Nominative and Accusative

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.
Fem.
Neut.
Plural
Der Tisch ist braun. (The table is brown.)
Die Lampe ist neu. (The lamp is new.)
Das Fenster ist offen. (The window is open.)
Die Bücher sind interessant.
(The books are interesting.)
Masc.
or
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.
I see the table.
Ich habe einen Tisch.
I have a table.
Fem.
Ich habe eine Lampe.
I have a lamp.
Ich sehe die Lampe.
I see the lamp.
Neut. Ich sehe das Fenster.
I see the window.
Ich habe ein Fenster.
I have a window.
Plural Ich sehe die Bücher.
I see the books.
Ich habe keine Bücher.
I have no books.
The nouns (in blue) 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:
Nominative
Accusative
Dative
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
Plural
der
ein
die
eine
das die
ein keine
den die das die
einen eine ein keine
dem der dem den
einem einer einem keinen
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.
Remember: pronouns change in the accusative case too!
Nominative
ich I
Accusative
mich me
du you
dich you
er he, it
ihn him, it
sie she, it
sie her, it
es it
es it
wir we
uns us
ihr you (plural)
euch you (plural)
sie they
sie them
Sie you (formal)
Sie you (formal)
Circle all nouns in the nominative, and underline all nouns in the
accusative.
them on Tuesday.
1. I meet them
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.
Und
jetzt ihr!
(and now you!)
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.
Now practice identifying subjects and objects in these German sentences.
1. Er hat ein Buch.
Er Objekt = _______
Buch
Subjekt = ________
2. Ich trinke Kaffee.
Ich Objekt = _______
Kaffee
Subjekt = ________
3. Martin kauft CDs.
Martin Objekt = _______
CDs
Subjekt = ________
4. Peter hat den Stift.
Peter Objekt = _______
Stift
Subjekt = ________
5. Herr Schmidt trinkt eine Cola und ein Bier.
Cola &
Herr
Bier
Schmidt Objekt = _______
Subjekt = ________
6. Unsere Großeltern sprechen Deutsch.
Deutsch
Subjekt = Großeltern
________ Objekt = _______
•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 English.
•Remember: a direct object is having something done to it.
Eg: Ich habe einen Apfel. (m)
I have an apple.
einen Wagen. (_____)
m
1. Wir kaufen _________
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. (_____)
Antworten
1. Wir kaufen einen Wagen. (m)
We buy a car.
2. Ich nehme eine Zeitung. (f)
I take a newspaper.
3. Wir sehen einen Hund. (m)
We see a dog.
4. Wir besuchen einen Mann. (m)
We visit a man.
5. Du brauchst ein Buch. (nt)
You need a book.
6. Ich lese eine Uhr. (f)
I read a clock.
7. Sie treffen eine Freundin. (f)
They meet a (female) friend.
8. Jane bekommt einen Brief. (m)
Jane receives a letter.
9. Ich fahre einen Motorrad. (m)
I drive a motorbike.
10. Bob hat ein Auto. (nt)
Bob has a car.