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What are German Cases? (Fälle / Kasus)
Definition: German grammar knows four cases. The nouns have different functions and relations to other parts of the sentence. Depending on the function and relationship, the noun has a different case. So, the case explains what function the German Noun has and how it relates to the other words.
Remember: The Case (Kasus) explains the function of the noun and its relationship to the other words.
In this guide, I explain the German Cases in a simple and easy to understand way. For each German Case (Kasus) you can find a detailed explanation, including declension, usage, verbs and prepositions forcing you to use a certain case. The links you can find at the end of this guide.
German has "only" 4 cases:
- Nominative (Nominativ)
- Accusative (Akkusativ)
- Dative (Dativ)
- Genitive (Genitiv)
Other languages have a way more!
- Hungarian: 18 cases
- Finish: 15 cases
So take it positive and appreciate that you only have to learn four cases.
Recommendation: Color Codes
On all pages, the four cases will be marked in these four colors: Nominative, Accusative, Dative, Genitive.
I recommend you to use the same or similar color codes. This will save you a lot of space in your vocabulary list and with the help of the colors you can remember verbs or prepositions with certain German Cases much better. Your brain stores the color code and with it the case subconsciously while reading.
Examples:
- „Das Pferd ist weiß.“ (das Pferd = Nominative)
- „Das Pferd des Reiters ist weiß.“ (des Reiters = Genitive)
- „Der Mann schenkt der Frau das Pferd.“ (der Frau = Dative) (das Pferd = Accusative)
This lesson gives an overview of the German cases. The specifics on usage and more examples can be found in the individual, detailed lessons on the Nominative, Accusative, Dative and Genitive.
Which words can get a case (Kasus)?
Every noun (= Nomen/Substantive) ALWAYS has a case.
In addition, all words that belong to the word group of the noun (Articles and Adjectives) also get the case of the noun. Words that replace a noun (Pronouns) also get the noun's case as well.
⇒ Nouns (N-Deklination), Pronouns, Articles and Adjectives (Adjective Declension) must be changed according to their case.
- „Der Vater geht morgen mit seiner jüngsten Tochter in die Schule.“
How to determine the case?
In General:
- The Noun's function in the sentence
- The Verb determines the case. (=Verbs with Complements)
- The Preposition determines the case.
The Four German Cases:
Nominative (Nominativ)
- The Nominative Case is the basic form of Nouns and describes the subject of the sentence (the person or thing that is acting or is talked about).
- The subject tells you how to conjugate the Verb.
- The question for the Nominative Case is „Wer?“ or „Was?“
- We use the Nominative case also after the verbs: „sein“, „werden“ and „bleiben“. (Warning: In this case, it is NOT the subject! - (Verbs with Nominative)
Articles and Adjectives must be adapted to the case:
- „der große Mann“
- „die große Frau“
- „das große Kind“
- „die großen Familien“
Recommendation: Nominative
For more detailed explanations of the Nominative case, please go to the following lesson: German Cases - The Nominative Case.
Accusative (Akkusativ)
- The Accusative case is also known as the „Direct Object“.
- In sentences, the direct object is usually that with which something is done and that which is „benutzt“ for the action.
- The question for the Accusative case is: „Wen?“ or „Was?“
- However, we use the Accusative mainly after certain Verbs with Accusative, after Prepositions with Accusative and so-called Two-Part Prepositions.
Articles and Adjectives must be adapted to the case:
- „den großen Mann“
- „die große Frau“
- „das große Kind“
- „die großen Familien“
For more detailed explanations of the Accusative case, please go to the following lesson: German Cases - The Accusative Case.
Other interesting lessons are Verbs with Accusative, Prepositions with Accusative, Two-Part Prepositions and Exercises on the Accusative.
Dative (Dativ)
- The Dative case is also known as the „Indirect Object“.
- The Indirect object is the noun that receives something (which usually is in the Accusative case).
- The question for the Dative case is: „Wem?“ or „Was?“
- However, we use the Dative mainly after certain Verbs with Dative and Prepositions with Dative, adjectives with dative and so-called Two-Part Prepositions.
Articles and Adjectives must be adapted to the case:
- „dem großen Mann“
- „der großen Frau“
- „dem großen Kind“
- „den großen Familien“
Recommendation: Dative
For more detailed explanations of the Dative case, please go to the following lesson: German Cases - The Dative Case.
Other interesting lessons include Verbs with Dative, Prepositions with Dative, Two-Part Prepositions, and Exercises on the Dative.
Genitive (Genitiv)
- The Genitive case shows belonging or possession.
- It is used in Noun–Noun constructions.
- However, we also use the genitive after certain Verbs with Genitives, Prepositions with Genitives, and Adjectives with Genitives.
- The control question for the Genitive is „Wessen?“
- Masculine and Neutral nouns get an extra "s" or an "es" at the end
Articles and Adjectives must be adapted to the case:
- „des großen Mannes“
- „der großen Frau“
- „des großen Kindes“
- „der großen Familien“
Recommendation: Genitive
For more detailed explanations of the Genitive case, please go to the following lesson: German Cases - The Genitive Case.
Other interesting lessons include Verbs with Genitives, Prepositions with Genitives, and Exercises on Genitives.
Summary German Cases:
- The Nominative is the Subject
- The Accusative is the Direct Object
- The Dative is the Indirect Object
- The Genitive shows an ownership
- However, the cases can also be determined by certain Prepositions and Verbs (Verbs with Complements).
Exercises on the German Cases:
Related Topics:
Entire lesson in German only: Deutsche Fälle (Kasus)
Detailed explanations of the individual German cases:
The following things need to be adjusted (declined) based on the case:
- Deklination von Artikeln (Declension of Articles)
- Deklination von Pronomen (Declension of Pronouns)
- Adjektivdeklination (Adjective Declension)
- N-Deklination (N-Declension)
The following things affect the case:
- Verben mit Ergänzung (Verbs with Complements)
- Verben mit Akkusativ (Verbs with Accusative)
- Verben mit Dativ (Verbs with Dative)
- Verben mit Dativ und Akkusativ (Verbs with Dative and Accusative)
- Verben mit Genitiv (Verbs with Genitive)
- Präpositionen mit Akkusativ (Prepositions with Accusative)
- Präpositionen mit Dativ (Prepositions with Dative)
- Präpositionen mit Genitiv (Prepositions with Genitive)
You can find an overview of all topics under German Grammar.
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