Answer Question
All the bits I've found tricky - Cases, 'in' and 'to'
On Level 2 I got stuck for such a long time trying to wrap my head around the different cases and when to use them with 'in' and 'to'. I made these notes and they really helped me - I hope they might help someone else too... Also - please post your suggestions on how to improve them :)
Rules for the different cases
1. Nominative case: the form the noun assumes when it’s the subject of the sentence [der(m), die(f), das(n), die(pl)] e.g. der Hund geht (the dog goes).
2. Accusative case: where the noun is the direct object, and the target of an action [den(m), die(f), das(n), die(pl)] e.g. der Mann liebt den Hund (the man loves the dog).
Also where a person/people are the target of an action [mich = me, dich = you (informal), Sie = you(formal), euch = you(pl), ihn = he, sie = she, sie = them, uns = us] Küss mich (kiss me) e.g. Der Hund küsst ihn/dich/euch (the dog kisses him/you(inf)/you(pl))
Note the verb ‘to be’ (‘sein’) also takes the accusative form when it is used to mean there is/there are. E.g. There is a coffee = Es gibt einen Kaffee.
***is also used with some prepositions e.g. für, in = Berlin ist sehr interessant für meinen Freund
3. Dative case: when the noun is the indirect object i.e. the object in the sentence receiving the action of the other noun [dem(m), dem(n), der(f), den(pl)] e.g. der Mann gibt dem Hund den Knochen (the man gives the dog the bone).
- Dative case is often used after: mit, in, zu, neben, aus, nach etc.
“In”
In den(m)/die(f)/das(n)/die(pl) = Accusative (where the noun is the direct object, and the target of an action):
- Use for the literal action of entering a place, e.g. in die Kneipe gehen = to go into a bar
- Also use for ‘into’ more loosely, e.g. Wir möchten in ein Restaurant gehen = we want to go to a restaurant
In dem(m)/der(f)/dem(n)/den(pl) = Dative (when the noun is the indirect object i.e. the object in the sentence receiving the action of the other noun) - if something is literally inside of something else, use this 'in':
- in der Kneipe(f) laufen = walk around inside the bar
- in welcher Farbe(f) haben Sie dieses Handy? = in which colour do you have this phone?
- in der Alexanderstrasse(f) = on Alexanderstrasse
- Es gibt ein Museum in der Stadt (f) = there is a Museum in the city
“To”
- Use “in” + accusative for “to” when going to something, e.g. Ich bin gestern in ein großes Museum(n) gegangen = Yesterday, I went to a big museum with a friend
- Use “zu” + dative when travelling to something, e.g. zur Kneipe(f) fahren = to travel to a bar
Rules for the different cases
1. Nominative case: the form the noun assumes when it’s the subject of the sentence [der(m), die(f), das(n), die(pl)] e.g. der Hund geht (the dog goes).
2. Accusative case: where the noun is the direct object, and the target of an action [den(m), die(f), das(n), die(pl)] e.g. der Mann liebt den Hund (the man loves the dog).
Also where a person/people are the target of an action [mich = me, dich = you (informal), Sie = you(formal), euch = you(pl), ihn = he, sie = she, sie = them, uns = us] Küss mich (kiss me) e.g. Der Hund küsst ihn/dich/euch (the dog kisses him/you(inf)/you(pl))
Note the verb ‘to be’ (‘sein’) also takes the accusative form when it is used to mean there is/there are. E.g. There is a coffee = Es gibt einen Kaffee.
***is also used with some prepositions e.g. für, in = Berlin ist sehr interessant für meinen Freund
3. Dative case: when the noun is the indirect object i.e. the object in the sentence receiving the action of the other noun [dem(m), dem(n), der(f), den(pl)] e.g. der Mann gibt dem Hund den Knochen (the man gives the dog the bone).
- Dative case is often used after: mit, in, zu, neben, aus, nach etc.
“In”
In den(m)/die(f)/das(n)/die(pl) = Accusative (where the noun is the direct object, and the target of an action):
- Use for the literal action of entering a place, e.g. in die Kneipe gehen = to go into a bar
- Also use for ‘into’ more loosely, e.g. Wir möchten in ein Restaurant gehen = we want to go to a restaurant
In dem(m)/der(f)/dem(n)/den(pl) = Dative (when the noun is the indirect object i.e. the object in the sentence receiving the action of the other noun) - if something is literally inside of something else, use this 'in':
- in der Kneipe(f) laufen = walk around inside the bar
- in welcher Farbe(f) haben Sie dieses Handy? = in which colour do you have this phone?
- in der Alexanderstrasse(f) = on Alexanderstrasse
- Es gibt ein Museum in der Stadt (f) = there is a Museum in the city
“To”
- Use “in” + accusative for “to” when going to something, e.g. Ich bin gestern in ein großes Museum(n) gegangen = Yesterday, I went to a big museum with a friend
- Use “zu” + dative when travelling to something, e.g. zur Kneipe(f) fahren = to travel to a bar