Er hat ein Buch. Subjekt = ________ Objekt = _______

2. Ich trinke Kaffee. Subjekt = ________ Objekt = _______

3. Martin kauft CDs. Subjekt = ________ Objekt = _______

4. Peter hat den Stift. Subjekt = ________ Objekt = _______

5. Herr Schmidt trinkt eine Cola und ein Bier.

Subjekt = ________ Objekt = _______

6. Unsere Großeltern sprechen Deutsch.

Subjekt = ________ Objekt = _______

Now practice identifying subjects and objects in these German sentences.

BuchBuch

IchIch

MartinMartin

PeterPeter

Herr Herr SchmidtSchmidt

GroßelternGroßeltern

ErEr

KaffeeKaffee

CDsCDs

StiftStift

Cola & Cola & BierBier

DeutschDeutsch

1. Wir kaufen _________ Wagen. (_____)2. Ich nehme _________ Zeitung. (_____)3. Wir sehen _________ Hund. (_____)4. Wir besuchen _________ Mann. (_____)5. Du brauchst _________ Buch. (_____)6. Ich lese _________ Uhr. (_____)7. Sie treffen _________ Freundin. (_____)8. Jane bekommt _________ Brief. (_____)9. Ich fahre _________ Motorrad. (_____)10. Bob hat _________ Auto. (_____)

•Firstly, use a dictionary to find out the case of these nouns. Put a m,

f or nt in the brackets at the end of each sentence.

•Then, fill in the appropriate forms of the, a, my & no/not any (you

choose which word to use). Translate each sentence into EnglishTranslate each sentence into English.

•Remember: a direct object is having something done to

it.Eg: Ich habe einen Apfel. (m) I have an apple.

einen m

1. Wir kaufen einen Wagen. (m)

2. Ich nehme eine Zeitung. (f)

3. Wir sehen einen Hund. (m)

4. Wir besuchen einen Mann. (m)

5. Du brauchst ein Buch. (nt)

6. Ich lese eine Uhr. (f)

7. Sie treffen eine Freundin. (f)

8. Jane bekommt einen Brief. (m)

9. Ich fahre einen Motorrad. (m)

10. Bob hat ein Auto. (nt)

We buy a car.

I take a newspaper.

We see a dog.

We visit a man.

You need a book.

I read a clock.

They meet a (female) friend.

Jane receives a letter.

I drive a motorbike.

Bob has a car.

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