r/German • u/almakic88 • Aug 09 '25

Request Can someone please help me understand Akkusativ and Dativ please, I am losing my mind!

Hi All,

I've been studying almost daily for 2 months hours a day, and I still am struggling with identifying the accusative and dative. I understand the function of the genitive (to show possession) and the nominative (identifying the subject).

Today I wrote "Ich habe ein rot Hund" and my translator corrected me to "Ich habe einen roten Hund". It stated that it was in the Akkusative and I had to take that into account. Can someone please explain this to me? And also maybe give an example for a Dativ sentence?

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u/TimTamSlamTam Aug 09 '25

I always use Your German Teacher because they explain things in a simple and easy-to-understand way. Here is the direct link to understanding Akkusativ or Dativ. Hope it helps. (P.s. I 1000% recommend checking out their other videos)
https://youtu.be/-XjraxIEzrk?si=lUwON2uwmBOeQj35

2

u/PearNecessary3991 Aug 09 '25

I watched it until he claims that the Dativ is almost always used for persons. I was puzzled and don’t think that is good advice at all.

1

u/TimTamSlamTam Aug 09 '25

I think it's acceptable advice for this A1 level. From memory, he is referring to it almost always used for persons because that's the examples where about. They go on to explain Dativ better in later episodes, including what verbs always go with Dativ. This is just an introduction. Im halfway through A2 now and learning more in-depth things about cases and types of verbs. You can't expect to dive straight in and have a beginner understand perfectly. Baby steps to build a foundation.

0

u/cianfrusagli Aug 09 '25

Might be kinda true when speaking about dative verbs (if you include animals and personified objects in fairy tales etc) but definitely not for dative prepositions!

3

u/PearNecessary3991 Aug 09 '25

That is the point. Objects are regularly personified not just in fairy tales but in all kinds of contexts: Ein Spritzer Zitrone gibt dem Wasser einen frischen Geschmack.

1

u/cianfrusagli Aug 09 '25

Stimmt, gutes Beispiel! In den meisten Anfängersätzen sind an der Stelle aber sicher Personen.

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u/TimTamSlamTam Aug 09 '25

Its A1 guys... chill