Definite articles (der, die, das) and Indefinite articles (ein, eine) can be the subjects (Nominativ) or as direct objects in the ‘accusative’. (Akkusativ)

Accusative objects are the receivers of the action from TRANSITIVE verbs.

WASSSSSSSSSSSS??!!

First of all, what are transitive verbs???

Definition: A verb that is used with a direct object, or a verb that needs a direct object to express a complete thought.

We know some transitive verbs in German…

haben möchten

kaufen brauchen

lieben lesen

One thing for sure….it is NEVER, never, never, never

SEIN!!! (to be)

Or any verb of motion (gehen, kommen, etc.)

Even if we use these verbs without an object in English, the sentences still sound incomplete. For example:

I have. I would like. I buy.

Alone, a listener still wants to know WHAT you have, would like, or are buying.

So, once you figure out if your verb is transitive or not, then figure out if you have a direct (accusative) object. You can do this by asking the question who?..or what? after the verb.

NOTE: it is NEVER the SUBJECT of the sentence (nominative case).

Some examples in English…(first find the main verb…ask transitive? Or intransitive? Then underline the accusative object.)

I am buying a book. (What am I buying?)

I love you. (What do I love?)

We are cool. (What is cool) **this is a trick question. Why?

Some examples in English…(first find the main verb…ask transitive? Or intransitive? Then underline the accusative object.)

We are buying cards.

You know the boy.

He is nice.

Ok, now try some auf deutsch.

Wir sind cool.

Sie kauft Karten.

Ich kenne den Junge.

Sie lesen das Buch.

Notice in the previous example, that the sentence was:

Ich kenne den Junge.

NOT

Ich kenne der Junge.

That’s because in German, when a masculine noun is in the accusative, it changes from der to den. NOTHING changes in the feminine and neuter forms. (thankfully…)

So…even though das Buch is in the accustive in the sentence:

Ich lese das Buch

Nothing changes. (It’s neuter)

Same with: Ich liebe die Frau.

Because it is feminine.

Look at the following German sentences. Change any articles from der to den as necessary.

Ich kenne der Junge.

Ich höre die Musik.

Ich kaufe der Computer.

Das ist der Rechner.

Ich kenne den Junge. (m/akk)

Ich höre die Musik. (f/akk)

Ich kaufe den Computer.(m/akk)

Das ist der Rechner. (m/nom)