An introduction to German case grammar

For most learners the hardest aspect of German is the case system. To get the grammar right, they need to know both the gender of the noun/pronoun and the case that is needed.

[For a basic overview of noun functions and their corresponding cases, read this page first.]

→ This site has many quizzes practising and testing the correct choice of case. You can view these case quizzes on the Grammar and Vocabulary Quizzes Index page by clicking the Case Grammar button.

The German language has a multitude* of possible article forms and adjective endings, dependent on the combination of gender and case. It is no surprise, therefore, that such complexity results in frequent mistakes - particularly when speaking German. However, it is possible to get the case grammar of written work right, if the learner has a system that is followed when in doubt.

Below is a suggested system for arriving at the correct grammar of articles, nouns/pronouns and adjectives:

  • Establish if the noun/pronoun is part of a prepositional phrase.
  • If it is, establish the case required by the preposition.
  • If it isn't, establish the case required by the function of the noun/pronoun in the clause.
  • Establish the gender of the noun/pronoun.
  • Establish the determiner type of the noun.
  • Look up the correct form in the appropriate case table.

Here you can learn more about choosing the correct case.

* There are more than 30 possible combinations of the definite, indefinite and zero article with the subsequent adjective. For example:

  • der kleine Junge (nominative, definite article)
  • ein kleiner Junge (nominative, indefinite article)
  • kleinen Jungen (dative, zero article)

In addition there are 25 different personal and interrogative pronouns, and numerous other determiner and possessive pronoun forms.

And in some cases the singular noun itself changes form. For example:

  • roter Wein (nominative, zero article)
  • roten Weins (genitive, zero article)

Here are some quizzes that practice and test case grammar: 2/60

And here is a page containing the case tables, including adjective endings.