Cases
In language, cases are grammatical categories that show the relationship between words in a sentence, usually between nouns or pronouns and the other words around them. Cases help us understand who is doing what, who is receiving the action, and what belongs to whom, even if the word order changes.
In languages like German, cases affect articles and sometimes the endings of nouns. They tell you who the subject is, the direct object, the indirect object, or who possesses something. This is helpful in languages with flexible word order, where cases help clarify meaning.
The cases are an important part of German grammar as they are responsible for the endings of adjectives, indefinite articles and when to use which personal pronoun.
German has four cases: nominative, accusative, dative, and genitive. Each case shows the role of a noun or pronoun in a sentence. Here’s a simple breakdown:
Nominative Case (Der Nominativ)
- The nominative case is used for the subject of the sentence, the “doer” of the action.
- Example: Der Hund bellt. (The dog barks.)
- Here, der Hund is in the nominative case because it’s the subject.
- Who (wer) or What (was) is doing something?
Accusative Case (Der Akkusativ)
- The accusative case is used for the direct object, the receiver of the action.
- Example: Ich sehe den Hund. (I see the dog.)
- Den Hund is in the accusative case because it’s receiving the action (seeing).
- The question for the accusative is “whom” (“wen”) or “what” (“was”) is something being done to. The person, animal or object which is directly affected by the action of the verb.
- The accusative is also used after certain prepositions ( bis, für, gegen, ohne, um, durch), see the list below
It is used after specific verbs and when we have 2 people/objects in a sentence
Dative Case (Der Dativ)
- The dative case is used for the indirect object, which is often the beneficiary or recipient of the action.
- Person or object indirectly impacted by the action. In English, this is often indicated by the words “to” or “for.”
- Example: Ich gebe dem Hund einen Ball. (I give the dog a ball.)
- Here, dem Hund is in the dative case, receiving the benefit of the ball.
- In most situations, you can also ask to whom (“wem”) or for whom.
- The dative case is also used after certain prepositions, see the list below
- Not all sentences have a Dative part.
Genitive Case (Der Genitiv)
- The genitive case indicates possession, similar to using “of” or “’s” in English.
- Example: Das ist das Haus des Mannes. (That is the man’s house.)
- Des Mannes is in the genitive case, showing possession of the house.
- In English, we use “of” or ” ‘s”.
- You’re able to ask: Whose…?
- The genitive case is also used after certain prepositions
More about Präpositionen
Präpositionen
Präpositionen / Prepositions These are words like in, on, at, for, to, by, into, towards, through, and under.It is important to understand the concept of movement and that of a state or situation (sometimes indicated Sein (bin, bist etc)). Is something moving somewhere for example Er hängt das Bild and die Wand (akk) or is it already there Das Bild hängt an der Wand (Dativ) mit Akk mit Dat mit Gen mit Dat / akk (Wechsel)Dativ:Wo oder ‘Wann / Where or when? Akkusativ:Wohin / where to? Durch Ab Trotz An Ohne Zu Wärend Auf Gegen Aus Wegen Hinter Für Nach Außerhalb Neben Um Mit Innerhalb Über Bis Bei Jenseits Zwischen Von In Seit Unter Außer Vor Gegenüber Zu, nach, in oder ins?? Nach is used to indicate going to a geographic place or points of the compass. It is used to say you’re going to a country or a city, for example, Ich fahre nach Südafrika (I’m going to South Africa.) or Ich fahre nach Stuttgart (I’m going to Stuttgart.) It is always followed with the Dativ Kasus.Nach doesn’t work with countries that have an article like Switzerland – wir fahren in die Schweiz. (We are going to Switzerland.)Nach is also used when you refer to cardinal directions (North) or left and right, up and down. Nach is rarely used with an article while zu is followed by articlesNach can also mean after something for example nach der Schule – after school. The following verbs are used with nach: abreisen, fliegen, fahren, frage, gehen, reisen, suchen In is used when you plan to end up INSIDE (into) a building for example die Oper or Das Kino – Ich gehe in der Opera (I am going to the opera) or Ich gehe ins Kino (I am going to the movies). It can be used with Akkusativ or Dativ, depending on whether there is movement or if it is a “state” / at a location.You also use it to say you are going into something like into the mountains or into town, for example, die Berger or die Stadt (wir fahren in die Berge) or wir gehen in die Stadt – movement therefore Akkusativ. Im is a contraction of “in dem” which is in the Dativ case for example im Winter or im Prinzip. An example with Das Auto – Mein Schlüssel ist im Auto (in dem Auto) Auf – On top of something. Akkusativ or Dativ, depending on whether there is movement or if it is a “state” An – At the side of something. Akkusativ or Dativ, depending on whether there is movement or if it is a “state” Zu is used to say you are going to someone/somewhere. You are heading in a direction or going to a destination. It is exclusively used to say you are going to someone’s house or a company that is specified by just its name like McDonalds. Examples Ich hehe zu Marianne or ich gehe zu McDonalds. Zu always takes the Dativ case even when there is movement involved. In most cases, you can substitute in/auf/an with zu. Here are some examples: Ich gehe ins Fitnessstudio/ Ich gehe zum Fitnessstudio Ich gehe an den Strand / Ich gehe zum Strand Nach Hause or zu Hause?? Ich gehe nach Hause means I am going home, but Ich bin zu Hause means I am Home Related content
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