The Accusative

Use the accusative for the direct object. Can be a person or a thing.

Ich frage den Mann. (I ask the man.)

Ich esse einen Salat. (I eat a salad.)

It's all about articles and endings.

masculine → den Mann (the man)

feminine → die Frau (the woman)
neuter → das Kind (the child)
plural → die Kinder (the children)

We will ask for the accusative object Wen?/Was? (Who?/What?)

Wen fragst du? (Who do you ask?)

Ich frage den Mann. (I ask the man.)

Ich frage die Frau. (I ask the woman.)
Ich frage das Kind. (I ask the child.)
Ich frage die Kinder. (I ask the children.)

Accusative m. f. n. pl.
Direct article den die das die
Indirect article einen eine ein_
Possessive article meinen meine mein_ meine

Nominative ich du er sie es wir ihr sie/Sie

Pers. Pron.
Accusative mich dich ihn sie es uns euch sie/Sie
Pers. Pron.

Notice that the neuter possessive/indirect articles don't take endings.

ein_/mein_ Kind

Now the most important question:

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When do you use the accusative?
• After an accusative preposition: entlang (along), durch (through), um
(around), gegen (against), für (for), bis (til), ohne (without)

Ich gehe durch den Eingang. (I go through the entry.)

Ich arbeite für die Firma. (I work for the company.)

• After a two way preposition, whenever you can ask Wohin? (Where to?):
vor (before), hinter (behind), über (over), unter (under), neben (next to), an (at),
zwischen (between), auf (on), in (in)

Wohin legst du das Glas? (Where to do you put the glass?)

Ich lege das Glas auf den Tisch. (I put the glass on the table.)

• After an accusative verb: lieben (to love), besuchen (to visit), fragen (to ask),
aufräumen (to clean up), bekommen (to receive), bestellen (to order), brauchen
(to need), essen (to eat), hören (to hear), kaufen (to buy), lesen (to read), nehmen
(to take), reparieren (to repair), suchen (to search), trinken (to drink), vergessen
(to forget), verlieren (to lose), verstehen (to understand)

Ich liebe meinen Mann. (I love my husband.)

• After verbs that can take two objects: bringen (to bring), kaufen (to buy),
empfehlen (to recommend), erklären (to explain), geben (to give), leihen (to lend),
sagen (to say), schenken (to give), schicken (to send), schreiben (to write),
stehlen (to steal), tragen (to wear), verbieten (to prohibit), wünschen (to wish),
zeigen (to show)

Er bringt seiner Freundin einen Kaffee. (He brings her friend a coffee.)

Tip: Notice that the accusative object is for the thing. The receiver is the
dative object.

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