klar↗A1 grammar topics

A1 · SUPPLEMENTARY GRAMMAR PRACTICE

The four cases and their questions

A case describes the grammatical role of a noun phrase. Nominative commonly marks the subject; accusative often marks a direct object. Certain verbs and prepositions require dative. Genitive can express possession. Ask wer/was, wen/was, wem and wessen as clues, but learn the construction: meaning alone cannot always tell you the case. Genitive is included here as a reference and practised further in A2.

Reference

CaseQuestionExample
Nominativwer? / was?Der Mann liest.
Akkusativwen? / was?Ich sehe den Mann.
Dativwem?Ich helfe dem Mann.
Genitivwessen?das Auto des Mannes

Try four exercises

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1. Which phrase is the subject: Der Mann liest ein Buch?
Answer and explanation

Der Mann

Der Mann performs the action and is nominative.

2. Ich sehe den Mann. Ask about the person seen.
Answer and explanation

Wen?

Sehen takes an accusative object: wen sehe ich?

3. Ich helfe dem Mann. Ask about the person helped.
Answer and explanation

Wem?

Helfen requires dative: wem helfe ich?

4. Wessen Auto ist das? asks about…
Answer and explanation

possession

Wessen means whose and introduces a genitive question.

Use it yourself

Write or say two new sentences using this pattern. Compare the forms and word order with the reference above.

Next: Definite indefinite and negative articles by case →