In order to be able to write accurately in German, it’s important to recognise and understand the four different cases: nominative, accusative, dative and genitive.
Part ofGermanGrammar (for exams until 2025)
You use the accusative for the direct object of the sentence.
The direct object is the person or thing having the action done to it (by the subject).
Look at the accusative nouns in the following sentences:
das Lied is the object (accusative) because the song is being sung by the subject (nominative), ie das Mädchen (the girl).
Sportschuhe is the object (accusative) because the trainers are being bought by the subject (nominative), ie ich (I).
Schokolade is the object (accusative) as it's the thing being liked by the subject (nominative), ie meine Tante (my aunt).
