Cases – Nominative, Accusative & Dative

In German, the word for ‘the’ and ‘a / an’ changes depending on the position of the noun in the sentence.

Row 1: If the noun is at the beginning of the sentence and comes before the verb you use the word for ‘the’ or ‘a / an’ from Row 1 (nominative). This is because the noun is the subject of the sentence, i.e. it is the thing that ‘does’ the action of the verb (it is part of the snap pair).

Row 2: If the noun is in the second part of the sentence after the verb you use the word for ‘the’ or ‘a / an’ from Row 2 (accusative). This is because the noun is the object of the sentence. The only exception to this is if you use the verb ‘sein’ – to be or ‘heissen’ – to be called.
- *We also use Row 2 if the noun comes directly after the following prepositions:
  - bis – until, to, by
  - durch – through, by
  - entlang – along, down
  - für – for
  - gegen – against, for
  - ohne – without
  - um – around, for, at (time)

Row 3 is called the Dative Case and is used when the noun comes after the following prepositions:
- aus – from, out of
- außer – except for
- bei – at, near
- gegenüber – opposite
- mit – with
- nach – after, to
- seit – since (time), for
- von – from
- zu – at, to

The following prepositions are a little complicated.

You use Row 2 after them if there is movement from one place to another – e.g. Ich gehe ins (in das) Kino – I go to the cinema. (you are moving from outside the cinema to inside the cinema)

You use Row 3 after them if there is no movement from one place to another – e.g. Ich bin im (in dem) Kino – I am in the cinema. (you are in the cinema and are not moving to a different place)

- - an – at, on
  - auf – on
  - hinter – behind
  - in – in
  - neben – next to
  - über – above, over
  - unter – under
  - vor – in front of
  - zwischen – between