The
accusative in
German is used to describe the
direct object in a sentance:
I gave the horse an apple
^ Nom ^Dat ^Acc
Nom:
Nominative
Dat:
Dative
Acc:
Accusative
After the
prepositions:
vor
hinter
über
unter
zwischen
neben
in
an
auf
It is used when
motion towards is implied. The dative is used when no motion is implied.
Gehen Sie hinter
den Bahnhof.
Go behind the railway station.
In addition, it is always used after these
prepositions:
durch
ohne
gegen
wider
um
für
entlang
bis
I have recently been told how to remember these by a German teacher. By the acronym DOGWUFE (Think "Dog Woofer"). Of course he doesn't seem to have included bis in there... Perhaps this is because it is very often used before another prepositon. At least I hope that's why.
Certain
prepositions can be
contracted, some common ones are listed below:
an das -> ans
in das -> ins
auf das -> aufs
Gender Nom Acc
Masc Der Den
Fem Die Die
Neut Das Das
Plur Die Die
The accusative is simple to remember, as there is only one change, the masculine
definite article, changes from der to den.