DEUTSCH SCHREIBEN · LEARN & PRACTISE

Akkusativ vs Dativ: examples and writing exercises

Learn how German verbs and prepositions determine the case. Practise der, den and dem with explained examples and instant gap-fill feedback.

Prepared by Deutsch Schreiben with AI assistance; original practice examples. Not certified by a Goethe examiner. · 30 October 2026

Short answer

The accusative is usually the direct object (Ich sehe den Hund); the dative is usually the indirect object, the person who receives something (Ich gebe dem Kind das Buch). Some prepositions always take one case. With two-way prepositions such as in and auf, ask Wohin? (where to) for the accusative and Wo? (where) for the dative.

Start with the verb, not only the translation

The accusative often marks the direct object and the dative the recipient. That is a starting point, not a universal rule: verbs such as helfen require the dative, and prepositions also determine case.

Kasus	Maskulin	Feminin	Neutrum	Plural
Nominativ	der	die	das	die
Akkusativ	den	die	das	die
Dativ	dem	der	dem	den

Dative plural nouns usually add -n unless they already end in -n or -s: mit den Kindern, but mit den Autos.

Three examples

Ich sehe den Mann. I see the man: sehen takes an accusative object.
Ich helfe dem Mann. I help the man: helfen requires the dative.
Ich gebe dem Kind das Buch. I give the child the book: the recipient is dative; the book is accusative.

Check the preposition

für, ohne, durch, gegen, um take the accusative. mit, nach, bei, seit, von, zu, aus take the dative. Learn each with a complete example.

Which preposition takes which case?

Always accusative	Always dative	Two-way: Wohin? = accusative, Wo? = dative
für, ohne, durch, gegen, um, bis	mit, nach, bei, seit, von, zu, aus, gegenüber	an, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor, zwischen

The articles at a glance

	der	die	das	Plural
Akkusativ	den	die	das	die
Dativ	dem	der	dem	den (+n)

Does movement always mean accusative?

No. With spatial two-way prepositions such as in and auf, a destination takes the accusative and a location takes the dative. Ich gehe in den Park. means I go into the park. Ich jogge im Park. means I jog within the park: there is movement, but the park is the location.

Type the correct definite article

Ich sehe ___ Hund. (der Hund)

Answer and explanation

den — sehen takes the accusative; der becomes den.

Ich fahre mit ___ Bus. (der Bus)

Answer and explanation

dem — mit requires the dative; der becomes dem.

Ich helfe ___ Frau. (die Frau)

Answer and explanation

der — helfen requires the dative; feminine die becomes der.

Das Buch liegt auf ___ Tisch. (der Tisch)

Answer and explanation

dem — This describes location (wo?), so auf takes the dative.

Ich lege das Buch auf ___ Tisch. (der Tisch)

Answer and explanation

den — This describes a destination (wohin?), so auf takes the accusative.

A quick checking routine

Find the verb and preposition, determine the case, then check noun gender and number. Choose the article last.

Common questions

What is the difference between Akkusativ and Dativ?

The accusative marks the direct object of a verb, the dative usually marks the person who receives something. Some prepositions and verbs (helfen, danken, gefallen) always take the dative.

How do I know if in or auf takes accusative or dative?

Ask Wohin? (where to). If there is a destination, use the accusative: in den Park. Ask Wo? (where). If it is a location, use the dative: im Park.

What are the dative articles?

der and das become dem, die becomes der, and the plural becomes den, usually with -n on the noun: mit den Kindern.

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