A1 Case System 13 min read Easy

German Accusative Articles: a, an (einen, eine, ein)

In the Accusative case, only masculine articles change by adding an '-en' ending to mark the direct object.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

In German, the direct object changes the article 'ein' to 'einen' only for masculine nouns.

  • Masculine nouns change from 'ein' to 'einen' in the accusative: Ich habe einen Hund.
  • Feminine nouns stay 'eine': Ich habe eine Katze.
  • Neuter nouns stay 'ein': Ich habe ein Auto.
Subject (Nominative) + Verb + Object (Accusative: einen/eine/ein)

Overview

In German, grammatical case determines the function of a noun or pronoun within a sentence. Unlike English, where word order largely signals roles, German uses changes to articles, nouns, and adjectives. The Accusative case (der Akkusativ) primarily identifies the direct object of a verb—the noun that receives the action.

This article focuses on how indefinite articles (the equivalents of English 'a' or 'an') change when they mark an Accusative direct object, specifically einen, eine, and ein.

Understanding the Accusative with indefinite articles is foundational for constructing grammatically correct German sentences. While many languages keep their indefinite articles constant, German modifies them based on the noun's gender and its role in the sentence. This system provides clarity, even when sentence structure varies.

For A1 learners, mastering the Accusative with indefinite articles is a crucial step towards articulating basic needs, describing possessions, and engaging in simple transactions.

For example, to say I have a dog, you don't just use ein for dog (der Hund). Because der Hund is the direct object of haben, its article changes: Ich habe einen Hund. Notice how the masculine ein transforms to einen, indicating its Accusative function.

How This Grammar Works

The Accusative case is fundamentally about action and reception. When a subject performs an action, and that action directly affects or is directed towards another noun, that receiving noun is in the Accusative case. This grammatical mechanism ensures that you always know who is doing what to whom or what.
Consider the sentence Ich sehe einen Mann (I see a man). Here, ich is the subject (Nominative), performing the action sehe (see). The action of seeing is directed at ein Mann.
Therefore, ein Mann becomes einen Mann in the Accusative. The -en ending on einen explicitly marks der Mann as the direct object.
For indefinite articles, the change in the Accusative case is remarkably straightforward: only masculine singular nouns modify their indefinite article. Feminine and neuter singular nouns retain the same indefinite article form as they use in the Nominative case. Plural indefinite articles do not exist in German; you cannot say 'a books.'
This distinction is vital because German sentences can have more flexible word order than English. The article provides essential information about the noun's role, regardless of its position. For instance, Einen Kaffee möchte ich (A coffee I would like) still clearly identifies einen Kaffee as the object being desired, even though it appears before the verb and subject.
The article acts as a grammatical signpost.
Key takeaways for how this grammar works:
  • The Accusative marks the noun receiving the verb's action.
  • Only masculine singular indefinite articles change from ein to einen.
  • Feminine eine and neuter ein remain unchanged in the Accusative.
  • No indefinite article exists for plural nouns.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming the Accusative indefinite article is one of the most predictable aspects of German case grammar at this level. You primarily need to remember one significant change, which applies exclusively to masculine nouns.
2
To determine the correct indefinite article in the Accusative:
3
Identify the gender of the noun (masculine, feminine, or neuter).
4
Confirm the noun is the direct object of the verb (it answers Wen? – Whom? or Was? – What?).
5
Apply the following pattern:
6
| Gender | Nominative Indefinite Article | Accusative Indefinite Article |
7
| :-------- | :---------------------------- | :---------------------------- |
8
| Masculine | ein | einen |
9
| Feminine | eine | eine |
10
| Neuter | ein | ein |
11
| Plural | (no indefinite article) | (no indefinite article) |
12
As the table clearly shows, the crucial change occurs only for masculine nouns, where ein gains an -en ending to become einen. Feminine eine and neuter ein retain their Nominative forms, making them identical in both the Nominative and Accusative cases. For plural nouns, German does not use an indefinite article equivalent to 'a' or 'an'; you would simply use the noun itself, or a quantity.
13
For example:
14
Masculine: Ich habe einen Stift (I have a pen). Der Stift is masculine, direct object.
15
Feminine: Ich kaufe eine Tasche (I buy a bag). Die Tasche is feminine, direct object.
16
Neuter: Wir suchen ein Haus (We are looking for a house). Das Haus is neuter, direct object.
17
This pattern is consistent and does not have exceptions at this level. The masculine -en ending is your primary indicator for an Accusative indefinite article. Learning nouns with their gender is therefore paramount, as it directly dictates the article's form.

When To Use It

When a verb's action is directly applied to a noun, that noun will be in the Accusative case, and if it's an unspecified singular item, it will take an Accusative indefinite article. Many common German verbs are inherently Accusative verbs, meaning they require a direct object. Identifying these verbs is key to correctly applying the Accusative indefinite articles.
Here are categories of verbs that typically take the Accusative case, requiring the use of einen, eine, or ein for their direct objects:
1. Verbs of Possession or Existence: These verbs describe having, owning, or needing something.
  • haben (to have): Ich habe einen Bruder. (I have a brother.) Here, der Bruder is the direct object.
  • besitzen (to own): Er besitzt ein altes Auto. (He owns an old car.) das Auto is the direct object.
  • brauchen (to need): Wir brauchen eine Pause. (We need a break.) die Pause is the direct object.
2. Verbs of Consumption: These relate to eating, drinking, or using something.
  • essen (to eat): Ich esse einen Apfel. (I eat an apple.) der Apfel is the direct object.
  • trinken (to drink): Sie trinkt einen Tee. (She drinks a tea.) der Tee is the direct object.
  • lesen (to read): Er liest ein Buch. (He reads a book.) das Buch is the direct object.
3. Verbs of Creation or Acquisition: These involve making, buying, or finding something.
  • kaufen (to buy): Ich kaufe eine Zeitung. (I buy a newspaper.) die Zeitung is the direct object.
  • schreiben (to write): Sie schreibt einen Brief. (She writes a letter.) der Brief is the direct object.
  • finden (to find): Wir finden einen Schlüssel. (We find a key.) der Schlüssel is the direct object.
4. Verbs of Perception: These involve seeing, hearing, or watching.
  • sehen (to see): Ich sehe einen Vogel. (I see a bird.) der Vogel is the direct object.
  • hören (to hear): Hörst du ein Geräusch? (Do you hear a noise?) das Geräusch is the direct object.
The 'Who or What?' Test: To quickly identify if a noun is a direct object, ask Wen? (Whom?) for people/animate objects or Was? (What?) for inanimate objects after the verb. The answer to this question will be the direct object, thus requiring the Accusative case.
  • Ich habe einen Laptop. → Was habe ich? → Einen Laptop. (Masculine Accusative)
  • Sie kauft eine Pizza. → Was kauft sie? → Eine Pizza. (Feminine Accusative)
It is crucial to remember that the verb sein (to be) never takes an Accusative object. Sein functions as a linking verb; it equates the subject with another Nominative noun or adjective. For example, Das ist ein Tisch (That is a table) is correct, not Das ist einen Tisch.
The noun Tisch here is a predicate nominative, not a direct object.

Common Mistakes

Learners at the A1 level frequently encounter specific challenges when using Accusative indefinite articles. Recognizing these common pitfalls can significantly accelerate mastery.
  1. 1Forgetting the Masculine -en Ending: This is arguably the most frequent error. Due to English not having case-marked articles, learners often default to ein for all singular nouns. Saying Ich habe ein Hund instead of Ich habe einen Hund is a clear indicator of this mistake. The masculine article must change in the Accusative. This also applies to kein (no/not a) and possessive adjectives (mein, dein, sein, etc.), which follow the same -en pattern for masculine Accusative: Ich habe keinen Hund, Ich sehe deinen Hund.
  1. 1Overgeneralizing the -en Ending: Conversely, some learners, after internalizing the masculine change, begin to apply -en to feminine and neuter nouns as well. This leads to incorrect constructions like Ich trinke einen Milch (for die Milch) or Ich sehe einen Auto (for das Auto). Remember: feminine eine and neuter ein remain unchanged in the Accusative. Only masculine nouns get the extra -en.
  1. 1Using Accusative After sein: As previously mentioned, sein (to be) is a linking verb and always takes the Nominative case. A common error is Das ist einen Stuhl instead of the correct Das ist ein Stuhl. The noun following sein describes or renames the subject and is therefore also in the Nominative case.
  1. 1Gender Confusion: Correctly identifying the gender of a noun is fundamental. If you don't know whether Schlüssel is der, die, or das, you cannot choose the correct article. Learning nouns with their accompanying definite article (der, die, das) from the outset prevents this problem. A common strategy for new learners is to try and associate a color or image with each gender to aid recall.
  1. 1Attempting Indefinite Plural Articles: German does not have an indefinite article for plural nouns. Errors occur when learners try to translate a books or some friends directly. Instead of einen Bücher or eine Freunde, you simply use the plural noun: Ich habe Bücher (I have books) or Ich habe Freunde (I have friends). If specificity is needed, quantities or adjectives are used: Ich habe viele Bücher (I have many books).
  1. 1Misidentifying Direct Objects: Sometimes, a noun might appear to be a direct object but is actually part of a prepositional phrase or in another case. Always apply the Wen? or Was? test to confirm. For example, Ich spreche mit einem Freund (I speak with a friend). Here, einem Freund is not Accusative because mit is a dative preposition.

Real Conversations

Understanding grammatical rules in isolation is one thing; seeing how they function in authentic communication is another. In everyday German, the Accusative indefinite articles are used seamlessly across various contexts, from casual chats to more formal requests.

1. Ordering Food/Drinks: This is a common scenario for A1 learners.

- Customer: Guten Tag. Ich hätte gern einen Kaffee. (Good day. I'd like a coffee.) – der Kaffee is the direct object of hätte gern.

- Waiter: Möchten Sie auch einen Kuchen? (Would you also like a cake?) – der Kuchen is the direct object of möchten.

- Customer: Nein, danke. Aber eine Flasche Wasser, bitte. (No, thanks. But a bottle of water, please.) – die Flasche is the direct object. Wasser is not an indefinite article.

2. Describing Possessions or Needs:

- Friend A: Hast du einen Regenschirm dabei? Es regnet! (Do you have an umbrella with you? It's raining!) – der Regenschirm is the direct object of haben.

- Friend B: Leider nicht. Aber ich habe eine Mütze. (Unfortunately not. But I have a cap.) – die Mütze is the direct object.

- Colleague: Ich brauche dringend einen Rat. (I urgently need advice.) – der Rat is the direct object of brauchen.

3. Casual Observations and Actions:

- Parent to child: Schau mal, da ist ein Eichhörnchen! (Look, there's a squirrel!) – das Eichhörnchen is the subject here (da ist), so it remains ein (Nominative for neuter).

- Child: Ich sehe einen größeren Baum! (I see a bigger tree!) – der Baum is the direct object of sehen, thus einen Baum.

- Text message: Hab ein Problem, rufst du mich zurück? (Have a problem, will you call me back?) – ein Problem is the direct object of haben. (In informal German, ich habe is often shortened to hab).

4. Introducing Objects with 'es gibt': The construction es gibt (there is/are) always takes the Accusative case.

- Es gibt einen neuen Film im Kino. (There's a new movie at the cinema.) – der Film is in Accusative after es gibt.

- Gibt es hier eine Apotheke? (Is there a pharmacy here?) – die Apotheke is in Accusative after es gibt.

These examples illustrate that the -en ending for masculine Accusative indefinite articles is a consistent and fundamental part of German communication. Paying attention to these patterns in spoken and written German will solidify your understanding.

Quick FAQ

Q: What is the main purpose of the Accusative case?

The Accusative case primarily identifies the direct object of a verb, which is the noun or pronoun that directly receives the action of the verb. It answers the questions Wen? (Whom?) or Was? (What?).

Q: Which indefinite articles change in the Accusative case?

Only the masculine indefinite article changes from ein (Nominative) to einen (Accusative). Feminine eine and neuter ein remain unchanged.

Q: Why do feminine and neuter indefinite articles not change?

This is a characteristic feature of German grammar. While masculine nouns receive an -en ending on their article (and often on adjectives), feminine and neuter nouns maintain their Nominative article form in the Accusative case. This simplifies learning for these genders.

Q: Is there an indefinite article for plural nouns in the Accusative?

No. German does not have an indefinite article for plural nouns. You would simply use the plural noun itself (Ich habe Bücher) or quantify it (Ich habe viele Bücher).

Q: How can I remember the masculine Accusative ending?

A simple mnemonic is to associate the masculine gender with the -n sound or ending. Think of den, einen, keinen. This sound consistently appears for masculine direct objects. Another way to remember it is that the Accusative case is often called the 'N-case' due to this prominent -n ending for masculine singulars.

Q: Does the verb sein (to be) take the Accusative?

No, never. Sein is a linking verb and always takes the Nominative case for the noun or pronoun that follows it. For example, Das ist ein Freund (That is a friend), not einen Freund.

Q: Are there any prepositions that always take the Accusative case with indefinite articles?

Yes, a set of prepositions always trigger the Accusative. These include durch (through), für (for), gegen (against), ohne (without), and um (around/at). For example: Ich kaufe das Geschenk für einen Freund (I buy the gift for a friend).

Q: If I don't know a noun's gender, what should I do?

It's crucial to learn nouns with their definite articles (der, die, das) from the beginning. Guessing masculine, while having a 33% chance of being correct, will lead to frequent errors. Consistent learning of gender is the only reliable method.

Q: Will native speakers understand me if I make a mistake with Accusative articles?

Often, yes, context will allow them to understand your meaning. However, consistent errors will mark you as a beginner and can sometimes lead to slight ambiguity or unnatural-sounding sentences. Correct usage significantly improves clarity and makes your German sound much more natural and precise.

Accusative Indefinite Articles

Gender Nominative Accusative
Masculine
ein
einen
Feminine
eine
eine
Neuter
ein
ein

Meanings

The accusative case marks the direct object of a sentence, which is the person or thing receiving the action of the verb.

1

Direct Object

The entity directly affected by the verb.

“Ich sehe einen Mann.”

“Sie sucht eine Tasche.”

Reference Table

Reference table for German Accusative Articles: a, an (einen, eine, ein)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subject + Verb + einen + Masc. Noun
Ich habe einen Hund.
Negative
Subject + Verb + keinen + Masc. Noun
Ich habe keinen Hund.
Question
Verb + Subject + einen + Masc. Noun?
Hast du einen Hund?
Feminine
Subject + Verb + eine + Fem. Noun
Ich habe eine Katze.
Neuter
Subject + Verb + ein + Neut. Noun
Ich habe ein Auto.
Neg. Fem.
Subject + Verb + keine + Fem. Noun
Ich habe keine Katze.
Neg. Neut.
Subject + Verb + kein + Neut. Noun
Ich habe kein Auto.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Ich besitze einen Hund.

Ich besitze einen Hund. (Talking about pets)

Neutral
Ich habe einen Hund.

Ich habe einen Hund. (Talking about pets)

Informal
Ich hab' einen Hund.

Ich hab' einen Hund. (Talking about pets)

Slang
Hab' nen Hund.

Hab' nen Hund. (Talking about pets)

Accusative Case Map

Accusative

Masculine

  • einen a

Feminine

  • eine a

Neuter

  • ein a
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Examples by Level

1

Ich habe einen Hund.

I have a dog.

2

Sie kauft eine Banane.

She buys a banana.

3

Wir essen ein Brot.

We eat a bread.

4

Hast du einen Stift?

Do you have a pen?

1

Er sucht einen Job.

He is looking for a job.

2

Ich brauche eine Pause.

I need a break.

3

Das Kind möchte ein Eis.

The child wants an ice cream.

4

Ich habe keinen Hunger.

I have no hunger.

1

Er hat einen interessanten Plan.

He has an interesting plan.

2

Sie liest eine spannende Geschichte.

She is reading an exciting story.

3

Wir brauchen ein neues Auto.

We need a new car.

4

Ich sehe einen alten Mann.

I see an old man.

1

Er hat einen Fehler gemacht.

He made a mistake.

2

Sie hat eine wichtige Entscheidung getroffen.

She made an important decision.

3

Das Unternehmen sucht ein neues Büro.

The company is looking for a new office.

4

Ich habe einen Termin beim Arzt.

I have an appointment with the doctor.

1

Er hat einen unvorhersehbaren Effekt.

He has an unpredictable effect.

2

Sie hat eine komplexe Theorie entwickelt.

She developed a complex theory.

3

Das Projekt erfordert ein hohes Maß an Konzentration.

The project requires a high level of concentration.

4

Er hat einen bemerkenswerten Beitrag geleistet.

He made a remarkable contribution.

1

Er hat einen tiefgreifenden Wandel eingeleitet.

He initiated a profound change.

2

Sie hat eine subtile Nuance hinzugefügt.

She added a subtle nuance.

3

Das Dokument enthält ein wichtiges Detail.

The document contains an important detail.

4

Er hat einen unbestreitbaren Vorteil.

He has an undeniable advantage.

Easily Confused

German Accusative Articles: a, an (einen, eine, ein) vs Nominative vs Accusative

Learners often use the subject form for the object.

German Accusative Articles: a, an (einen, eine, ein) vs Ein vs Einen

Learners add 'en' to everything.

German Accusative Articles: a, an (einen, eine, ein) vs Kein vs Keinen

Same logic as ein/einen.

Common Mistakes

✗

Ich habe eine Hund.

✓

Ich habe einen Hund.

Hund is masculine, so it needs einen.
✗

Ich habe einen Katze.

✓

Ich habe eine Katze.

Katze is feminine, it stays eine.
✗

Ich habe einen Auto.

✓

Ich habe ein Auto.

Auto is neuter, it stays ein.
✗

Ich sehe einen Frau.

✓

Ich sehe eine Frau.

Frau is feminine.
✗

Er braucht einen Lampe.

✓

Er braucht eine Lampe.

Lampe is feminine.
✗

Sie hat keinen Zeit.

✓

Sie hat keine Zeit.

Zeit is feminine.
✗

Wir suchen einen Haus.

✓

Wir suchen ein Haus.

Haus is neuter.
✗

Ich habe einen Idee.

✓

Ich habe eine Idee.

Idee is feminine.
✗

Er hat einen Kind.

✓

Er hat ein Kind.

Kind is neuter.
✗

Sie braucht einen Hilfe.

✓

Sie braucht eine Hilfe.

Hilfe is feminine.
✗

Er hat einen große Chance.

✓

Er hat eine große Chance.

Chance is feminine.
✗

Das ist einen Fehler.

✓

Das ist ein Fehler.

Fehler is masculine, but here it is a predicate nominative, not accusative.
✗

Ich habe einen gute Grund.

✓

Ich habe einen guten Grund.

Adjective ending error.
✗

Sie hat einen neue Auto.

✓

Sie hat ein neues Auto.

Auto is neuter.

Sentence Patterns

Ich habe ___ ___.

Brauchst du ___ ___?

Ich suche ___ ___ für mein Projekt.

Er hat ___ ___ gekauft.

Real World Usage

Ordering food constant

Ich möchte einen Burger.

Shopping very common

Ich kaufe eine Hose.

Texting very common

Hab' nen Hund.

Job interview common

Ich habe einen Plan.

Travel common

Ich brauche ein Ticket.

Food delivery apps common

Ich bestelle eine Pizza.

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💡

Focus on Masculine

Don't worry about feminine or neuter. Just learn 'einen' for masculine.
⚠️

Watch the Verb

Some verbs take the dative case instead of accusative. Learn those separately.
🎯

Use 'Kein'

The same rule applies to 'kein'. If it's masculine, it's 'keinen'.
💬

Don't Panic

Even native speakers make mistakes. Focus on being understood first.

Smart Tips

Always learn the noun with its article (e.g., 'der Hund').

Hund → der Hund

Don't worry about the case if you are just starting.

Ich habe einen Hund. → Ich habe ein Hund.

Check if it is masculine, feminine, or neuter.

Tisch → der Tisch (masculine)

Use a dictionary to check the gender.

Ich brauche ein Stift. → Ich brauche einen Stift.

Pronunciation

eye-nen

Einen

The 'en' at the end is often swallowed in fast speech.

Statement

Ich habe einen Hund. ↘

Falling intonation for facts.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember: 'Einen' is for the MEN! Only masculine nouns get the extra 'en'.

Visual Association

Imagine a big, strong man (masculine) wearing a heavy coat with an 'EN' patch on it. The feminine and neuter nouns are light and don't need the extra weight.

Rhyme

Masculine is the one, add an EN to have fun!

Story

Hans (masculine) is hungry. He wants a burger. He says 'Ich möchte einen Burger'. His sister Anna (feminine) wants a pizza. She says 'Ich möchte eine Pizza'. They both want a drink (neuter). They say 'Ich möchte ein Wasser'.

Word Web

eineneineeinkeinenkeinekeinhabenbrauchen

Challenge

Look around your room and name 5 objects using 'Ich habe einen/eine/ein...'.

Cultural Notes

Germans are very precise about cases. Using the wrong case can sound like a child speaking.

Austrians often use the same case rules, but sometimes use different vocabulary for the same objects.

Swiss German speakers often simplify cases in spoken dialects.

The accusative case comes from Proto-Indo-European, marking the goal of an action.

Conversation Starters

“

Was hast du in deiner Tasche?

“

Was brauchst du für die Schule?

“

Was suchst du gerade?

“

Welches Geschenk möchtest du?

Journal Prompts

Describe your room.
What do you need for your dream trip?
What are you looking for in a partner?
Describe your ideal workplace.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct article.

Ich habe ___ (a) Hund.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: c
Hund is masculine.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Masculine accusative is einen.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ich habe einen Katze.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Katze is feminine.
Change to negative. Sentence Transformation

Ich habe einen Hund.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Keinen is the negative of einen.
Match the noun to the article. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Masc, Fem, Neut.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Brauchst du ___ Stift? B: Ja, danke.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: c
Stift is masculine.
Order the words. Sentence Building

einen / habe / ich / Hund

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Subject-Verb-Object.
Sort into cases. Grammar Sorting

Which is accusative?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Einen is accusative.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the correct article.

Ich habe ___ (a) Hund.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: c
Hund is masculine.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Masculine accusative is einen.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ich habe einen Katze.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Katze is feminine.
Change to negative. Sentence Transformation

Ich habe einen Hund.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Keinen is the negative of einen.
Match the noun to the article. Match Pairs

Hund, Katze, Auto

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Masc, Fem, Neut.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Brauchst du ___ Stift? B: Ja, danke.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: c
Stift is masculine.
Order the words. Sentence Building

einen / habe / ich / Hund

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Subject-Verb-Object.
Sort into cases. Grammar Sorting

Which is accusative?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Einen is accusative.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

Sie braucht ___ Laptop {der|m}.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: einen
Pick the right article for a neuter noun Multiple Choice

Ich sehe ___ Buch {das|n}.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ein
Fix the masculine object Error Correction

Wir kaufen ein Fernseher {der|m}.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Wir kaufen einen Fernseher.
Translate to German Translation

I am eating a pizza {die|f}.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich esse eine Pizza.
Put the words in order Sentence Reorder

Hund / einen / Ich / habe

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich habe einen Hund.
Match the gender to the Accusative article Match Pairs

Match gender and article:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Masculine -> einen, Feminine -> eine, Neuter -> ein
Order a drink Fill in the Blank

Ich möchte ___ Saft {der|m}, bitte.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: einen
Identify the Nominative vs Accusative Multiple Choice

Which one shows an object?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich kaufe einen Tisch.
Find the gender error Error Correction

Sie hat einen Katze {die|f}.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sie hat eine Katze.
Translate to German Translation

Do you see a man {der|m}?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Siehst du einen Mann?

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

It marks the direct object in the accusative case.

No, only masculine nouns change their indefinite article.

They stay 'eine'.

They stay 'ein'.

Yes, 'kein' becomes 'keinen' for masculine nouns.

When the noun is the direct object of the verb.

Yes, Nominative, Dative, and Genitive.

You have to learn the gender with the noun.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish low

Un/Una

Spanish has no case-based article changes.

French low

Un/Une

French lacks a case system for articles.

German high

Einen/Eine/Ein

It is the standard for German.

Japanese low

Particle 'o'

Japanese marks the noun, not the article.

Arabic low

Tanween

Arabic uses suffixes on the noun.

Chinese none

Word order

Chinese has no case system.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
German Accusative: Using 'den', 'die', and 'das' (Akkusativ)

Learn These First

A1 Requires

German Indefinite Articles: A and An (ein, eine)

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