What you will learn
- Distinguish the subject from an accusative object in a controlled sentence.
- Select the article for a supplied object with a taught verb.
Who buys what?
Quick summary
In Ich kaufe einen Apfel, ich is the subject and einen Apfel is the object.
Why it matters
You can say what someone buys without guessing the article.
Build the pattern
In Ich kaufe einen Apfel, ich is the subject and einen Apfel is the object.
How it works
kaufen means “to buy”. It follows the regular present pattern: ich kaufe, du kaufst, er kauft, wir kaufen, ihr kauft, sie kaufen.
In Ich kaufe einen Apfel, “I” names the buyer. That is the subject. The apple is what I buy: the object of this verb. The subject uses the nominative case; this object uses the accusative.
Case is a grammatical way of marking a noun phrase’s role. With kaufen, ask “What is being bought?” to find the accusative object. Keep the familiar subject–verb–object order for now.
Examples
Common mistakes
Ich kaufe ein Apfel.Ich kaufe einen Apfel.Apfel is masculine. Use accusative einen for the object here.
Limits & exceptions
- A phrase after a verb is not automatically accusative. Learn which pattern each verb uses.
A little deeper
The article changes, but the noun keeps its gender: an apple is still masculine when its article is einen.
Change the masculine article
Quick summary
For a masculine object, der becomes den and ein becomes einen.
Why it matters
The small article tells you about the noun’s role.
Build the pattern
For a masculine object, der becomes den and ein becomes einen.
How it works
Learn der Apfel (“apple”) and der Tee (“tea”) with their genders. For a particular apple or tea as the object, use den Apfel or den Tee.
For “an apple”, use einen Apfel as the object. einen Tee means a tea, such as one serving. The regular verb still matches the buyer: Du kaufst einen Tee.
Negative kein follows the same masculine change: Ich kaufe keinen Tee means “I am not buying any tea”. The case changes the article, not the sentence’s tense.
Examples
Common mistakes
Wir kaufen der Tee.Wir kaufen den Tee.Use den for this masculine accusative object.
Limits & exceptions
- These are singular masculine forms. Do not add this ending to every noun’s article.
A little deeper
The choice between den and einen still carries the familiar difference between “the” and “a”; case does not replace that difference.
Keep the other familiar forms
Quick summary
Feminine die/eine and neuter das/ein look the same in these accusative phrases.
Why it matters
You only need one new article contrast at this stage.
Build the pattern
Feminine die/eine and neuter das/ein look the same in these accusative phrases.
How it works
die Suppe means “soup”, das Brot “bread” and das Wasser “water”. Use die Suppe, das Brot or das Wasser for a particular item as the object.
Ich kaufe eine Suppe means “I am buying a soup”, such as one serving. Ich kaufe ein Brot means “I am buying a loaf of bread”. Feminine eine and neuter ein have not changed.
Plural die also stays the same here: Ich kaufe die Bücher. Negative feminine, neuter and plural forms are keine, kein and keine, just as in the basic phrases you know.
Examples
Common mistakes
Ich kaufe einen Brot.Ich kaufe ein Brot.Brot is neuter, so its accusative indefinite article is ein.
Limits & exceptions
- These patterns cover the articles taught here, not adjective endings or every German case.
A little deeper
An unchanged article does not mean that there is no object. The whole sentence still tells you what is being bought.
Words in context
| Word / expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| kaufenverb | to buy | Ich kaufe einen Apfel.I am buying an apple. Word noteRegular present forms: kaufe, kaufst, kauft. |
| der Apfelnoun | apple | Ich kaufe den Apfel.I am buying the apple. Word notePlural: die Äpfel. Masculine object: den Apfel. |
| der Teenoun | tea | Du kaufst einen Tee.You are buying a tea. Word notePlural: die Tees, for kinds or servings. Here one tea means one serving. |
| die Suppenoun | soup | Ich kaufe eine Suppe.I am buying a soup. Word notePlural: die Suppen. |
| das Brotnoun | bread / loaf of bread | Wir kaufen ein Brot.We are buying a loaf of bread. Word notePlural: die Brote. Use the countable sense “loaf” with ein. |
| das Wassernoun | water | Ich kaufe das Wasser.I am buying the water. Word noteUsually uncountable in everyday use; no plural is needed in this block. |
Practise and recall
Cover the examples and build a new phrase with words from this page. Check the form and the meaning, then try again after a break. The free grammar block includes guided practice, an optional mastery check and spaced review.
Practise this grammar block →Related German grammar
Build a practical German learning routine →Sources and review status
Original, AI-assisted teaching material awaiting review by a German-language teacher. These examples cover the stated beginner patterns, not complete A1 proficiency.
- Flexion der ArtikelLeibniz-Institut für Deutsche Sprache, grammis
- AkkusativobjektLeibniz-Institut für Deutsche Sprache, grammis