Sentence Structure (Nominative, Accusative)

Question 1

What is the subject in this sentence and why?
- I see you

Answer 1

“I” (Ich) is the subject because it is the active element controlling the verb “you” (dich).

• Ich sehe dich

The subject is the active element in a sentence.

The subject controls the verb.

Question 2

What is the nominative element of a sentence?

Answer 2

The nominative element is the subject (active element) of the sentence, which controls the verb.

Example: Ich sehe sich

Ich is the active element of the sentence and it is controlling the verb sehe.

Hint: who sees?

Question 3

What is the accusative element of a sentence

Answer 3

The accusative element is the direct object (a passive element) of the sentence, which is controlled by the verb.

Example:
- Ich sehe dich

Dich is the direct object, as it is controlled by the verb sehe

Objects are passive elements in a sentence
Objects receive the action of the verb

Question 4

What are the two types of objects in a sentence

Answer 4

There are the “direct” and “indirect” objects.

The direct object is the object directly affected by the verb.
The indirect object is affected by the verb, but only inirectly.

Example: I give you the book

The book (what is given) is being controlled by the verb and is the direct object.
You is the indirect object. It is affected by the verb, but only indirectly.

Question 5

What are the German equivalents of the subject, direct object, and indirect object

Answer 5

Subject: A word in the nominative case
Direct Object: A word in the accusative case
Indirect Object: A word in the dative case

Question 6

What types of words are impacted by the Accusative and Nominative cases?

Answer 6

The endings of verbs
The endings of certain prepositions
The endings for articles and adjectives

Question 7

What are the Nominative, Accusative and Dative definite articles?

Answer 7

Nominative / Accusative / Dative:
Der / Den / Dem
Die / Die / Der
Das / Das / Dem

Plural:
Die / Die / Den + n (n is added to the noun)

Note: Dative (Dative) is mostly the person (indirect object) for which the action is intended (e.g. I give the boy the ball)

Question 8

What are the Nominative and Accusative indefinite articles?

Answer 8

Nominative / Accusative / Dative

Male: Ein / Einen / Einem
Femal: Eine / Eine / Einer
Neuter: Ein / Ein / Einem

There is no Plural

Question 9

Personal pronouns (Nominative > Accusative):
I > me; you > you; he > him; etc…

Answer 9

Ich > mich
Du > dich
Er > ihm
Sie > sie
Es > es
Wir > uns
Ihr > euch
Sie > sie