Was ist Akkusativ? | German accusative explained | YourGermanTeacher

YourGermanTeacher
8 Oct 201912:35

Summary

TLDRIn this informative video, German language teacher Lucy explains the concept of the accusative case, which is the second case learned by German learners after the nominative. She clarifies that the accusative is used when there are two entities in a sentence, where the subject is in the nominative case and the object is in the accusative. Lucy uses visual aids and examples to illustrate how the accusative is used with different verbs and how it changes the articles for masculine nouns. She emphasizes the importance of the accusative in forming sentences and the flexibility it provides in word order, which is a distinctive feature of the German language compared to English. The video concludes with an interactive question, inviting viewers to practice using the accusative case in a comment.

Takeaways

  • 📚 Accusative is the fourth case in German grammar, but it's usually the second case that beginners learn after the nominative case.
  • 📍 Accusative is used after specific verbs and prepositions, but the video focuses on its use with verbs.
  • 🔍 Accusative is used when there are two people or things in a sentence, where one is the subject (nominative) and the other is the object (accusitive).
  • 📖 Every sentence has a subject, which is always in the nominative case.
  • 📝 Accusative articles change only in the masculine form, where the definite article 'der' becomes 'den', and the indefinite article 'ein' becomes 'einen'.
  • 👦 In sentences with one person or thing, the subject remains in the nominative case.
  • 📎 The accusative case is important for understanding the structure of a sentence in German, as it helps to distinguish the subject and object.
  • 🔑 The word order in German can be more flexible than in English, allowing for emphasis on different parts of the sentence.
  • 💡 The second position in a German sentence is typically reserved for the conjugated verb, regardless of where the subject and object are placed.
  • ✍️ Practice is key to mastering the use of the accusative case, especially with masculine nouns.
  • 🌐 German sentence structure can seem confusing to English speakers due to the different use of cases and word order.

Q & A

  • What is the accusative case in German grammar?

    -The accusative case in German grammar is used for direct objects in a sentence and is the second case that learners typically encounter after the nominative case.

  • Why is the accusative case important in German sentences?

    -The accusative case is important because it helps to identify the object of a sentence, which is crucial for understanding the meaning of the sentence in German, where word order can be more flexible than in English.

  • How does the word order in German differ from English?

    -In German, the meaning of a sentence is derived from the grammatical case of the nouns, allowing for more flexibility in word order. This is different from English, where the word order typically follows a subject-verb-object pattern.

  • What happens to the definite article in the accusative case for masculine nouns?

    -In the accusative case, the definite article for masculine nouns changes from 'der' to 'den'.

  • How does the accusative case affect the indefinite articles in German?

    -In the accusative case, the indefinite article for masculine nouns changes from 'ein' to 'einen'. There are no changes for feminine, neuter, or plural nouns.

  • What is the role of the verb in determining the use of the accusative case?

    -Certain verbs in German require the use of the accusative case for their direct objects. The script provides examples of such verbs and how they dictate the use of the accusative case.

  • Can you give an example of a sentence using the accusative case with a masculine noun as the object?

    -An example from the script is 'Der Mann schreibt einen Brief', which translates to 'The man writes a letter'. Here, 'Brief' (letter) is a masculine noun in the accusative case.

  • How does the accusative case apply when there is only one person or thing in a sentence?

    -When there is only one person or thing in a sentence, that noun remains in the nominative case, as there is no object to be in the accusative case.

  • What is the significance of the second position in a German sentence?

    -In German, the second position in a sentence is often occupied by the conjugated verb, which is important for the structure and understanding of the sentence.

  • Can you provide an example of a sentence where the object is emphasized by changing the word order?

    -An example from the script is 'Einen Hund sieht der Kind', which translates to 'A dog, the child sees'. Here, the object 'Einen Hund' (a dog) is emphasized by placing it at the beginning of the sentence.

  • What is the question of the day presented in the script?

    -The question of the day is 'Was magst du essen?' which translates to 'What do you like to eat?'

  • How can viewers provide their answer to the question of the day?

    -Viewers can provide their answer to the question of the day by writing it in the comments section of the video.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to the Accusative Case in German

This paragraph introduces the concept of the accusative case in German grammar, often the second case learned by beginners after the nominative. The accusative case, also known as the fourth case, is used after specific verbs and prepositions. The explanation focuses on the use of the accusative with verbs, noting that there are only a few verbs that require the nominative case, while most others use the accusative. The paragraph also clarifies that the accusative is used when there are two people or things involved in a sentence, with the subject in the nominative and the object in the accusative. Examples using pictures are suggested for further clarification. The accusative case changes only in the masculine form for definite articles, while other genders and plurals remain the same as in the nominative.

05:03

📝 Accusative Case Usage with Examples

This paragraph delves into the application of the accusative case with examples, focusing on masculine and feminine nouns. It explains how the definite article changes in the accusative case for masculine nouns, while feminine nouns and plurals do not undergo a change. Several examples are provided to illustrate the use of the accusative case, including sentences with the verb 'schauen' (to watch) and 'schreiben' (to write), emphasizing the importance of changing the article for masculine nouns when they are the object of a sentence. The paragraph also touches on the flexibility of word order in German compared to English, where the case endings provide clarity on the subject and object, allowing for more freedom in sentence structure.

10:03

🔄 Word Order and Emphasis in German Sentences

The final paragraph discusses the flexibility of word order in German and its importance for emphasis. Unlike English, where the word order typically follows a subject-verb-object pattern, German allows for the object to be placed at the beginning of a sentence before the verb and subject, which can be useful for emphasis. The paragraph reinforces the rule that the verb should be in the second position in a German sentence unless the subject precedes it. An example is provided to demonstrate how the sentence structure can be altered while maintaining the same meaning. The video concludes with a question for viewers about their favorite food in German, reminding them to use the accusative case, and an invitation to engage with the content by subscribing, liking, and commenting.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Accusative

The accusative is the fourth case in German grammar, typically the second case learned by beginners. It is used for the direct object of a verb or after certain prepositions. In the context of the video, it is crucial for understanding sentence structure in German, particularly when there are two people or things involved in the sentence. For example, 'Der Junge sieht den Hund' (The boy sees the dog) uses the accusative for 'den Hund' (the dog).

💡Nominative

The nominative case is used for the subject of a sentence in German. It is the first case learned and is always used when there is only one person or thing in the sentence. In the video, it is contrasted with the accusative to illustrate sentence structure. For example, 'Der Junge ist glücklich' (The boy is happy) uses the nominative for 'Der Junge' (the boy).

💡Direct Object

A direct object is the person or thing that is directly affected by the action of the verb. In the accusative case explanation, the direct object is always in the accusative. The video uses the example 'Der Junge sieht den Hund' where 'den Hund' (the dog) is the direct object and is in the accusative case.

💡Articles

Articles in German are words that precede and describe a noun. They can be definite (the) or indefinite (a, an) and change according to the gender and case of the noun. In the accusative, only the masculine definite article changes from 'der' to 'den'. This is a key point in the video, as it shows how to conjugate articles in the accusative case.

💡Gender

Gender in German refers to the grammatical categorization of nouns as masculine, feminine, or neutral. This affects the articles and adjectives that accompany the nouns. The video emphasizes that in the accusative case, the gender of the noun affects how the definite article changes, with only masculine nouns showing a change.

💡Prepositions

Prepositions in German are used to indicate the relationship between nouns and other words in a sentence. The video mentions that prepositions are not covered in detail but are important as they can also require the use of the accusative case. An example from the script is 'nach' (after), which would require the object of the preposition to be in the accusative.

💡Sentence Structure

The video discusses the flexibility of German sentence structure, highlighting that the meaning is derived from the case of the nouns rather than their position in the sentence. This allows for more freedom in word order, which is different from English where word order is more rigid. For instance, 'Der Hund sieht den Jungen' (The dog sees the boy) has a different emphasis than 'Den Jungen sieht der Hund'.

💡Word Order

While English typically follows a subject-verb-object (SVO) word order, German allows for more variation. The video explains that in German, the verb is in the second position, and the subject and object can be flexible. This is demonstrated with examples like 'Der Junge hat einen Laptop' (The boy has a laptop) where 'einen Laptop' (a laptop) can be either before or after the subject.

💡Definite and Indefinite Articles

The video explains that definite articles ('the') and indefinite articles ('a', 'an') are used in German and change based on the case and gender of the noun. In the accusative case, only the masculine definite article changes from 'der' to 'den'. Indefinite articles also change but are not demonstrated to change in the accusative in the video.

💡Verb Conjugation

Verb conjugation in German involves adjusting the verb form to agree with the subject of the sentence. The video does not go into detail about verb conjugation but mentions that the verb is always in the second position in a German sentence. An example from the script is 'Der Mann schreibt einen Brief' (The man writes a letter) where 'schreibt' (writes) is the conjugated form of the verb 'schreiben' (to write) for the third person singular.

💡Emphasis

The video touches on the use of word order to emphasize certain parts of a sentence in German. While not common, it is possible to place the object at the beginning of a sentence followed by the verb and then the subject. This is done to draw attention to the object, as shown in the example 'Einen Hund sieht der Junge' (A dog the boy sees).

Highlights

Acquisitive is a fourth case in German grammar, usually the second case learned by beginners.

The first case is nominative, and the second is accusative.

Acquisitive is used after specific verbs and prepositions.

Most German sentences use accusative for the object when there are two people or things involved.

Subject is always in nominative, while the object is in accusative if there's only one object in the sentence.

Examples are provided using pictures to illustrate the use of accusative.

Articles change in accusative case, especially in masculine nouns.

Definite articles in masculine change from 'der' to 'den' in accusative.

Indefinite articles in masculine change from 'ein' to 'einen' in accusative.

Feminine and neutral nouns do not change in accusative.

Examples demonstrate how to use accusative with masculine and feminine nouns.

Important verbs that always take accusative are highlighted.

Word order in German is flexible due to the use of cases, unlike English.

The second position in a German sentence is usually reserved for the conjugated verb.

Changing the word order can be used to emphasize certain parts of a sentence.

The video concludes with an interactive question asking viewers about their favorite food in German, requiring the use of accusative.

The importance of practicing accusative case usage with masculine nouns is emphasized.

The video encourages viewers to subscribe for more language learning content.

Transcripts

00:00

what is acquisitive how do you use it

00:02

and when to use it

00:05

dr hagen KY important hello and welcome

00:16

back to another episode of your german

00:19

teacher my name is Lucy hi soluti and

00:21

I'm here to help you to improve your

00:24

german today we're gonna talk about

00:26

accusative acquisitive is called a

00:29

fourth case in german grammar but

00:31

usually it's actually the second case

00:34

you learn especially when you're a

00:36

beginner first one is nominative and the

00:38

second one is called a causative what is

00:42

accusative vas is accusative according

00:46

to the definition a causative is used

00:49

after specific verbs and prepositions

00:54

prepositions we're not gonna do in this

00:56

video there's going to be a separate

00:58

extra video all about prepositions verbs

01:01

is actually pretty easy we have only a

01:04

couple of verbs where you have to use

01:06

nominative there is a little bit more

01:09

when you have to use dart teeth

01:12

that's the third case and for almost all

01:14

the rest you can use or you have to use

01:17

acquisitive there is another definition

01:20

which I think makes everything a little

01:23

bit more clear accusative is used when

01:27

we have two people or two things meaning

01:32

when we have just one person or one

01:34

thing then a no object then this thing

01:38

is in nominative every sentence has a

01:41

subject subject is always in nominative

01:44

when we have two people or two things

01:48

then we have a subject and an object

01:51

right the subject is in nominative and

01:54

the object is if there's only one object

01:57

in the sentence is in acquisitive let me

02:00

show you this with some pictures to make

02:02

it more clear what we have here that's a

02:05

child right a child a skint

02:08

the skimmed east glute leash the child

02:11

is happy so we have the skins the skin

02:16

is subject subject and subject is always

02:19

nominative and there is nothing else so

02:21

it's pretty easy the skinned East

02:23

nominative let's say we have two things

02:27

or two people a person just a child and

02:31

a dog and animal sentence will be the

02:35

skinned Zeit Ayman hunt the skinned Zeit

02:39

einen hunt the child sees a dog we have

02:43

again the skimmed the skinned East

02:46

subject subject is in nominative that's

02:49

right here and we have an object which

02:52

is the dog and the object is in

02:55

acquisitive blue that's why the skin

03:00

seat I meant hunt or we can also make it

03:04

the other way around

03:06

subject is the dog and the child is

03:10

object they hunt Zeit the skint so this

03:16

time the dog is the main person is

03:18

subject so this time the dog is subject

03:22

the subject is in nominative they hunt

03:25

nominative z+ acquisitive seein the

03:30

skint sees the child sees task and task

03:34

in east acquisitive there is no change

03:38

because our positive only changes in

03:40

masculine so it still does skin like in

03:43

nominative or we can also say one more

03:48

the skinned hat einen laptop the skinned

03:52

hat einen laptop again the skin is

03:55

subjective skin is nominative wound

03:59

laptop is the direct object is in a

04:02

positive accusative articles how to

04:06

build the articles in our Casati all

04:09

right as you can see here we have get

04:11

flashed cash left is gendered that we

04:13

have masculine masculine is male

04:15

feminine female neutral neutral and

04:18

plural is plural

04:20

we have definite and indefinite articles

04:23

nominative is the same we did that

04:26

already

04:27

masculine they're indefinite and

04:29

feminine D indefinite I'm a night on

04:33

task indefinite and plural D indefinite

04:38

no article a causative now we come to

04:43

acquisitive the good news are positive

04:45

only changes in masculine only changes

04:49

in masculine so definite becomes instead

04:53

of tear it becomes deal indefinite

04:58

instead of iron in a positive it becomes

05:02

a men teen hunt Island that's it all the

05:09

rest is the same as in nominative the

05:13

China does I'm the aunt kind article in

05:19

plural so that's it the only thing you

05:21

have to change in a positive is

05:23

masculine there becomes thin indefinite

05:27

island let's do some examples without

05:33

red masculine and noun in masculine

05:35

the question is vas marked D how vas mod

05:39

D flow what is the woman doing on this

05:43

picture

05:43

Haga was marked afoul untaught z shout

05:48

einen film z shout einen fill she

05:52

watches a movie film is masculine in is

05:56

the object right so you have to change

05:58

the article i'm n so this ending is a

06:04

causative l'homme is why shower is plus

06:08

are causative the verb shower is plus a

06:11

positive

06:12

another example again masculine same

06:16

question vas marked their month vas

06:19

marked their man

06:21

what is the man doing untoward

06:24

ear-shaped einen brief air heiped einen

06:29

brief he writes a letter cliff again is

06:33

masculine one is the object so we have

06:37

to change the article into I named ears

06:40

right in and prefer ultra bond is pros

06:46

positive feminine a noun in feminine

06:49

same man same question vas Mart

06:53

the man was Matt Damon eeeh shrived in a

06:56

email air heiped an email email is

07:00

feminine but still it's the direct

07:02

object so it's in acquisitive but there

07:05

is no change because acquisitive only

07:08

changes the article in masculine air

07:12

shock an email and the email is

07:14

acquisitive but there's no change

07:16

he writes an email night home same man

07:21

same question was marked the man what is

07:25

the man doing

07:25

I'm taught ear shaped and poor air hyped

07:29

and put pootis pootis a book he writes a

07:33

book - book is night room it's

07:36

acquisitive but no change air shaped

07:39

time boo another noun in masculine same

07:43

man different question we feel f50 hot

07:48

air we feel a snifter

07:50

hot air how many pens does he have we

07:55

have a look here girl

07:56

how many pens does he have he has one

07:58

pen write half harbin is plus

08:02

acquisitive very important verb happen

08:05

always with positive so the answer will

08:08

be a hot iron shift a hot I'm N Steve

08:14

because Steve is masculine shift is the

08:17

object habaneros are positive so you

08:20

need to change the article never forget

08:22

Harbin important verb always close

08:26

acquisitive the same man the same noun

08:29

different question question is the

08:33

fiendish do the lift we finished - ding

08:38

stiffed finden is also closed

08:42

acquisitive and fingers I think what do

08:45

you find how do you find the pen what do

08:47

you think of this pen within this - Dean

08:52

stiffed a positive ant what offended

08:56

Dean stiffed practice if Finn the Dean

09:01

stiffed package

09:03

I think the pen is practical so again

09:07

the pen is the object Finland is

09:10

positive and is masculine so we have to

09:13

change the article here the definite

09:15

article the offended Dean stiffed

09:18

practice finden plus positive bonus tea

09:25

sucks

09:27

Stella DS abstinence at fellow is worth

09:29

order especially in English according to

09:33

the word order you can clarify which

09:37

nouns are subject and object that's not

09:41

the case in German in German the meaning

09:44

of the sentence is derived from the case

09:48

so this means you have more freedom of

09:52

word placement in other word you can

09:55

actually change subject and object

09:58

instead of putting the subject in the

10:00

beginning and then verb and then object

10:03

you can put the object also in the

10:05

beginning then the verb and then the

10:08

subject it's not very common but it's

10:12

quite useful if you want to emphasize

10:14

something so again this doesn't work in

10:18

English and this might be for English

10:19

speaker specially for English because

10:21

this might be a little bit confusing but

10:23

is this is possible in term important is

10:27

the second position the second position

10:30

has to be the conjugated verb if you put

10:34

the subject before the verb or after the

10:35

verb this is not thought important

10:39

by speed was marked among the Frogger

10:43

the same question was Masterman untaught

10:46

ear-shaped nine and brief that's what we

10:49

had before already

10:50

ere subject shaped verb island leaf

10:54

object now you can also change this you

10:57

can say island leaf shaped

11:00

there man object verb subject island

11:04

reef shaped Tama

11:06

so in English is the same in he writes a

11:09

letter in German also but the word order

11:12

the structure is different again not

11:15

common but kind of useful if you want to

11:18

emphasize something and put it in the

11:21

beginning question of the day vas East

11:27

to again vas East to again what Essen is

11:33

it what do you can like to eat bus East

11:36

to again what do you like to eat let me

11:40

know down in the comments write it down

11:42

what do you like to eat

11:44

don't forget SN you need to use

11:46

acquisitive so try to find a noun

11:49

with masculine so you can use these

11:53

rules we just learned all right thank

11:55

you very much for watching feel and dunk

11:57

I hope you like this video I hope you

12:00

learned something if you read so don't

12:02

forget to subscribe so you can see more

12:04

videos or hit the like button even

12:07

better and I hope to see you soon in one

12:09

of my next videos until then bye bye

12:12

auf wiedersehen choose Tata

12:16

[Music]

12:24

you

12:27

[Music]

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