The accusative made simple

Akkusativ ganz einfach

Recognize and use basic accusative objects, especially masculine den and einen.

The accusative often marks the person or thing directly affected by an action. Masculine der/ein changes to den/einen; feminine die/eine and neuter das/ein keep the same article form here.

Ich kaufe einen Kaffee.

I am buying a coffee.

Ich sehe den Mann.

I see the man.

Ich brauche einen Stift.

I need a pen.

Ich nehme die Tasche.

I am taking the bag.

Ich esse das Brot.

I am eating the bread.

Hast du einen Termin?

Do you have an appointment?

Wir kaufen einen Tisch.

We are buying a table.

Sie trinkt den Kaffee.

She is drinking the coffee.

Masculine: der → den and ein → einen. Feminine: die/eine. Neuter: das/ein. Ask “Wen oder was?” after the verb.

You need the accusative when buying, seeing, needing, taking, eating, and drinking everyday things.

A masculine object needs “einen,” not “ein”: einen Stift, einen Kaffee, einen Termin.

Only masculine articles visibly change in these basic accusative examples: der/ein → den/einen.

Make four sentences with kaufen, sehen, brauchen, and nehmen, using objects of different genders.