Definite and indefinite articles in the Akkusativ
A1 German grammar — Grammar. The **definite** article (the) changes in the accusative for **masculine** only: *der* → **den**, *ein* → **einen** (mas…
Rule explained
The **definite** article (the) changes in the accusative for **masculine** only: *der* → **den**, *ein* → **einen** (masc.). **Feminine, neuter and plural** keep the same form as the nominative for the definite article: *die* stays *die*, *das* stays *das*. **Indefinite** article *ein/eine*: feminine *eine* is unchanged in the accusative; neuter *ein* is unchanged; **masculine** becomes **einen** (*Ich habe **einen** Sohn*). **Plural** indefinite uses **—** (no article) or **keine** when negated (*Ich kaufe Äpfel* / *Ich kaufe **keine** Äpfel*). Memorise the **masculine** line — it is the only gender where the article visibly changes in the accusative singular: *der Mann* → *den Mann*, *ein Buch* is neuter (*ein Buch* object stays *ein Buch*), but *ein Tisch* → *einen Tisch*.
Examples
Use these mini-pairs as templates:
- Ich nehme den Kaffee. — I'll take the coffee.
- Sie hat eine Katze und einen Hund. — She has a cat and a dog.
- Wir kaufen das Brot und die Butter. — We're buying the bread and the butter.
- Er sucht ein Hotel. — He is looking for a hotel.
Common mistakes
Watch out for these learner errors:
- *den* is **only** masculine accusative — never use *den* for feminine (*die Tomate* object stays *die Tomate*).
- *ein Apfel* (masc.) as object → *einen Apfel*, not *ein Apfel* in careful speech/writing.
- Plural *die* does not add *-n* on the article for accusative (*die Eier kaufen*).