What is a case?
The four casesfreeA case is a marking that shows which role a noun plays in the sentence: is it acting? Being acted on? Receiving something? Owning something? English still has this in pronouns: *he* (acting) becomes *him* (acted on). “He sees him” — same person-words, different forms per role. German does exactly this, but with all nouns, articles, adjectives and pronouns.
German has four cases. Each answers a question:
| Case | Question | Role | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | who/what? | subject (acts) | Der Mann liest. |
| Akkusativ | whom/what? | direct object | Ich sehe den Mann. |
| Dativ | to whom? | indirect object (receiver) | Ich helfe dem Mann. |
| Genitiv | whose? | possession | das Auto des Mannes |
Watch what happens to “der Mann”: der → den → dem → des. The noun stays almost the same; the article carries the case. That is why you learned articles first — they are the display system of the cases.
The question method
This is how you find the case in any sentence: ask the question with the verb. “Ich gebe dem Kind einen Apfel.” (I give the child an apple.) — Who gives? *ich* → nominative. What do I give? *einen Apfel* → accusative. To whom? *dem Kind* → dative.
A second nominative (not an object!) follows sein, werden, bleiben (to be, to become, to remain): “Er ist ein guter Lehrer.” These verbs act like an equals sign.
Almost every article and ending gap is a hidden case question. Routine for “d__ Mann”: 1) ask the role question (who? whom? to whom?), 2) name the case, 3) retrieve the form from the table (next lesson).
“Die Lehrerin fragt den Schüler.” (The teacher asks the pupil.) — What case is “den Schüler” in?
Which question finds the dative object?
“Er wird ___ Arzt.” (He is becoming a doctor.) — Which case follows “werden”?
“Der Hund beißt den Briefträger.” (The dog bites the postman.) — What case is “den Briefträger” in?
“Das ist das Auto meines Vaters.” (That is my father’s car.) — What case is “meines Vaters” in?
“Ich schenke meiner Mutter Blumen.” (I give my mother flowers.) — What case is “meiner Mutter” in?
“Mein Bruder ist Lehrer.” (My brother is a teacher.) — What case is “Lehrer” in?
Which question finds the subject?
“Das Buch gehört meiner Schwester.” (The book belongs to my sister.) — Which question finds “meiner Schwester”?
“Morgen besucht uns der Onkel.” (Our uncle is visiting us tomorrow.) — Which part is nominative?