Indefinite Articles in the Accusative Case
Just like with definite articles (der, die, das), only masculine nouns change their article when they become the direct object (the receiver of the action).
The indefinite article ein ("a" or "an") becomes einen for masculine nouns. Feminine (eine) and neuter (ein) articles stay exactly the same.
| Gender | Nominative (Subject) | Accusative (Direct Object) |
|---|
| Masculine | ein | einen |
| Feminine | eine | eine |
| Neuter | ein | ein |
When packing your luggage, masculine nouns like Koffer (suitcase) will take einen when they are the direct object:
Feminine nouns like Jacke (jacket) and neuter nouns like Hemd (shirt) do not change their articles:
The Negative Article: kein
To say you are not taking something, or that you don't have it, use the negative article kein (not a / no).
It follows the exact same rules as the indefinite article: it only changes for masculine direct objects, becoming keinen. For feminine and neuter direct objects, it remains keine and kein.
Many common verbs—like packen (to pack), nehmen (to take), brauchen (to need), and haben (to have)—always require the accusative case for the objects you are acting upon.
