Die 4 Flle Theorie

learning target

The four cases is one of the most important topics in German grammar but also one of the most difficult ones. That s !h" !e !ill spend more time than usual to co#er it. $hen "ou understood the cases "ou can handle a lot of problems li%e&

"declension" of definite and indefinite articles German Der 'ann schreibt einen (rief. Die )rau gibt dem *ind einen *uss. Eine )rau geht +ber die ,tra-e. English The man !rites a letter. The !oman gi#es the child a %iss. A !oman crosses the street.

"declension" of personal pronouns German .ch sehe dich. .ch gebe dir et!as. Er schic%t ihr einen (rief. English . see you. . gi#e you something. He sends a letter to her.

"declension" of possessive pronouns German Mein /ater hei-t Gerhard. Meine 'utter hei-t 0egina. $ie hei-t deine ,ch!ester1 English My father s name is Gerhard. My mother s name is 0egina. $hat s the name of your sister1

declension of ad ectives !ad ective endings" German .ch habe eine h#$sche )reundin. .ch %enne diesen $%sen 'ann. &ch%ne ,tr2nde gibt es +berall. English . #e got a pretty girlfriend. . %no! this $ad man. 'ice beaches are e#er"!here.

"declension" of "der()ords" German &olche 3eute lernen es nie. *elches Glas mchtest du1 Dieses Haus ist sehr gro-. English &uch people !on t ne#er learn it. *hich glas do "ou !ant1 This house is #er" big

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rules

*hat are the four cases+

1. )all

2. )all

4. )all

5. )all

'ominativ

Genitiv

Dativ

A,,usativ

*hat is a case and )hat do )e need it for+ The case 67 )all or *asus8 is a 9tool9 to e:plain !hich purpose has a noun in a sentence and in !hich relation is the noun to the other !ords. The case itself is no !ord. .t s a fictional 9thing9 to help "ou to understand !hich ending !ords get or !hich article ; pronoun !e ha#e to choose.

. !ant to test "ou. $hat s !rong !ith the follo!ing sentence1 Her gi#es my a %iss.

The correct sentence has to be& &he gi#es me a %iss. (ut !h" is it 9,he9 and 9me91 That s e:a:tl" the <uestion= 9,he9 is in the nominati#e case and 9.9 am in the dati#e case.

Ho) can you find out )hich part of the sentence is in )hich case+ That s the master <uestion. To ans!er it . !ill gi#e "ou for e#er" single case rules and then !e !ill practise at first onl" 2 cases together> later 4 and finall" all 5. 3et s start=

-. Fall/ 'ominativ

1.8 ?#er" sub@ect is in the nominati#e case.

*hat is the su$ ect of a sentence+ The sub@ect is the acting person ; thing in a sentence. The sub@ect is 9doing9 something. e:ample 1&

Der Mann geht nach Hause. 6The man goes home.8

Aou can as% !ho does something in the sentence1 $ho goes home1 BBC ans!er& der 'ann

e:ample 2&

Eine Frau %+sst einen 'ann. 6D !oman %isses a man.8

Aou can as% !ho does something in the sentence1 $ho %isses a man1 BBC ans!er& eine )rau

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2.8 ?#er" noun or pronoun !hich follo!s a form of 9be9 is in the nominati#e case. The noun ; pronoun after the 9be9 is a soBcalled 9predicate complement9.

e:ample 1&

9?r9

?r !ar ein Do,tor. 6He !as a doctor.8 and 9Eo%tor9 are in the nominati#e case. 9?r9 is the sub@ect of the sentence.

9Eo%tor9 follo!s a form of 9be9 and is thus a predicate complement.

e:ample 2&

9.ch9

.ch bin ein &tudent. 6. am a student.8 and 9,tudent9 are in the nominati#e case. 9.ch9 is the sub@ect of the sentence.

9,tudent9 follo!s a form of 9be9 and is thus a predicate complement.

4. Fall/ A,,usativ

1.8 The direct ob@ect is in the accusati#e case.

*hat is the direct o$ ect of a sentence+ The direct ob@ect is the notBacting person ; thing in a sentence. The direct ob@ect recei#es the action of the #erb. Der Mann ,#sst die Frau.

The man is doing something. He %isses the !oman. ,o the man is the sub@ect of the sentence 67nominati#e case8. The !oman is being %issed. ,he is not acting. ,o she is the direct ob@ect 67accusati#e case8.

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2.8 Founs ; pronouns !hich follo! accusati#e prepositions are in the accusati#e case.

Accusative prepositionen

$is 6till> to> b"8 durch 6through8 f#r 6for8 gegen 6against8 ohne 6!ithout8 um 6around> to> at8

$hene#er "ou see one of these prepositions it must be a signal for "ou that the follo!ing noun ; pronoun is in the accusati#e case.

e:ample 1&

.ch %ann ohne dich nicht leben. 6. can t li#e !ithout "ou.8

e:ample 2&

.ch %aufe ein Geschen% f+r meinen 0ater. 6. bu" a present for m" father.8

4.8 Founs ; pronouns !hich follo! 9t!oB!a"9 prepositions are either in the accusati#e case or the dati#e case.

"t)o()ay" prepositionen

an 6at> on> to8 auf 6at> on> to> upon8 hinter 6behind8 in 6in> into8 ne$en 6beside> near> ne:t to8 #$er 6about> abo#e> across> o#er8 unter 6under> among8 vor 6before> in front of> ago8 1)ischen 6bet!een8

Aour <uestion is surel" no! ho! do "ou find out !hich of the t!o cases "ou ha#e to use. The ans!er is <uite eas".

$hen "ou can as% 9$ohin19 67!hereto18 then the ob@ect is in the accusati#e case. That means "ou describe a motion to!ards a destination.

$hen "ou can as% 9$o19 67!here18 then the ob@ect is in the dati#e case. That means "ou describe a single location or a state of rest.
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e:amples&

.ch gehe in die 2irche. 6. m going to the church.8 BC$hereto do . go1 BC to the church 6. m in motion. BC accusati#e case8 .ch bin in der 2irche. 6. m in the church.8 BC$here am .1 BC in the church 6. don t mo#e. . m sta"ing there. BC dati#e case8

5.8 'ost time e:pressions are in the accusati#e case.

e:ample 1&

.ch gehe eden Tag in die ,chule. 6. go e#er" da" to school.8

e:ample 2&

.ch !ar let1ten August auf den Ghilippinen. 63ast Dugust . #e been to the Ghilippines.8

3. Fall/ Dativ

1.8 The indirect ob@ect is in the dati#e case.

*hat is the indirect o$ ect of a sentence+ The indirect ob@ect is the beneficiar" of the action in the sentence. Hsuall" it s a person.

Aou can also sa" the indirect ob@ect is the recei#er of the direct ob@ect.

Der Mann gi$t dem 2ind das 4uch.

B The man is doing something. He gi#es a boo% to the child. ,o the man is the sub@ect of the sentence 67nominati#e case8. B The boo% is gi#en. .t s not acting. ,o it s the direct ob@ect 67accusati#e case8. B The child benefits from this action. Dfter the action it o!ns a ne! boo%. ,o the child is the indirect ob@ect 67dati#e case8.
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2.8 Founs ; pronouns !hich follo! dati#e prepositions are in the dati#e case.

Dative prepositionen

aus 6from> out of8 au5er 6e:cept for> besides8 $ei 6at> near8 gegen#$er 6across from> opposite8 mit 6!ith> b"8 nach 6after> to8 seit 6since> for8 von 6from> b"8 1u 6at> to8

$hene#er "ou see one of these prepositions it must be a signal for "ou that the follo!ing noun ; pronoun is in the dati#e case.

e:ample 1&

.ch bleibe bei dir. 6. sta" !ith "ou.8

e:ample 2&

.ch fahre mit dem Auto. 6. dri#e !ith the car.8

4.8 Founs ; pronouns !hich follo! 9t!oB!a"9 prepositions are either in the accusati#e case or the dati#e case. ,ee accusati#e case

5.8 Founs ; pronouns !hich follo! 9dati#e #erbs9 are in the dati#e case.

Dative ver$s group 1 (often used)

ant)orten 6ans!er8 $lei$en 6remain8 dan,en 6than%8 einfallen 6thin% of8 erlau$en 6allo!8 fehlen 6to be missed8 gefallen 6li%e8 geh%ren 6belong to8 glau$en 6belie#e8 gratulieren 6congratulate8

helfen 6help8 6eid tun 6be sorr"8 passen 6suit8 passieren 6happen8 schmec,en 6taste8 vertrauen 6trust8 ver1eihen 6forgi#e8 )ehtun 6hurt8 1uh%ren 6listen to8 1ustimmen 6agree !ith8

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group 2 (rarely used)

hneln 6resemble8 $efehlen 6command8 $egegnen 6encounter8 dienen 6ser#e8 drohen 6threaten8 folgen 6follo!8 gehorchen 6obe"8 gelingen 6succeed8 geraten 6turn out !ell8 gen#gen 6be enough8 geschehen 6happen8 gleichen 6be li%e8

gl#c,en 6be luc%"8 lauschen 6o#erhear8 misslingen 6fail8 munden 6taste8 n#t1en 6be of use8 raten 6ad#ise8 schaden 6harm8 schmeicheln 6flatter8 trauen 6trust8 )idersprechen 6contradict8 )in,en 6!a#e8 1#rnen 6be angr" !ith8

$hene#er "ou see one of these #erbs it must be a signal for "ou that the follo!ing noun ; pronoun is in the dati#e case. e:ample 1&

/ertrau mir= 6Trust me=8

e:ample 2&

?r ant!ortet mir nicht. 6He doesn t ans!er me.8

5.8 Founs ; pronouns are in the dati#e case !hen the" are used !ith certain ad@ecti#e and ad#erb e:pressions.

ad ective and adver$ e7pressions

hnlich 6similar8 angenehm 6pleasant 8 $e,annt 6familiar 8 $%se 6angr"8 dan,$ar 6grateful 8 egal 6all the same 8 gleichg#ltig 6indifferent 8 ,lar 6clear 8 lstig 6bothersome 8 lie$ 6dear 8 m%glich 6possible 8

n#t1lich 6useful 8 peinlich 6embarrassing 8 recht 6K* 8 unangenehm 6unpleasant 8 un$egreiflich 6incomprehensible 8 un$e8uem 6unpleasant 8 uner,lrlich 6unpleasant 8 un,lar 6unclear 8 unm%glich 6impossible 8 unn#t1 6impossible 8 unverstndlich 6incomprehensible 8 )ichtig 6important 8

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(ecause @ust a form of 9be9 is the #erb in these sentences> onl" the ad@ecti#es;ad#erbs indicate the dati#e case. e:ample 1&

Eas ist mir %lar. 6That s clear to me.8

e:ample 2&

Eas ist ihm peinlich. 6That s embarrassing for him.8

9. Fall/ Genitiv
1.8 The geneti#e case is used !hen "ou describe possession ; o!nership.

e:ample 1&

Der Familienname meiner Freundin ist Gacana. 6'" girlfriend s famil" name is Gacana.8

e:ample 2&

Das 2leid der Frau ist schn. 6The !oman s s%irt is nice.8

2.8 The geneti#e case is used !hen "ou refer to a part of something else. .n ?nglish the 9ofBgeniti#e9 is used for this.

e:ample 1&

Dm Anfang des &ommers sehe ich sie !ieder. 6Dt the beginning of summer . !ill see her again.8

e:ample 2&

Das Ende des Films !ar schlecht. 6The end of the film !as bad.8

4.8 Founs ; pronouns !hich follo! geniti#e prepositions are in the geniti#e case.

Genitive prepositionen

anstatt : statt 6instead of8 au5erhal$ 6outside of8 innerhal$ 6inside of> !ithin8 trot1 6in spite of8 )hrend 6during8 )egen 6because of8

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$hene#er "ou see one of these prepositions it must be a signal for "ou that the follo!ing noun ; pronoun is in the geniti#e case.

e:ample 1&

TrotM der ;ro$leme machen !ir !eiter. 6Eespite the problems !e carr" on.8

e:ample 2&

$2hrend des <rlau$s habe ich mich #erliebt. 6Euring the holida" . fell in lo#e.8

The "s" ( genitive 3i%e in ?nglish there is a !a" to indicate possessi#e b" adding a 9s9 to the noun. (e careful> ho!e#er. Knl" if the person> cit" or countr" B !hich 9possesses9 something B is called b" their personal name "ou are allo!ed to use this form of geniti#e. )urthermore "ou should consider that "ou add the 9s9 !ithout apostrophe.

Eer )amilienname meiner )reundin ist Gacana. 69standard9 geniti#e N translated !ord b" !ord& The
family name of my girlfriend is Pacana.8

=athys )amilienname ist Gacana. 69s9 B geniti#e N Cathy's family name is Pacana.8

An alternative )ay Dn alternati#e !a" to indicate that something belongs to somebod" 6possessi#e8 is the 9#on construct9. The 9real9 geniti#e is mostl" used in !ritten German. .n dail" spo%en German "ou !ill often hear the 9#on construct9. Oonsider that 9#on9 is dati#e preposition and the follo!ing article> pronoun etc. must be in the dati#e case and not in the geniti#e case e#en though "ou e:press possessi#e.

Eer )amilienname von Oath" ist Gacana. 6translated !ord b" !ord& The family name of Cathy is
Pacana.8

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>uestion )ords Dt the end of the theor" part . !ant "ou to sho! the !a" ho! Germans are taught the 5 cases at school. $e @ust use some <uestion !ords to find out !hich part of the sentence is in !hich case. '" e:perience sho!ed me> ho!e#er> that it s less helpful for foreigners. Fe#ertheless> . !ant "ou to sho! "ou this !a".

case Fominati# Geniti#e Eati#e

8uestion )ords $er oder $as1 6$ho or $hat18 $essen1 6$hose18 $em1 6to $hom18 Pfurthermore& $o1 6$here18 ; $oher1 6$herefrom18Q

D%%usati#

$en oder $as1 6$hom or $hat18 Pfurthermore& $ohin1 6$hereto18Q

e:ample 1& Der Mann gi$t dem 2ind das 4uch.

$er oder $as1 gibt dem *ind das (uch1 ans!er& der 'ann 6so 9the man9 has to be in the nominati#e case8 $em1 gibt der 'ann das (uch1 ans!er& dem *ind 6so 9the child9 has to be in the dati#e case8 $en oder $as1 gibt er dem *ind1 ans!er& das (uch 6so 9the boo%9 has to be in the accusati#e case8

e:ample 2& Der Familienname meiner Freundin ist ;acana.

$essen )amilienname ist Gacana1 ans!er& meiner )reundin 6so 9m" girlfriend s9 has to be in the geniti#e case8

The rest of the sentence 9Eer )amilienname ... ist Gacana9 is a classical 9predicate complement9 6see nominati#e case> point 28. .t s both in the nominati#e case.

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ta$les

The follo!ing collection of tables is @ust an information source for the !ee%s and months to come. Aou don t ha#e to learn them b" heart.

"declension" of definite article !der? die? das @ the" case male nominati#e geniti#e dati#e accusati#e der 'ann des 'annes dem 'ann den 'ann singular female die )rau der )rau der )rau die )rau neuter das *ind des *indes dem *ind das *ind plural B die )amilien der )amilien den )amilien die )amilien

Ds "ou alread" noticed not @ust the article changes. ,ome nouns get an additional ending as !ell. )or more details chec% the topic RDe,lination der &u$stantiveA.

Adeclension" of indefinite article !ein @ a? an" case male nominati#e geniti#e dati#e accusati#e ein 'ann eines 'annes einem 'ann einen 'ann singular female eine )rau einer )rau einer )rau eine )rau neuter ein *ind eines *indes einem *ind ein *ind plural B B B B B

"declension" of indefinite "article" !,ein @ no? none" case male nominati#e geniti#e dati#e accusati#e %ein 'ann %eines 'annes %einem 'ann %einen 'ann singular female %eine )rau %einer )rau %einer )rau %eine )rau neuter %ein *ind %eines *indes %einem *ind %ein *ind plural B %eine *inder %einer *inder %einen *indern %eine *inder

(asicall"> 9ein9 and 9%ein9 are the same. The" #e got the same endings. 9*ein9 is @ust the negation of 9ein9. 0egard that 9ein9 has 6of course8 no plural form because 9ein9 describes @ust one thing of something.

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"declension" of personal pronouns !ich? du? er ... @ B? you? he ..." nominative ich du er sie es !ir ihr sie ,ie genitive mein6e;er8 dein6e;er8 sein6e;er8 ihr6e;er8 sein6e;er8 unser6e8 euer6e8 ihr6e;er .hr6e;er8 dative mir dir ihm ihr ihm uns euch ihnen .hnen accusative mich dich ihn sie es uns euch sie ,ie

)or the endings in the geniti#e case chec% the follo!ing tables& possessi#e pronouns.

"declension" of possessive pronouns !mein? dein? sein ... @ my? your? his ..."

Sdeclension9 of the possessi#e pronoun 6mein 7 m"8 case male nominati#e geniti#e dati#e accusati#e mein 'ann meines 'annes meinem 'ann meinen 'ann singular female meine )rau meiner )rau meiner )rau meine )rau neuter mein *ind meines *indes meinem *ind mein *ind plural B meine *inder meiner *inder meinen *indern meine *inder

9declension9 of the possessi#e pronoun 6dein 7 "our> singular8 case male nominati#e geniti#e dati#e accusati#e dein 'ann deines 'annes deinem 'ann deinen 'ann singular female deine )rau deiner )rau deiner )rau deine )rau neuter dein *ind deines *indes deinem *ind dein *ind plural B deine *inder deiner *inder deinen *indern deine *inder

9declension9 of the possessi#e pronoun 6sein 7 his8 case male nominati#e geniti#e dati#e accusati#e sein 'ann seines 'annes seinem 'ann seinen 'ann singular female seine )rau seiner )rau seiner )rau seine )rau neuter sein *ind seines *indes seinem *ind sein *ind plural B seine *inder seiner *inder seinen *indern seine *inder

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9declension9 of the possessi#e pronoun 6ihr 7 her8 case male nominati#e geniti#e dati#e accusati#e ihr 'ann ihres 'annes ihrem 'ann ihren 'ann singular female ihre )rau ihrer )rau ihrer )rau ihre )rau neuter ihr *ind ihres *indes ihrem *ind ihr *ind plural B ihre *inder ihrer *inder ihren *indern ihre *inder

9declension9 of the possessi#e pronoun 6unser 7 our8 case male nominati#e geniti#e dati#e accusati#e unser /ater unseres /aters unserem /ater unseren /ater singular female unsere 'utter unserer 'utter unserer 'utter unsere 'utter neuter unser *ind unseres *indes unserem *ind unser *ind plural B unsere *inder unserer *inder unseren *indern unsere *inder

9declension9 of the possessi#e pronoun 6euer 7 "our> plural8 case male nominati#e geniti#e dati#e accusati#e euer /ater eures /atersT eurem /aterT euren /aterT singular female eure 'utterT eurer 'utterT eurer 'utterT eure 'utterT neuter euer *ind eures *indesT eurem *indT euer *ind plural B eure *inderT eurer *inderT euren *indernT eure *inderT

Ds "ou can see all the possessi#e pronouns ha#e got the same endings. ,o "ou ha#e to %no! @ust one and "ou %no! all. .f "ou compare it !ith the 9declension9 of indifinite article "ou !ill see the" also ha#e the same ending. That ma%es it much easier. Kf course there is an e:ception. The possessi#e pronoun 9euer9 67"our> plural 8 sometimes drops the 9e9 in the middle 6mar%ed !ith a T8. )orget this for no!.

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declension of ad ectives !ad ective endings"

declension of ad@ecti#es !ithout article case male nominati#e geniti#e dati#e accusati#e guter 'ann guten 'annes gutem 'ann guten 'ann singular female gute )rau guter )rau guter )rau gute )rau neuter gutes *ind guten *indes gutem *ind gutes *ind plural B gute )amilien guter )amilien guten )amilien gute )amilien

declension of ad@ecti#es !ith definite article 6der> die> das8 case male nominati#e geniti#e dati#e accusati#e der gute 'ann des guten 'annes dem guten 'ann den guten 'ann singular female die gute )rau der guten )rau der guten )rau die gute )rau neuter das gute *ind des guten *indes dem guten *ind das gute *ind plural B die guten )amilien der guten )amilien den guten )amilien die guten )amilien

declension of ad@ecti#es !ith indefinite article 6ein8 case male nominati#e geniti#e dati#e accusati#e ein guter 'ann eines guten 'annes einem guten 'ann einen guten 'ann ,ingular female eine gute )rau einer guten )rau einer guten )rau eine gute )rau neuter ein gutes *ind eines guten *indes einem guten *ind ein gutes *ind Glural B B B B B

"declension" of "der()ords"

9declension9 of the pronoun 6diesB 7 this> these8 case male nominati#e geniti#e dati#e accusati#e dieser 'ann dieses 'annes diesem 'ann diesen 'ann singular female diese )rau dieser )rau dieser )rau diese )rau neuter dieses *ind dieses *indes diesem *ind dieses *ind plural B diese *inder dieser *inder diesen *indern diese *inder

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9declension9 of the pronoun 6@enB 7 that> those8 case male nominati#e geniti#e dati#e accusati#e @ener 'ann @enes 'annes @enem 'ann @enen 'ann singular female @ene )rau @ener )rau @ener )rau @ene )rau neuter @enes *ind @enes *indes @enem *ind @enes *ind plural B @ene *inder @ener *inder @enen *indern @ene *inder

9declension9 of the pronoun 6!elchB 7 !hich8 case male nominati#e geniti#e dati#e accusati#e !elcher 'ann !elches 'annes !elchem 'ann !elchen 'ann singular female !elche )rau !elcher )rau !elcher )rau !elche )rau neuter !elches *ind !elches *indes !elchem *ind !elches *ind plural B !elche *inder !elcher *inder !elchen *indern !elche *inder

9declension9 of the pronoun 6solchB 7 such8 case male nominati#e geniti#e dati#e accusati#e solcher 'ann solches 'annes solchem 'ann solchen 'ann singular female solche )rau solcher )rau solcher )rau solche )rau neuter solches *ind solches *indes solchem *ind solches *ind plural B solche *inder solcher *inder solchen *indern solche *inder

9declension9 of the pronoun 6@edB 7 each> e#er"8 case male nominati#e geniti#e dati#e accusati#e @eder 'ann @edes 'annes @edem 'ann @eden 'ann singular female @ede )rau @eder )rau @eder )rau @ede )rau neuter @edes *ind @edes *indes @edem *ind @edes *ind plural B @ede *inder @eder *inder @eden *indern @ede *inder

9declension9 of the pronoun 6manchB 7 some8 case male nominati#e geniti#e dati#e accusati#e mancher 'ann manches 'annes manchem 'ann manchen 'ann singular female manche )rau mancher )rau mancher )rau manche )rau neuter manches *ind manches *indes manchem *ind manches *ind plural B manche *inder mancher *inder manchen *indern manche *inder

Ds "ou can see all 9derB!ords9 ha#e got the same ending. .f "ou %no! one then "ou %no! all.

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