A1 foundations · Lesson 8

The direct object: accusative

Distinguish ein for a subject and einen for a masculine direct object.

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What you will learn

Distinguish ein for a subject and einen for a masculine direct object.

The direct object: accusative

The subject is nominative. Verbs such as kaufen, sehen and brauchen take a direct object in the accusative. Ask Wen? about a person or Was? about a thing. In masculine singular, der becomes den and ein becomes einen. Feminine die/eine, neuter das/ein and the definite plural article die stay the same.

Examples

Ein Hund schläft. Ich sehe einen Hund.

Meaning

A dog is sleeping. I see a dog.

Ich kaufe eine Lampe.

Meaning

I am buying a lamp.

Wir brauchen ein Heft.

Meaning

We need a notebook.

Lesson exercises

A1 · 10

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Exercise 1 / 10

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___ Hund schläft. (unbestimmt)

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Correct answer: Ein

Why? Hund is the masculine subject here: Ein Hund.

Exercise 2 / 10

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Ich sehe ___ Hund. (unbestimmt)

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Correct answer: einen

Why? Hund is a masculine direct object here: einen Hund.

Exercise 3 / 10

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Wir kaufen ___ Tisch. (der Tisch, bestimmt)

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Correct answer: den

Why? Masculine der becomes den in the accusative.

Exercise 4 / 10

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Mia kauft ___ Lampe. (unbestimmt)

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Correct answer: eine

Why? Feminine accusative still takes eine.

Exercise 5 / 10

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Ich brauche ___ Heft. (unbestimmt)

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Correct answer: ein

Why? Heft is neuter, so ein stays the same.

Exercise 6 / 10

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Sie liest ___ Buch. (das Buch, bestimmt)

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Correct answer: das

Why? The neuter direct object keeps das.

Exercise 7 / 10

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Wir sehen ___ Kinder. (Plural, bestimmt)

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Correct answer: die

Why? The definite article in the accusative plural is die.

Exercise 8 / 10

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___ siehst du? — Einen Mann.

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Correct answer: Wen

Why? Use Wen to ask about a person as the direct object.

Exercise 9 / 10

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ich / kaufen / der Apfel (unbestimmt)

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Correct answer: Ich kaufe einen Apfel.

Why? Use kaufe with ich and einen with masculine Apfel.

Exercise 10 / 10

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Ein Mann sieht einen Hund. → Akkusativ?

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Correct answer: einen Hund

Why? The man sees the dog, so einen Hund is the direct object.

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Grammar references for further reading

Explanations, examples and exercises were created for WikiGerman. An introduction to A1, not a complete course.

Content last reviewed: 2026-11-03

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