German Accusative Case with einen

I’ll do my best to simplify it, but I must admit—German cases can be quite challenging!

The German Accusative Case and Nominative Case – Part 2

I think it is a good idea to repeat the lesson on indefinite articles ein, eine and the lesson on accusative case ‘den’ before you do this lesson.

If you repeat both, this lesson will be much easier.

Remember:

Nominative Case: 

The nominative case is usually used for a person or thing which is doing the action. This noun which is doing the action is the subject.

There is always only one subject in a sentence therefore only one nominative case.

Accusative Case: 

The accusative case is usually used for a person or thing that is directly affected by the action. These nouns are called direct objects.

• Ein Mann liest.
• Eine Frau isst.
• Ein Mädchen schreibt.

In all three sentences above we have only the nominative case because in each sentence we have a person (noun) who is doing some action (reading, eating, writing).

To make it a little more interesting let’s place two nouns in some sentences, one in the nominative and the other one in the accusative case.

Nominative / Accusative – Scenario 1

Let’s have a look at a sentence with the verb suchen (to look for, to search):

• ein Mädchen (neuter) 
• ein Kind (neuter)

Note: I know, even though a girl is female we say das Mädchen and ein Mädchen. It is an exception! If you want to know why, I suggest that you follow this link: German words ending in chen (diminutive).

>>> Ein Mädchen sucht ein Kind.

Did you notice that there are two nouns (Mädchen and Kind) in the sentence?

One of the two nouns is playing the leading part and is doing the action.

A girl (ein Mädchen) is playing the leading part, because a girl is doing something.

A child (ein Kind) is not playing the leading part but it is directly involved.

• 1st noun = Mädchen (leading part) = doing the action = nominative case
• 2nd noun = Kind = not doing the action but directly involved = accusative case

Nominative / Accusative – Scenario 2

Now we change the sentence a little:

Ein Mädchen (neuter)
Eine Frau (feminine)

>> Ein Mädchen sucht eine Frau.

• 1st noun = Mädchen (leading part) = doing the action = nominative case
• 2nd noun = Frau = not doing the action but directly involved = accusative case

So far, so good.

Nominative / Accusative – Scenario 3

Ein Mädchen (neuter)
Ein Mann (masculine)

>> Ein Mädchen sucht einen Mann.

Mädchen = neuter => das and therefore the indefinite article ein.
Mann = masculine => der and therefore also the indefinite article ein.

Mmmm – but why do we use einen in this sentence?

Let’s see:

• 1st noun = Mädchen (leading part) = doing the action = nominative case
• 2nd noun = Mann = not doing the action but directly involved = accusative case

It is because the indefinite article ein when we use it for a masculine noun changes to einen in the accusative case!

It is similar to the masculine article: der in lesson: Accusative Case ‘den’, it changed to den. Now the masculine indefinite article: ein changed to einen in the accusative case.

Nominative / Accusative – More Examples

For now it is enough when you notice that we use einen when the noun does not play the leading part and it is masculine.

In all these example sentences above, the 1st noun is in the nominative case and the 2nd noun is in the accusative case.

Note that the indefinite articles eine and ein (when used for a feminine or neuter noun) stay the same in the accusative case.

And the indefinite article ein (when used for a masculine noun) changes to einen in the accusative case.

 Let’s have a look at some combinations to make that clearer.

• Ein Mann sucht einen Mann.
• Ein Mann sucht eine Frau.
• Ein Mann sucht ein Kind.

• Eine Frau sucht einen Mann.
• Eine Frau sucht eine Frau.
• Eine Frau sucht ein Kind.

• Ein Kind sucht einen Mann.
• Ein Kind sucht eine Frau.
• Ein Kind sucht ein Kind.

Plural Accusative

Remember, If we have a plural noun we don’t use the indefinite article at all:

• Ein Mann sucht Frauen.
• Eine Frau sucht Männer.
• Ein Kind haut Kinder.

Wen? Wer? – Identify the German Cases

If there are people involved then we need the question word wer? to identify the noun (person) that is in the nominative case.

With the question word wen? we can identify the noun (person) that is in the accusative case.

For example:

Eine Frau sucht einen Mann.

Frage:
Wer sucht (einen Mann)?

Antwort:
Eine Frau
Eine Frau sucht einen Mann.

Frage:
Wen sucht die Frau?

Antwort:
einen Mann
Eine Frau sucht einen Mann.

📢 Listening Exercise A

How to learn with part A of the exercise

1. Read and listen a few times.
2. Repeat after the speaker.
3. Make sure that you imitate the pronunciation of the speaker.
4. After a few repetitions go on to part B (farther below).

Now it is your part:

Martin sucht ein Kind.
Martin is looking for a child.

Monika sucht eine Frau.
Monika is looking for a woman.

Peter sucht einen Mann.
Peter is looking for a man.

📢 Listening Exercise B

How to learn with part B of the exercise

Question and Answer Part:

1. Read and listen a few times to the questions and answers.
2. Answer the questions in the pauses (you may look also at the answers).
3. After a few times don’t look at the answers anymore.
4. Make sure that you imitate the pronunciation of my voice.
5. Repeat the lesson until you can answer the questions easily.

Fragen und Antworten

1) Martin sucht ein Kind.

Frage:
Wer sucht ein Kind?

Kurze Antwort:
Martin

Lange Antwort:
Martin sucht ein Kind.

Wen sucht Martin?
ein Kind
Martin sucht ein Kind.

2) Monika sucht eine Frau.

Wer sucht eine Frau?
Monika
Monika sucht eine Frau.

Wen sucht Monika?
eine Frau
Monika sucht eine Frau.

3) Peter sucht einen Mann.

Wer sucht einen Mann?
Peter
Peter sucht einen Mann.

Wen sucht Peter?
einen Mann
Peter sucht einen Mann.

Did you notice when we use wer? and when we use wen?

Here’s a hint: It has something to do with:

Who plays the leading part?

Almost finished

It is very important that you get familiar with the verb structure and that’s why I want to add this little bonus.

Conjugation of the verb ‘suchen’

The verb ‘suchen’ = to look for, search (regular verb)

Singular:

Ich suche
Du suchst
Er sucht
Sie sucht
Es sucht

Plural:

Wir suchen
Ihr sucht
Sie suchen

Never give up! 

Wenn du glaubst, dass dieses kompliziert ist, mach dir keine Sorgen! Es ist nur eine Frage des Übens. Und ich werde dieses Thema in späteren Lektionen wiederholen.

1. Gebe (gib) niemals auf!
2. Wiederhole diese Lektion viele Male.

If you think this is complicated, don’t worry! It’s just a matter of practice. And I will repeat this matter in further lessons.

1. Never give up!
2. Repeat this lesson many times!