), while feminine, neuter, and plural forms remain identical to the nominative. The Dative Case: Indirect Relations
Ich gratuliere zum Geburtstag. (I congratulate you on your birthday.) Verbs with Both Accusative and Dative Objects
Example: Das Buch gehört . (The book belongs to me.) -> "Mir" is the recipient/owner. I. List of Common Accusative Verbs in German
In German, most verbs take an object (the direct object), while a specific group of verbs requires a dative object (the indirect object). Understanding these lists is essential for correct sentence structure and article declension. Common German Verbs List Of Accusative And Dative Verbs In German Pdf
You can find more detailed information and examples in a German grammar book or online resources.
While this is the standard pattern, some verbs are exceptions and always demand a dative object, with no accusative object present.
(to gift) — Er schenkt seiner Freundin (dat) einen Ring (akk). (He gifts his girlfriend a ring.) ), while feminine, neuter, and plural forms remain
| Verb (German) | Meaning (English) | Example Sentence | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | to have | Ich habe einen Hund . | | sehen | to see | Sie sieht den Film . | | hören | to hear | Wir hören die Musik . | | lieben | to love | Er liebt seine Frau . | | hassen | to hate | Ich hasse Lügen . (lies) | | kaufen | to buy | Er kauft ein Buch . | | brauchen | to need | Ich brauche einen Stift . | | machen | to do/make | Sie macht die Hausaufgaben . | | essen | to eat | Wir essen einen Apfel . | | trinken | to drink | Er trinkt den Kaffee . | | kennen | to know (be familiar with) | Kennst du diesen Ort ? (this place) | | wissen | to know (facts) *Note: follows different syntax | Ich weiß die Antwort . (the answer) | | suchen | to look for | Er sucht seinen Schlüssel . (his key) | | finden | to find | Ich finde mein Handy nicht. (my phone) |
Here is a list of common accusative verbs in German:
Many verbs require both cases. The pattern is always: . (The book belongs to me
| Verb | Meaning | Example | |------|---------|---------| | | to have | Ich habe einen Termin . | | sehen | to see | Sie sieht den Film . | | essen | to eat | Wir essen einen Apfel . | | trinken | to drink | Er trinkt den Kaffee . | | kaufen | to buy | Kauft er das Auto ? | | brauchen | to need | Ich brauche Hilfe . | | machen | to do/make | Machst du die Hausaufgaben ? | | nehmen | to take | Nimm den Schlüssel . | | finden | to find | Findest du meinen Pass ? | | kennen | to know (a person/place) | Kennst du Berlin ? | | verstehen | to understand | Verstehst du mich ? | | mögen | to like | Ich mag Eis . | | lieben | to love | Sie liebt ihn . | | hören | to hear | Hörst du die Musik ? | | vergessen | to forget | Vergiss dein Handy nicht. |
(to please / to like) – Das Buch gefällt mir. (The book pleases me / I like the book.)
This guide breaks down these groups and explains how some verbs use both cases simultaneously.
Mastering German verbs requires understanding how they interact with cases. German verbs dictate whether their objects take the accusative case (direct object) or the dative case (indirect object). Some verbs even take both.
Searching for a means you are moving past beginner basics into intermediate mastery. By having a reliable, printable reference guide, you shift from guessing cases to knowing them.