B2 Case System 12 min read Easy

German Fixed Accusative Expressions (jeden Tag, Guten Tag)

Use the accusative case for time expressions and greetings to sound natural and idiomatic in German.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

German uses the Accusative case for specific time expressions and set greetings, even when they don't function as direct objects.

  • Use Accusative for definite time durations: 'Ich arbeite {jeden|m} Tag.'
  • Use Accusative for standard greetings: 'Guten Tag!'
  • These phrases function as adverbials, not objects, yet retain the Accusative form.
Time/Greeting + Accusative Case = Fixed Expression

Overview

German fixed accusative expressions are phrases that use the accusative case to function as adverbs, typically specifying details about time, duration, frequency, or measurement. Unlike the more common use of the accusative for direct objects, these constructions—often called the adverbial accusative—modify the entire verb or clause without being the direct recipient of an action. They are not grammatical exceptions but rather a core feature of idiomatic German, representing a more concise and historically rooted way of conveying information.

Mastering these expressions is a hallmark of reaching the B2 level. It allows you to move beyond clunky prepositional phrases (e.g., an jedem Tag) to more natural, native-sounding constructions (jeden Tag). You encounter them constantly, from the simple greeting Guten Tag (Good day) to temporal markers like letzten Monat (last month).

Understanding their logic clarifies why certain endings appear, demystifying what might otherwise seem like arbitrary rules.

Historically, many of these phrases are remnants of older constructions where a preposition (like über or durch) was used but eventually dropped over centuries of language evolution. For example, den ganzen Tag (the whole day) can be understood as a fossilized version of über den ganzen Tag (over the whole day). The noun phrase retained its accusative case, solidifying into a fixed adverbial unit.

Recognizing this origin helps explain the why behind the grammar, making it easier to internalize than simply memorizing a list of phrases.

How This Grammar Works

The core principle is the distinction between a direct object and an adverbial modifier. A direct object answers the question wen oder was? (whom or what?) and receives the direct action of a transitive verb. An adverbial accusative, on the other hand, answers questions like wann? (when?), wie lange? (how long?), wie oft? (how often?), wie weit? (how far?), or wie viel? (how much?).
Consider the difference:
  • Direct Object: Ich lese das Buch. (I read the book.)
  • What do I read? das Buch. The book is the thing being read.
  • Adverbial Accusative: Ich lese den ganzen Abend. (I read the whole evening.)
  • How long do I read? den ganzen Abend. The evening is not being read; it defines the duration of the reading.
This functional difference is critical. The adverbial accusative doesn't receive the action; it provides the context or circumstances for that action. It behaves like an adverb (e.g., täglich, abends) but retains the grammatical form of a noun phrase in the accusative case.
This is why the adjective and article endings follow standard accusative declension rules, even though there's no transitive verb or preposition directly governing them.
| Grammatical Role | Function | Question Answered | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Object (Accusative) | Receives the verb's action | Wen/Was? (Whom/What?) | Der Hund frisst den Knochen. (The dog eats the bone.) |
| Adverbial Accusative | Modifies the verb/clause | Wann? Wie lange? Wie oft? etc. | Der Hund bellte die ganze Nacht. (The dog barked the whole night.) |
In the second example, die ganze Nacht isn't the object of bellen—it's the timeframe in which the barking occurred. This structure allows German to be highly efficient. Instead of saying während der ganzen Nacht (during the whole night), the simpler, more idiomatic die ganze Nacht is preferred.
This concise quality is a key characteristic of fluent German speech and writing.

Formation Pattern

1
Fixed accusative expressions are formed by putting a noun phrase—consisting of an article and/or adjective plus a noun—into the accusative case. The declension follows the standard, predictable rules for accusative endings you've already learned. The key is to recognize which kinds of nouns (time, measurement, etc.) can be used this way.
2
The general pattern is: [Determiner in Accusative] + [Adjective with Accusative Ending] + [Noun]
3
The specific endings depend on the gender of the noun and the type of determiner (definite, indefinite, or no article).
4
1. Masculine Nouns (e.g., der Tag, der Monat, der Moment)
5
These are extremely common in time expressions.
6
| Determiner Type | Example Phrase | Translation |
7
|---|---|---|
8
| Definite (der) | Ich arbeite den ganzen Tag. | I work the whole day. |
9
| Indefinite (ein) | Warten Sie bitte einen Moment. | Please wait a moment. |
10
| jeder | Er geht jeden Morgen joggen. | He goes jogging every morning. |
11
| dieser | Diesen Freitag habe ich frei. | I have off this Friday. |
12
2. Feminine Nouns (e.g., die Woche, die Nacht)
13
Feminine accusative forms for articles and adjectives often end in -e.
14
| Determiner Type | Example Phrase | Translation |
15
|---|---|---|
16
| Definite (die) | Sie hat die ganze Woche gelernt. | She studied the whole week. |
17
| Indefinite (eine) | Das dauert nur eine Sekunde. | That only takes a second. |
18
| jede | Jede Nacht träume ich davon. | I dream of it every night. |
19
| diese | Ich vergesse diese eine Sache nie. | I'll never forget this one thing. |
20
3. Neuter Nouns (e.g., das Jahr, das Mal)
21
Neuter accusative forms are identical to their nominative forms.
22
| Determiner Type | Example Phrase | Translation |
23
|---|---|---|
24
| Definite (das) | Wir sehen uns das nächste Mal. | We'll see each other next time. |
25
| Indefinite (ein) | Ich war dort nur ein einziges Mal. | I was there only one single time. |
26
| jedes | Er besucht seine Eltern jedes Jahr. | He visits his parents every year. |
27
| dieses | Dieses Jahr wird alles anders. | Everything will be different this year. |
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4. Plural Expressions
29
Plural forms are often used with alle (all/every).
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| Example Phrase | Translation |
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|---|---|
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| Ich putze alle zwei Wochen das Bad. | I clean the bathroom every two weeks. |
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| Sie hat ihn all die Jahre unterstützt. | She supported him all those years. |
34
This systematic application of accusative declension rules is what makes these expressions a predictable pattern rather than a list of phrases to memorize. Once you identify a phrase as expressing time, duration, or measurement, you can confidently apply the correct case endings.

When To Use It

The adverbial accusative is used in several distinct contexts. Recognizing these categories will help you know when to drop the preposition and use this more fluent construction.
1. Expressions of Definite Time (without a preposition)
This is for specific points or periods in time, often in the past or future.
  • Ich fliege nächsten Monat nach Berlin. (I'm flying to Berlin next month.)
  • Wir haben letzten Mittwoch den Vertrag unterschrieben. (We signed the contract last Wednesday.)
  • Er kommt Anfang nächster Woche zurück. (He's coming back at the beginning of next week.) Note: Here, Anfang is the accusative noun, and nächster Woche is a genitive modifying it.
2. Expressions of Repetition and Frequency
These answer the question wie oft? (how often?). jeden and alle are common markers here.
  • Du solltest jeden Tag Deutsch lernen. (You should study German every day.)
  • Die Konferenz findet alle zwei Jahre statt. (The conference takes place every two years.)
  • Er ruft seine Mutter jeden zweiten Sonntag an. (He calls his mother every other Sunday.)
3. Expressions of Duration
These answer wie lange? (how long?). They often use determiners like den ganzen or eine. The word lang can be added for emphasis, but is often optional.
  • Ich habe die ganze Nacht gearbeitet. (I worked the whole night.)
  • Der Film dauert drei Stunden (lang). (The film lasts for three hours.)
  • Sie war einen Monat (lang) im Ausland. (She was abroad for a month.)
4. Expressions of Measurement, Weight, and Value
This category extends beyond time to quantify distance, size, weight, or worth. They answer wie weit?, wie schwer?, wie viel?, etc.
  • Wir sind einen weiten Weg gegangen. (We walked a long way.)
  • Der Schrank ist einen Meter breit. (The closet is one meter wide.)
  • Diese alte Münze ist kaum einen Euro wert. (This old coin is worth barely one Euro.)
5. Set Greetings and Wishes
Many common German greetings are fossilized adverbial accusatives. They are shortened forms of sentences like Ich wünsche dir einen guten Tag. The direct object einen guten Tag remains, while the rest is omitted.
  • Guten Tag! (Good day!)
  • Schönen Abend! (Have a nice evening!)
  • Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag! (Heartfelt congratulations on your birthday!) - Here, Herzlichen Glückwunsch is the accusative object of an implied wish.

Common Mistakes

Learners at the B2 level often understand the concept but make consistent errors in application. Here are the most frequent pitfalls and how to avoid them.
1. Confusing Accusative and Dative for Time
This is the most common mistake. Learners often default to the dative case for all time expressions, especially if a preposition is used in English (e.g., "on Monday").
  • Mistake: Ich komme an nächstem Montag. or Ich komme nächstem Montag.
  • Correction: Ich komme nächsten Montag. (No preposition) OR Ich komme am nächsten Montag. (With preposition an + dem -> am)
Rule: Use the adverbial accusative for definite time when no preposition is present. Use the dative case when a temporal preposition like an, in, or vor is present.
| Case | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Accusative | Time expression without a preposition | Wir sehen uns nächsten Dienstag. |
| Dative | Time expression with a preposition | Wir sehen uns am nächsten Dienstag. |
2. Incorrect Adjective Endings
Even when choosing the accusative case, learners forget the adjective declension rules, especially with masculine nouns.
  • Mistake: *Ich habe den ganze Tag gewartet.
  • Correction: Ich habe den ganzen Tag gewartet.
Rule: Always apply strong, weak, or mixed declension rules as you normally would. After a definite article (den), the masculine accusative adjective ending is -en. Think of it as a single grammatical unit: den + ...en + masculine noun.
3. Unnecessary Use of Prepositions
Coming from English, learners often try to translate prepositions directly, which sounds unnatural in German.
  • Mistake: *Ich lerne Deutsch für zwei Stunden jeden Tag. (Sounds clunky and anglicized.)
  • Correction: Ich lerne jeden Tag zwei Stunden Deutsch. (More idiomatic and efficient.)
  • Mistake: *Wir sind für einen Kilometer gelaufen.
  • Correction: Wir sind einen Kilometer gelaufen.
Rule: When a phrase can be expressed with an adverbial accusative (for duration, distance, etc.), it is almost always more idiomatic to omit the preposition (für, während).
4. Confusing jeden with alle
jeden is singular, while alle is plural. This distinction is sometimes missed.
  • Mistake: *Ich besuche meine Großeltern jeden zwei Wochen.
  • Correction: Ich besuche meine Großeltern alle zwei Wochen.
Rule: Use jeden/jede/jedes for singular units of time (jeden Tag, jede Woche). Use alle for plural units or periods (alle zwei Tage, alle paar Monate, all die Jahre).

Real Conversations

Textbook examples are clean, but real-world usage is often faster and more integrated. Here’s how you'll see and hear these expressions in modern, everyday German.

1. In Text Messages & Chats

- Bin einen Augenblick später dran, sorry! (Gonna be a moment later, sorry!) - einen Augenblick is a very common way to say "one moment".

- A friend asks when you're free: Hab nächste Woche keine Zeit, aber die Woche drauf ginge. (Don't have time next week, but the week after would work.)

- Hatte die ganze Nacht Kopfschmerzen. (Had a headache all night.)

2. In a Work Email

- Sehr geehrte Frau Meier, ich bin nächsten Montag wieder im Büro und werde Ihre Anfrage dann umgehend bearbeiten. (Dear Ms. Meier, I will be back in the office next Monday and will process your request immediately.)

- Das Projekt sollte Ende des Monats abgeschlossen sein. (The project should be completed by the end of the month.) - Similar to an earlier example, Ende is the accusative noun.

3. On Social Media (e.g., Instagram Caption)

- Den ganzen Sommer nur Sonne, Strand und Meer. Unvergesslich! (The whole summer just sun, beach, and sea. Unforgettable!)

- In a comment: Wow, du siehst super aus! Herzlichen Glückwunsch zur neuen Frisur! 😂 (Wow, you look great! Congrats on the new hairstyle! 😂) - Used humorously and informally.

4. In Casual Spoken Conversation

- Stell dir vor, ich hab ihn einen geschlagenen Monat nicht gesehen. (Can you imagine, I haven't seen him for a solid month.) - einen geschlagenen Monat is an idiomatic, emphatic way to say "a full month".

- Ach, lass mich doch eine Minute in Ruhe! (Oh, just leave me alone for a minute!) - A common, slightly impatient request.

Quick FAQ

Q: Is the adverbial accusative the same as a direct object?
A: No. A direct object receives the verb's action (you read a book), while an adverbial accusative describes the circumstances of the action, like when or for how long it happens (you read for an hour).
Q: Do I have to use these expressions, or can I just use prepositions like an, in, or für?
A: You can often use prepositional phrases, and you will be understood. However, using the adverbial accusative (nächsten Montag instead of am nächsten Montag) is a key marker of fluency and makes your German sound much more natural and less like a direct translation from English.
Q: Why is it Guten Tag and not Guter Tag (nominative)?
A: It's a shortened version of a full sentence like Ich wünsche dir einen guten Tag (I wish you a good day). In that sentence, einen guten Tag is the direct object and therefore in the accusative case. The greeting is the fossilized remnant of that object.
Q: I see phrases like einen Monat lang. Is the word lang required?
A: No, it's not required but is often added for emphasis on the duration. Ich war einen Monat dort and Ich war einen Monat lang dort are both correct and mean the same thing, but the version with lang stresses the length of time a bit more.
Q: How does this work with plural time units, like "every three days"?
A: You use the word alle followed by the plural accusative phrase. For example: Der Bus fährt alle drei Tage. (drei Tage is in the plural accusative case, which looks the same as the nominative plural). The pattern holds true for any number: alle zehn Minuten, alle vier Wochen, etc.

Accusative Time Expressions

Time Period Article/Adjective Example
Masculine
den / jeden / nächsten
den Tag
Feminine
die / jede / nächste
die Woche
Neuter
das / jedes / nächstes
das Jahr
Plural
die / jede / nächste
die Tage

Common Greeting Contractions

Formal Shortened
Guten Tag
Tag
Guten Morgen
Morgen

Meanings

The use of the Accusative case for temporal expressions and conventional greetings that function as adverbials.

1

Temporal Accusative

Indicating duration or frequency of an action.

“Ich warte {den|m} ganzen Tag.”

“Wir treffen uns {jeden|m} Abend.”

2

Greeting Formulas

Standard social interactions.

“Guten Tag!”

“Guten Morgen!”

Reference Table

Reference table for German Fixed Accusative Expressions (jeden Tag, Guten Tag)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Accusative Time
Ich arbeite {jeden|m} Tag.
Negative
Accusative Time
Ich arbeite nicht {jeden|m} Tag.
Question
Accusative Time
Arbeitest du {jeden|m} Tag?
Greeting
Accusative Greeting
Guten Tag!
Future
Accusative Time
{Nächsten|m} Montag habe ich frei.
Past
Accusative Time
{Letzten|m} Monat war ich krank.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Guten Tag.

Guten Tag. (Greeting)

Neutral
Hallo.

Hallo. (Greeting)

Informal
Hi.

Hi. (Greeting)

Slang
Moin.

Moin. (Greeting)

Accusative Time Map

Accusative Time

Duration

  • den ganzen Tag the whole day

Frequency

  • jeden Montag every Monday

Future/Past

  • nächsten Monat next month
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Examples by Level

1

Guten Tag!

Good day!

2

Ich lerne {jeden|m} Tag.

I learn every day.

3

Guten Morgen!

Good morning!

4

Ich arbeite {jeden|m} Tag.

I work every day.

1

Wir warten {den|m} ganzen Tag.

We wait the whole day.

2

Guten Abend, wie geht es Ihnen?

Good evening, how are you?

3

Ich sehe ihn {jeden|m} Montag.

I see him every Monday.

4

Er bleibt {nächsten|m} Monat hier.

He stays here next month.

1

Ich habe {letzten|m} Freitag viel gelernt.

I learned a lot last Friday.

2

Sie besucht uns {jeden|m} zweiten Tag.

She visits us every second day.

3

Guten Tag, ich hätte gerne einen Kaffee.

Good day, I would like a coffee.

4

Wir planen {nächste|f} Woche eine Reise.

We are planning a trip next week.

1

Er hat {den|m} ganzen Vormittag telefoniert.

He was on the phone all morning.

2

Ich werde {nächsten|m} Sommer nach Berlin reisen.

I will travel to Berlin next summer.

3

Guten Tag, Herr Müller, wie läuft das Projekt?

Good day, Mr. Müller, how is the project going?

4

Man sollte {jeden|m} Tag etwas Neues lernen.

One should learn something new every day.

1

Sie hat {den|m} gesamten Nachmittag damit verbracht, den Bericht zu schreiben.

She spent the entire afternoon writing the report.

2

Guten Tag, ich darf Sie bitten, das Dokument zu unterzeichnen.

Good day, may I ask you to sign the document.

3

Wir werden {nächsten|m} Monat die Bilanz prüfen.

We will audit the balance sheet next month.

4

Er trainiert {jeden|m} Tag, um sein Ziel zu erreichen.

He trains every day to reach his goal.

1

Guten Tag, meine Damen und Herren, wir beginnen nun mit der Sitzung.

Good day, ladies and gentlemen, we are now beginning the meeting.

2

Er hat {den|m} ganzen Winter in den Alpen verbracht.

He spent the whole winter in the Alps.

3

Wir erwarten {nächsten|m} Frühling eine deutliche Erholung des Marktes.

We expect a significant market recovery next spring.

4

Man muss {jeden|m} Tag aufs Neue entscheiden, was wichtig ist.

One must decide every day anew what is important.

Easily Confused

German Fixed Accusative Expressions (jeden Tag, Guten Tag) vs Accusative vs Dative Time

Learners mix up duration (Acc) and points (Dat).

German Fixed Accusative Expressions (jeden Tag, Guten Tag) vs Nominative vs Accusative

Learners use Nominative for time.

German Fixed Accusative Expressions (jeden Tag, Guten Tag) vs Adjective endings

Guten vs Guter.

Common Mistakes

✗

Jeder Tag ist gut.

✓

Ich arbeite {jeden|m} Tag.

Nominative vs Accusative.
✗

Guter Tag!

✓

Guten Tag!

Adjective ending in greeting.
✗

Ich arbeite am Tag.

✓

Ich arbeite {jeden|m} Tag.

Preposition vs Accusative.
✗

Ich sehe ihn der Tag.

✓

Ich sehe ihn {den|m} Tag.

Wrong article.
✗

Nächste Monat.

✓

{Nächsten|m} Monat.

Accusative ending missing.
✗

Den ganzen Woche.

✓

{Die|f} ganze Woche.

Gender confusion.
✗

Jede Tag.

✓

{Jeden|m} Tag.

Gender/Case mismatch.
✗

Am nächsten Tag.

✓

{Nächsten|m} Tag.

Adding unnecessary preposition.
✗

Jedes Jahr.

✓

{Jedes|n} Jahr.

Correct, but ensure context is duration.
✗

Guten Morgen.

✓

Guten Morgen.

Correct, but check register.
✗

Den ganzen Tag über.

✓

{Den|m} ganzen Tag.

Redundant preposition.
✗

Jeden Tag lang.

✓

{Jeden|m} Tag.

Redundant 'lang'.
✗

Guten Tag, Herr.

✓

Guten Tag, Herr Müller.

Missing name.
✗

Nächsten Woche.

✓

{Nächste|f} Woche.

Accusative feminine error.

Sentence Patterns

Ich arbeite ___ Tag.

___ Tag! Wie geht es dir?

Wir treffen uns ___ Monat.

Ich habe ___ Woche viel zu tun.

Real World Usage

Social Media very common

Schönen Tag euch!

Job Interview constant

Guten Tag, ich freue mich hier zu sein.

Texting very common

Bis nächsten Montag!

Ordering Food common

Guten Tag, ich hätte gerne einen Salat.

Travel common

Guten Tag, ich habe eine Reservierung.

Daily Routine constant

Ich gehe jeden Tag joggen.

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💡

Memorize as Chunks

Don't analyze every word. Learn 'jeden Tag' as one unit.
⚠️

Watch the Gender

Remember that 'Tag' is masculine, so it takes 'den' or 'jeden'.
🎯

Use in Greetings

Always use 'Guten' for greetings, it's a fixed phrase.
💬

Regional Variations

Be aware that 'Guten Tag' is standard, but regional greetings exist.

Smart Tips

Use 'jeden Tag' instead of 'jeder Tag'.

Jeder Tag ist Arbeit. → Ich arbeite {jeden|m} Tag.

Always use 'Guten' + time of day.

Guter Tag. → Guten Tag.

Use 'nächste Woche' (feminine).

Nächsten Woche. → {Nächste|f} Woche.

Use Accusative for the whole duration.

Am ganzen Tag. → {Den|m} ganzen Tag.

Pronunciation

/ˈɡuːtn̩ taːk/

Guten Tag

The 'n' in 'Guten' is pronounced clearly.

Greeting

Guten Tag! ↗

Friendly, rising intonation.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember: 'Accusative is for the duration of the day, Dative is for the point in the way.'

Visual Association

Imagine a clock with a blue 'Accusative' sticker on the hands showing the duration, and a green 'Dative' dot on a specific number.

Rhyme

For time that lasts or happens again, use the Accusative, don't use 'en' (wait, use 'en' for masculine!).

Story

Hans works {jeden|m} Tag. He says 'Guten Tag' to his boss. He plans to work {nächsten|m} Monat even harder.

Word Web

jeden Tagnächsten MonatGuten Tagden ganzen Tagletzten Freitag

Challenge

Write down 3 things you do every day using 'jeden Tag'.

Cultural Notes

Guten Tag is standard. In the North, 'Moin' is used all day.

Grüß Gott is very common.

Grüezi is the standard greeting.

These expressions are remnants of the Old High German adverbial Accusative.

Conversation Starters

“

Was machst du {jeden|m} Tag?

“

Wie war dein Tag?

“

Was planst du für {nächsten|m} Monat?

“

Wie wichtig ist es, {jeden|m} Tag zu üben?

Journal Prompts

Describe your daily routine.
What did you do all day yesterday?
What are your plans for next month?
Reflect on a habit you want to change.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Ich arbeite ___ Tag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: jeden
Accusative masculine.
Choose the correct greeting. Multiple Choice

___ Tag!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Guten
Fixed Accusative greeting.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ich sehe ihn jeder Montag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: jeden Montag
Accusative masculine.
Transform to Accusative. Sentence Transformation

Der Tag ist lang. (I work...)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich arbeite den Tag.
Accusative duration.
Match the phrase. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: jeden Tag - every day
Meaning match.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Wir sehen uns ___ Monat.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: nächsten
Accusative masculine.
Fill in the blank.

Er hat ___ ganzen Tag gewartet.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: den
Accusative masculine.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Guter Morgen!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Guten Morgen!
Fixed Accusative greeting.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Ich arbeite ___ Tag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: jeden
Accusative masculine.
Choose the correct greeting. Multiple Choice

___ Tag!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Guten
Fixed Accusative greeting.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ich sehe ihn jeder Montag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: jeden Montag
Accusative masculine.
Transform to Accusative. Sentence Transformation

Der Tag ist lang. (I work...)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich arbeite den Tag.
Accusative duration.
Match the phrase. Match Pairs

Match the time.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: jeden Tag - every day
Meaning match.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Wir sehen uns ___ Monat.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: nächsten
Accusative masculine.
Fill in the blank.

Er hat ___ ganzen Tag gewartet.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: den
Accusative masculine.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Guter Morgen!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Guten Morgen!
Fixed Accusative greeting.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

Wir sehen uns ___ Woche.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: nächste
Find the mistake Error Correction

Viel Dank für deine Hilfe!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vielen Dank für deine Hilfe!
Put the words in the correct order Sentence Reorder

ganzen / gelernt / habe / Tag / Ich / den

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich habe den ganzen Tag gelernt.
Translate into German Translation

the whole evening

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: den ganzen Abend
Which one is a greeting? Multiple Choice

Pick the correct greeting:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Guten Abend
Match the German to English Match Pairs

Match the following phrases:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: jeden Tag - every day
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

Er ist ___ Kopf größer als ich.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: einen
Fix the sentence Error Correction

Nächster Monat fange ich einen neuen Job an.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nächsten Monat fange ich einen neuen Job an.
Translate 'Happy Birthday' Translation

Happy Birthday (lit. Heartfelt Wish)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Herzlichen Glückwunsch
Which is correct for 'the whole year'? Multiple Choice

Select the correct phrase:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: das ganze Jahr

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Because it functions as an adverbial of time, requiring the Accusative case.

Yes, they are standard in all registers.

Yes, it is a fixed phrase.

'Am Tag' means 'during the day', which is a different meaning.

Yes, Dative is used for specific points in time.

It's moderate, but memorizing the phrases makes it easy.

No, it must be 'nächsten'.

Use them in your daily speech.

Scaffolded Practice

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

cada día

Spanish doesn't use case endings.

French high

chaque jour

French lacks case inflection.

Japanese moderate

mainichi

Japanese is agglutinative, not inflectional.

Arabic moderate

kulla yawm

Arabic case system is different.

Chinese low

měitiān

Chinese is isolating.

English high

every day

English has no case system.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Asking About Things: Prepositional Adverbs (wo(r) + Preposition)
Next
Feeling Dative: Fixed Expressions and Idioms (Mir ist...)

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