The Direct Object (Accusative)
Recognize a direct object when you see one.
If you can identify the subject and verb in a sentence, then finding the direct object—
there is one—is easy. Just remember this simple formula:
SUBJECT
+
VERB
+ what? or who? =
DIRECT OBJECT
Here are examples of the formula in action:
Zippy and Maurice played soccer with a grapefruit.
 Zippy, Maurice = subjects; played = verb.
 Zippy and Maurice played what? Soccer = direct object.
 with a grapefruit = prepositional phrase
Zippy accidentally kicked Maurice in the shin.
 Zippy = subject; kicked = verb.
 Zippy kicked who? Maurice = direct object.
 in the shin = prepositional phrase
Questions:
When figuring out what case the nouns in a question are, think first of what they
would be in a possible answer.
Example: Who ate the cake?  I ate the cake.
What did I eat?  the cake
No Direct Object:
When you use the verb “is” (sein) this formula doesn’t work, because the nouns
on both sides are actually in the nominative; there is NO direct object.
Example: Jimmy is a boy. = The boy is Jimmy.
A. Practice. Place an “S” over each subject, a “V” over each verb and an “O” over each direct object.
There may be more than one or no object in some sentences!
1. I meet them on Tuesday.
6. He plays the piano.
2. They invited me.
7. Run Lola Run is a German movie.
3. Paul hit the ball.
8. I’m sleeping.
4. Martin and Petra like to read.
9. Is that a Mercedes?
5. Have you seen a Shakespeare play?
10. Donald owns a hotel and a car.
B. More Subjects, Verbs and Objects. Place an “S” over each subject, a “V” over each verb and an
“O” over each direct object. There may be more than one or no object in some sentences!
1. Jeff and Carl speak the same language.
8. Did he fix the door?
2. You are studying the accusative case.
9. Jeanne is my best friend.
3. The hungry man eats cake, pie and rolls.
10. Someone misdialed my number.
4. Jill and Joe are getting a bike for Christmas.
*11. They hung up quickly.
5. Mike wraps and sends the package.
12. Joe is the captain.
6. Who cooks and serves the meal?
13. Today is the warmest day in years.
7. Tim reads his speech and answers questions.
14. Did you do your lessons correctly?
Nominative vs. Accusative
Subjects are always in the NOMINATIVE CASE.
What is the subject of a sentence?
The subject of a sentence is the person or thing that is “doing” the verb. To find the subject, look
for the verb and ask “Who or what is doing the action?”
Direct objects take the ACCUSATIVE CASE.
What is the direct object of a sentence?
The direct object receives the action of the verb. To find the direct object, look for the verb and
ask “Who or what is being verbed?” (as in Who or what is being kicked? Who or what is being read?)
Examples:
The woman sees the girl.
The woman is the subject and nominative.
€
the girl is the direct object and accusative.
The girl sees the woman.
The girl is the subject and nominative.
€
the woman is the direct object and accusative.
Barack Obama is the President.
Barack Obama is the subject and nominative.
€
the President is ALSO nominative because it
follows “to be” (is).
Nominative
Masc.
Fem.
Neut.
Plural
Definite
Der Tisch ist braun.
Die Lampe ist neu.
Das Fenster ist offen.
Die Bucher sind interessant.
Indefinite
Das ist ein Tisch.
Das ist eine Lampe.
Das ist ein Fenster.
Das sind keine Bucher.
All of the nouns above are in the nominative case because they are the subjects of the
sentences or because they follow the verb “sein.”
Accusative
Masc.
Fem.
Neut.
Plural
Definite
Ich sehe den Tisch.
Ich sehe die Landkarte.
Ich sehe das Heft.
Ich sehe die Bücher.
Indefinite
Ich habe einen Tisch.
Ich habe eine Landkarte.
Ich habe ein Heft.
Ich habe keine Bücher.
The nouns above are all in the accusative case because they are direct objects.
Summary:
Nominative case:
- subjects of sentences
- after any form of the verb “to be”
Accusative case:
- for direct objects
- after accusative prepositions (learn later)
C. Auf deutsch. Now practice identifying subjects, verbs and objects in these German sentences.
Place an “S” over each subject, a “V” over each verb and an “O” over each direct object. There
may be more than one or no object in some sentences!
1. Er liest das Buch.
7. Die Frau kauft die CD.
2. Kauft der Mann einen Kuli?
8. Ich habe ein Lineal.
3. Wir kennen deinen Vater.
9. Er hat ein Buch.
4. Sie hat einen Radiergummi.
10. Martin und Hans kaufen viele CDs.
5. Lest er den Buch?
11. Peter hat den Bleistift.
6. Ich sehe den Rechner.
12. Die Großeltern sprechen Deutsch.
D. Der-die-das-den? Place the correct form of the definite article (der-die-das-den) in each blank;
pay attention to case!
1. Hörst du ____________ Musik gern?
8. ________ Bücher (pl) sind klein.
2. ____________ Studenten (pl) spielen Fußball.
9. Wo sind ________________ Kinder (pl)?
3. Ich sehe ____________ Computer nicht.
10. Wo ist _________ Tafellappen?
4. Herr Walthers ist ____________ Lehrer.
11. Ich sehe _________ Schreibtisch.
5. Findest du ____________ Tafel nicht?
12. Wir hören ________ Studenten (pl).
6. Brauchst (=need) du ________Lineal?
13. Ich habe nicht _________ Kuli.
7. Das ist ________ Mann!
14. ____________ Tisch ist grau.
E. Sie sind dran. Fill in the blanks with the correct definite articles (der/die/das/den). First, figure out
what word is subject and what is object; then think about what the correct form is.
1. ________________ Vater hat ________________ Schultasche nicht.
2. Hat ________________ Bruder ________________ Buch?
3. Er hat ________ Buch und ________ Bleistift.
4. ________ Frau kauft ________ Fernseher (m), _______ Stuhl und ________ Telefon (n).
5. Ich mache ________ Buch, ________ Tür (f) und _______ Fenster (n) auf.