The German accusative case is one of the first grammar topics learners encounter, yet it remains a common source of mistakes even at higher levels. Many learners understand the theory but still struggle when using the accusative in real sentences.
In this article, we look at the 10 most common German accusative mistakes and explain how you can avoid them.
1. Using Nominative instead of Accusative articles
One of the most frequent mistakes is using der instead of den for masculine nouns. Remember: masculine is the only gender that changes!
Incorrect: Ich sehe der Mann. Correct: Ich sehe den Mann.
👉 Tip: Only masculine articles change (der → den). Die and Das stay the same.
2. Forgetting that some verbs always require the Accusative
In German, the verb dictates the case. Common verbs like haben, sehen, finden, and kaufen always trigger the accusative.
Incorrect: Ich habe ein Hund. Correct: Ich habe einen Hund.
3. Confusing Direct and Indirect Objects
Learners often mix up who is doing the action and who is receiving it.
Example: Ich gebe dem Mann das Buch.
- das Buch (Direct Object) = Accusative
- dem Mann (Receiver) = Dative
4. Using the wrong case after Two-Way Prepositions
Prepositions like in, auf, and an are tricky. They use the Accusative for movement (Wohin?) and Dative for location (Wo?).
Incorrect: Ich gehe in dem Haus (Dative). Correct: Ich gehe in das Haus (Accusative/Movement).
5. Forgetting Accusative after “Es gibt”
The phrase es gibt (there is/there are) always requires the accusative object immediately after.
Incorrect: Es gibt ein Problem. Correct: Es gibt einen Fehler / ein Problem.
6. Incorrect Word Order
In standard sentences, the accusative object usually comes after the verb.
Correct: Ich kaufe einen Apfel.
7. Mixing up Plural forms
Plural articles in the accusative are the same as in the nominative (die). Don’t try to change them to den (that is for Dative Plural!).
Correct: Ich sehe die Kinder.
8. Translating directly from English
English doesn’t distinguish between “I call he” and “I call him” with articles. Direct translation often leads to missing the case entirely.
👉 Tip: Don’t translate word-for-word. Think about the German verb’s requirement.
9. Forgetting Adjective Endings
If the article changes, the adjective often needs to reflect that change too.
Incorrect: Ich sehe den rot Apfel. Correct: Ich sehe den roten Apfel.
10. Confusing Prepositions: “Für” is always Accusative
A classic mistake is using the Dative after für.
Incorrect: Das ist für mir. Correct: Das ist für mich.
👉 Tip: Für, durch, ohne, gegen, um always take the Accusative.
Conclusion
Mastering the German accusative case takes practice, but avoiding these common mistakes will significantly improve your accuracy. Focus on verbs, articles, and prepositions, and always check whether a sentence needs the accusative.
Want to master these rules? Practice the accusative case with interactive exercises on Grammatikly and take your German to the next level. Download now for free!