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### 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:

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Feminine nouns like *Jacke* (jacket) and neuter nouns like *Hemd* (shirt) do not change their articles:

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### 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**.

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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.

{{item:862995}}

Indefinite accusative articles (einen, keinen)

adjective

adverb

auxiliary verb

conjunction

determiner

interjection

noun

numeral

particle

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

Definite articles and gender (der, die, das)

Indefinite articles (ein, eine)

Regular verbs and statement word order (ich -e, er -t)

The second person (du -st, Sie -en)

Yes/No questions

The verb 'to have' (habe, hast, hat)

Plural pronouns and regular verbs (wir, ihr, sie)

Plural 'to be' and 'to have' (sind, haben)

Plural nouns and the plural article (die)

Sentence negation (nicht)

Noun negation (kein, keine)

Question words (wer, was, wo, wie)

Numbers 0 to 12 (null, eins, zwei)

The accusative case (den, die, das)

Direct object pronouns (mich, dich, ihn)

There is / there are (es gibt)

Vowel changes: e to i/ie (er spricht, sie liest)

Vowel changes: a to ä (er fährt)

Weather and conditions (es regnet)

First- and second-person possessives in the nominative (mein, dein, Ihr)

First- and second-person possessives in the accusative (meinen, deinen, Ihren)

Third-person and plural possessives (sein, ihr, unser, euer)

Possession with names (Annas Auto)

Demonstrative pronouns (dieser, diese, dieses)

Expressing preference (gern, lieber)

Asking about direction and origin (woher, wohin)

Expressing ability (können)

Polite requests (möchten)

Expressing intention (wollen)

Modal verbs of obligation and permission (müssen, dürfen)

Separable prefix verbs

Adverbs of frequency (immer, oft, manchmal, nie)

The Dative case and definite articles (dem, der, den)

Dative indefinite and negative articles (einem, einer, keinem)

Dative personal pronouns (mir, dir, ihm, ihr...)

Dative verbs (helfen, danken, gefallen, schmecken)

Dative prepositions (aus, bei, mit, nach...)

Accusative prepositions (für, ohne, gegen)

Two-way prepositions for location (in, an, auf...)

Informal singular imperative (mach, komm)

Plural and formal imperative (macht, machen Sie)

Coordinating conjunctions (und, oder, aber, denn)

Simple past of sein and haben (war, hatte)

The perfect tense: regular verbs (gemacht, gespielt)

Past tense: irregular verbs (ge-...-en)

The perfect tense: mixed verbs (gebracht, gekannt)

The perfect tense with sein (ist gegangen)

The perfect tense: separable verbs (eingekauft)

The perfect tense: inseparable and -ieren verbs (besucht, studiert)

Informal singular commands (mach, lern)

Numbers 13 to 20 (dreizehn to zwanzig)

Counting by tens to 100 (dreißig, vierzig)

Telling time (Uhr, halb, Viertel, vor, nach)

Numbers 21 to 99 (einundzwanzig, zweiunddreißig)

Greetings and farewells

Thank you, sorry and good wishes

Everyday replies

Numbers 100 to 1,000,000 (hundert, tausend...)

Becoming and getting (werden)

The impersonal pronoun (man)

Indefinite pronouns (jemand, niemand...)

Time sequence prepositions (vor, nach, bei)

Time span prepositions (von... bis, seit, für)

Adverbs of sequence (zuerst, dann, danach)

Two-way prepositions for direction (in, auf, an...)

Directional adverbs (hin, her)

Placement verbs (setzen, stellen, legen)

Months of the year (Januar, Februar)

The four seasons (Frühling, Sommer)

Time prepositions and indefinite pronouns (an, in, um)

Ordinal numbers 1st to 19th (am ersten)

Ordinals 20th and beyond (-ste, -sten)

Placement vs. location verbs (stellen vs. stehen)

Accusative reflexive pronouns (mich, dich, sich)

Accusative reflexive verbs (sich freuen)

Dative reflexive pronouns (mir, dir, sich)

Dative reflexive verbs (sich etwas merken)

Ordinal numbers 11th to 19th (-te)

Temporal prepositions (an, in, um)

Double objects with nouns

Double objects with pronouns

The modal verb for advice (sollen)

Simple past of modal verbs (musste, wollte...)

Simple past of common irregulars (wurde, wusste, es gab)

Adverbial connectors of consequence (deshalb, darum...)

Subordinate clauses for statements (dass)

Subordinate clauses for reasons (weil)

Question	Answer
to pack	packen
I am packing a suitcase.	Ich packe einen Koffer.
Aren't you packing a suitcase?	Packst du keinen Koffer?
the backpack	der Rucksack
We are packing a backpack today.	Wir packen heute einen Rucksack.
The boy does not have a backpack.	Der Junge hat keinen Rucksack.
to take	nehmen
I am taking a jacket and a bag.	Ich nehme eine Jacke und eine Tasche.
Aren't you taking an umbrella?	Nehmen Sie keinen Schirm?
the passport	der Pass
Do we need a passport?	Brauchen wir einen Pass?
important	wichtig
A passport is very important.	Ein Pass ist sehr wichtig.
the laptop	der Laptop
I need a laptop, but I have no money.	Ich brauche einen Laptop, aber ich habe kein Geld.
The boss does not have a laptop.	Der Chef hat keinen Laptop.
the sweater	der Pullover
I need a sweater today.	Ich brauche heute einen Pullover.
Aren't you buying a sweater?	Kaufst du keinen Pullover?
the camera	die Kamera
We are looking for a camera.	Wir suchen eine Kamera.
We don't have a camera here.	Wir haben hier keine Kamera.
the shirt	das Hemd
I am packing a shirt and a pair of glasses.	Ich packe ein Hemd und eine Brille.
Does the boy need a shirt?	Braucht der Junge ein Hemd?
the towel	das Handtuch
Are we taking a towel?	Nehmen wir ein Handtuch?
I can't find a towel here.	Ich finde hier kein Handtuch.
Who needs the suitcase and a backpack?	Wer braucht den Koffer und einen Rucksack?
The ticket is also very important!	Das Ticket ist auch sehr wichtig!
I do not see the suitcase, but I have a backpack.	Ich sehe den Koffer nicht, aber ich habe einen Rucksack.
what kind of	was für ein
What kind of car do you have?	Was für ein Auto hast du?
What kind of book is he reading?	Was für ein Buch liest er?

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