462 lines
18 KiB
HTML
462 lines
18 KiB
HTML
<!DOCTYPE html>
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<html lang="en">
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<head>
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<meta charset="UTF-8">
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<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
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<title>Lesson 3 — The Four Cases</title>
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<link rel="stylesheet" href="../assets/style.css">
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<style>
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.case-block {
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border-left: 4px solid var(--border);
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padding: 0.75rem 1.25rem;
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margin: 1.25rem 0;
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border-radius: 0 var(--radius) var(--radius) 0;
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}
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.case-block.nom { border-color: #2e5d9e; background: #eaeefd; }
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.case-block.akk { border-color: #8b1a1a; background: #fdecea; }
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.case-block.dat { border-color: #1e6b3c; background: var(--green-bg); }
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.case-block.gen { border-color: #7a5c00; background: #fdf8e8; }
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.case-label {
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font-size: 0.75rem;
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.nom .case-label { color: #1d3f6e; }
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.akk .case-label { color: #8b1a1a; }
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.dat .case-label { color: #1e6b3c; }
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.gen .case-label { color: #7a5c00; }
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.case-question {
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font-size: 1.1rem;
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font-weight: bold;
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margin-bottom: 0.25rem;
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.case-example {
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font-family: 'Courier New', monospace;
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font-size: 0.92rem;
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margin-top: 0.4rem;
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.article-table td, .article-table th {
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text-align: center;
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}
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.article-table td:first-child, .article-table th:first-child {
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text-align: left;
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}
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.nom-col { color: #2e5d9e; font-weight: bold; }
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.akk-col { color: #8b1a1a; font-weight: bold; }
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.dat-col { color: #1e6b3c; font-weight: bold; }
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.gen-col { color: #7a5c00; font-weight: bold; }
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.changed {
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}
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.sentence-diagram {
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padding: 1rem 1.5rem;
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font-family: 'Courier New', monospace;
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font-size: 0.95rem;
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line-height: 2;
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}
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.label-nom { color: #2e5d9e; font-size: 0.75rem; display: block; }
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.label-akk { color: #8b1a1a; font-size: 0.75rem; display: block; }
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.label-dat { color: #1e6b3c; font-size: 0.75rem; display: block; }
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.word-group { display: inline-block; text-align: center; margin: 0 0.5rem; vertical-align: top; }
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border: 1px solid var(--border);
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padding: 0.9rem 1.25rem;
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margin: 1.25rem 0;
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font-size: 0.95rem;
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}
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</style>
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</head>
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<body>
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<div class="page">
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<p class="subtitle">Lesson 3 of your German course</p>
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<h1>The Four Cases: What They Are and How to Spot Them</h1>
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<p class="subtitle">B1.2 · Grammar · ~25 minutes</p>
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<p>
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Cases in German tell you what role a noun is playing in the sentence. Once you can identify the role, you know which article ending to use — and those endings stop feeling random. There are four cases.
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</p>
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<!-- NOMINATIV -->
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<div class="case-block nom">
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<div class="case-label">Nominativ</div>
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<div class="case-question">Who or what is doing the action?</div>
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<p style="margin: 0.4rem 0 0;">The subject of the sentence. Every sentence has one.</p>
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<div class="case-example">
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<strong>Der Arzt</strong> ruft mich an. → The doctor calls me.<br>
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<strong>Die Schule</strong> ist morgen zu. → The school is closed tomorrow.<br>
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<strong>Das Kind</strong> schläft. → The child is sleeping.
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</div>
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</div>
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<!-- AKKUSATIV -->
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<div class="case-block akk">
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<div class="case-label">Akkusativ</div>
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<div class="case-question">Who or what is directly affected by the action?</div>
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<p style="margin: 0.4rem 0 0;">The direct object — what the verb is acting on.</p>
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<div class="case-example">
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Ich rufe <strong>den Arzt</strong> an. → I call <em>the doctor</em>.<br>
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Wir brauchen <strong>einen Termin</strong>. → We need <em>an appointment</em>.<br>
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Er hat <strong>das Formular</strong> ausgefüllt. → He filled in <em>the form</em>.
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</div>
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</div>
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<!-- DATIV -->
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<div class="case-block dat">
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<div class="case-label">Dativ</div>
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<div class="case-question">To whom or for whom?</div>
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<p style="margin: 0.4rem 0 0;">The indirect object — the recipient or beneficiary. Also required after certain prepositions (<em>mit, bei, nach, von, zu, aus, seit, gegenüber</em>).</p>
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<div class="case-example">
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Ich gebe <strong>dem Arzt</strong> die Überweisung. → I give <em>the doctor</em> the referral.<br>
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Wir wohnen <strong>bei dem</strong> (<strong>beim</strong>) Bäcker. → We live near <em>the bakery</em>.<br>
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Sie fährt <strong>mit dem</strong> Auto. → She's driving <em>the car</em>.
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</div>
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</div>
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<!-- GENITIV -->
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<div class="case-block gen">
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<div class="case-label">Genitiv</div>
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<div class="case-question">Whose? Of what?</div>
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<p style="margin: 0.4rem 0 0;">Shows possession or belonging. Common in writing; in spoken German <em>von + Dativ</em> is often used instead.</p>
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<div class="case-example">
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Das ist das Auto <strong>des Kollegen</strong>. → That's <em>the colleague's</em> car.<br>
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Die Adresse <strong>der Schule</strong>. → <em>The school's</em> address.<br>
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(spoken alternative: die Adresse <strong>von der Schule</strong>)
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</div>
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</div>
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<h2>How the articles change</h2>
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<p>Only the article changes — the noun itself almost never changes. Here are the definite articles (<em>der/die/das</em>) across all four cases:</p>
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<table class="article-table">
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<thead>
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<tr>
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<th></th>
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<th>masculine</th>
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<th>feminine</th>
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<th>neuter</th>
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<th>plural</th>
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</tr>
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</thead>
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<tbody>
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<tr>
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<td><span class="nom-col">Nominativ</span></td>
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<td>der</td>
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<td>die</td>
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<td>das</td>
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<td>die</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><span class="akk-col">Akkusativ</span></td>
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<td><span class="changed">den</span></td>
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<td>die</td>
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<td>das</td>
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<td>die</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><span class="dat-col">Dativ</span></td>
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<td><span class="changed">dem</span></td>
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<td><span class="changed">der</span></td>
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<td><span class="changed">dem</span></td>
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<td><span class="changed">den</span></td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><span class="gen-col">Genitiv</span></td>
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<td><span class="changed">des</span></td>
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<td><span class="changed">der</span></td>
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<td><span class="changed">des</span></td>
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<td><span class="changed">der</span></td>
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</tr>
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</tbody>
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</table>
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<div class="tip-box">
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<strong>The one thing worth memorising first:</strong> only masculine changes in Akkusativ: <em>der → <strong>den</strong></em>. Feminine, neuter, and plural stay the same. This is why <em>den Arzt</em>, <em>einen Termin</em>, <em>den Ölwechsel</em> — all masculine accusative.
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</div>
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<p>The indefinite articles (<em>ein/eine</em>) follow the same pattern:</p>
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<table class="article-table">
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<thead>
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<tr>
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<th></th>
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<th>masculine</th>
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<th>feminine</th>
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<th>neuter</th>
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</tr>
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</thead>
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<tbody>
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<tr>
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<td><span class="nom-col">Nominativ</span></td>
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<td>ein</td>
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<td>eine</td>
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<td>ein</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><span class="akk-col">Akkusativ</span></td>
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<td><span class="changed">einen</span></td>
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<td>eine</td>
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<td>ein</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><span class="dat-col">Dativ</span></td>
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<td><span class="changed">einem</span></td>
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<td><span class="changed">einer</span></td>
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<td><span class="changed">einem</span></td>
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</tr>
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</tbody>
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</table>
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<h2>How to identify the case in a real sentence</h2>
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<p>Ask these questions in order:</p>
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<ol style="margin: 1rem 0 1rem 1.5rem; line-height: 2;">
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<li><strong>Who is doing the action?</strong> → Nominativ</li>
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<li><strong>What is the verb directly acting on?</strong> → Akkusativ</li>
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<li><strong>To/for whom?</strong> → Dativ</li>
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<li><strong>Is there a preposition?</strong> → look up whether it takes Akkusativ or Dativ (or both)</li>
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</ol>
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<div class="sentence-diagram">
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<div class="word-group">
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<span>Der Mechaniker</span>
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<span class="label-nom">Nominativ (subject)</span>
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</div>
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<div class="word-group">
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<span>zeigt</span>
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</div>
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<div class="word-group">
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<span>mir</span>
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<span class="label-dat">Dativ (to me)</span>
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</div>
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<div class="word-group">
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<span>den Kostenvoranschlag.</span>
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<span class="label-akk">Akkusativ (direct object)</span>
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</div>
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</div>
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<p style="font-size: 0.9rem; color: var(--ink-light);">The mechanic shows <em>me</em> the cost estimate. — Three roles at once.</p>
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<h2>Prepositions that fix the case</h2>
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<p>Some prepositions always take the same case. These are worth knowing cold:</p>
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<table>
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<tr>
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<th>Always Akkusativ</th>
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<th>Always Dativ</th>
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<th>Two-way (location/direction)</th>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><code>durch, für, gegen, ohne, um</code></td>
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<td><code>aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu, gegenüber</code></td>
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<td><code>an, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor, zwischen</code></td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td style="font-size:0.85rem; color: var(--ink-light);">
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Er wartet <em>ohne</em> <strong>den</strong> Arzt.
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</td>
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<td style="font-size:0.85rem; color: var(--ink-light);">
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Ich fahre <em>mit</em> <strong>dem</strong> Auto.
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</td>
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<td style="font-size:0.85rem; color: var(--ink-light);">
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<em>in</em> <strong>dem</strong> Zimmer (where?) vs <em>in</em> <strong>das</strong> Zimmer (going where?)
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</td>
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</tr>
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</table>
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<div class="tip-box">
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<strong>Two-way prepositions:</strong> location (staying in a place) → Dativ. Direction (moving toward a place) → Akkusativ. <em>Ich bin im (in dem) Wartezimmer</em> vs. <em>Ich gehe in das Wartezimmer.</em>
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</div>
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<hr style="border:none; border-top: 1px solid #ddd; margin: 2.5rem 0;">
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<h2>Drill — which case is needed?</h2>
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<p>For each sentence, choose the correct form.</p>
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<div class="quiz-section" id="quiz"></div>
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<div class="score-bar" id="score-bar">
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<span class="score-number" id="score-number"></span> — <span id="score-comment"></span>
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</div>
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<h2>Primary source</h2>
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<p>
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Two sources, both worth reading:
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<ul style="margin: 0.5rem 0 0 1.25rem; line-height: 2;">
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<li><a href="https://git.sometimescode.com/cgsmith/German-for-English-Speakers/src/branch/main/nouns/case.md" target="_blank">German for English Speakers: Case</a> — concise overview of all four cases with declension tables.</li>
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<li><a href="https://git.sometimescode.com/cgsmith/German-for-English-Speakers/src/branch/main/prepositions/two-way-prepositions.md" target="_blank">Two-Way Prepositions</a> — the location vs. direction distinction in full detail.</li>
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<li><a href="https://yourdailygerman.com/function-grammatical-cases/" target="_blank">Your Daily German: What Cases Actually Do</a> — deeper explanation of the logic behind cases (subscription).</li>
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<li><a href="https://yourdailygerman.com/german-cases-accusative-dative/" target="_blank">Your Daily German: Accusative & Dative</a> — the two cases you're using most right now (subscription).</li>
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</ul>
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</p>
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<div class="ask-teacher">
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<strong>Ask your teacher:</strong> If a sentence confuses you — from class, from a sign, from a work email — bring it here and ask which case is at work and why. Seeing it in real sentences is what builds the reflex.
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</div>
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<div class="lesson-nav">
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<strong>Related:</strong>
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<a href="0001-v2-word-order.html">Lesson 1: V2 Word Order</a> ·
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<a href="0002-noun-gender-daily-life.html">Lesson 2: Noun Gender</a> ·
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<a href="../reference/daily-life-nouns.html">Daily Life Nouns Reference</a>
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</div>
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</div>
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<script>
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const questions = [
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{
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sentence: "Ich rufe ___ Zahnarzt an.",
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correct: "den",
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options: ["der", "den", "dem"],
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feedback: "<strong>Akkusativ</strong> — direct object of <em>anrufen</em>. <em>der Zahnarzt</em> is masculine → accusative → <strong>den</strong>."
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},
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{
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sentence: "___ Termin ist um 10 Uhr.",
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correct: "Der",
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options: ["Der", "Den", "Dem"],
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feedback: "<strong>Nominativ</strong> — the appointment is the subject (it <em>is</em> at 10). <em>der Termin</em> → nominative → <strong>Der</strong>."
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},
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{
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sentence: "Ich fahre mit ___ Auto zur Werkstatt.",
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correct: "dem",
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options: ["das", "den", "dem"],
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feedback: "<strong>Dativ</strong> — <em>mit</em> always takes Dativ. <em>das Auto</em> is neuter → dative → <strong>dem</strong>."
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},
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{
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sentence: "Er gibt ___ Mechaniker den Schlüssel.",
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correct: "dem",
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options: ["der", "den", "dem"],
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feedback: "<strong>Dativ</strong> — the mechanic is the indirect object (he's giving the key <em>to</em> the mechanic). <em>der Mechaniker</em> → dative masculine → <strong>dem</strong>."
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},
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{
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sentence: "Das Kind geht in ___ Schule.",
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correct: "die",
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options: ["der", "die", "dem"],
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feedback: "<strong>Akkusativ</strong> — <em>in</em> is a two-way preposition. Going <em>into</em> a place → direction → Akkusativ. <em>die Schule</em> is feminine → accusative → <strong>die</strong> (feminine doesn't change)."
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},
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{
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sentence: "Das Kind ist in ___ Schule.",
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correct: "der",
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options: ["der", "die", "dem"],
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feedback: "<strong>Dativ</strong> — <em>in</em> is two-way. Staying <em>in</em> a place → location → Dativ. <em>die Schule</em> is feminine → dative → <strong>der</strong>."
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},
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{
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sentence: "Wir brauchen ___ Überweisung vom Hausarzt.",
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correct: "eine",
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options: ["einen", "eine", "ein"],
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feedback: "<strong>Akkusativ</strong> — direct object of <em>brauchen</em>. <em>die Überweisung</em> is feminine → accusative → <strong>eine</strong> (feminine doesn't change in accusative)."
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},
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{
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sentence: "___ Kollege hat mir die E-Mail geschickt.",
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correct: "Ein",
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options: ["Ein", "Einen", "Einem"],
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feedback: "<strong>Nominativ</strong> — the colleague is the subject (he <em>sent</em> the email). <em>der Kollege</em> → nominative → <strong>Ein</strong>."
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},
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{
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sentence: "Ich warte seit ___ Stunde.",
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correct: "einer",
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options: ["eine", "einer", "einen"],
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feedback: "<strong>Dativ</strong> — <em>seit</em> always takes Dativ. <em>die Stunde</em> is feminine → dative → <strong>einer</strong>."
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},
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{
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sentence: "Er hat ___ Kostenvoranschlag bekommen.",
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correct: "einen",
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options: ["einen", "eine", "ein"],
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feedback: "<strong>Akkusativ</strong> — direct object of <em>bekommen</em>. <em>der Kostenvoranschlag</em> is masculine → accusative → <strong>einen</strong>."
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}
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];
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const quiz = document.getElementById('quiz');
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let answered = 0;
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let correct = 0;
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const total = questions.length;
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questions.forEach((q, i) => {
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const block = document.createElement('div');
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block.className = 'question-block';
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block.id = 'q' + i;
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const displaySentence = q.sentence.replace('___ ', '<span style="display:inline-block;min-width:55px;border-bottom:2px solid #aaa;"> </span> ');
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block.innerHTML = `
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<div class="question-text"><strong>${i + 1}.</strong> ${displaySentence}</div>
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<div class="options" style="flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;">
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${q.options.map(opt => `<button class="option-btn" style="flex:1;min-width:70px;text-align:center;" onclick="answer(${i},'${opt}',this)">${opt}</button>`).join('')}
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</div>
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<div class="feedback" id="fb${i}"></div>
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`;
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quiz.appendChild(block);
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});
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function answer(i, chosen, btn) {
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const q = questions[i];
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|
const block = document.getElementById('q' + i);
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const fb = document.getElementById('fb' + i);
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const buttons = block.querySelectorAll('.option-btn');
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|
buttons.forEach(b => b.disabled = true);
|
|
|
|
const isCorrect = chosen === q.correct;
|
|
answered++;
|
|
if (isCorrect) {
|
|
correct++;
|
|
block.classList.add('correct');
|
|
btn.classList.add('selected-correct');
|
|
fb.className = 'feedback show correct-fb';
|
|
fb.innerHTML = '✓ ' + q.feedback;
|
|
} else {
|
|
block.classList.add('incorrect');
|
|
btn.classList.add('selected-incorrect');
|
|
fb.className = 'feedback show incorrect-fb';
|
|
fb.innerHTML = '✗ ' + q.feedback;
|
|
buttons.forEach(b => { if (b.textContent.trim() === q.correct) b.classList.add('reveal-correct'); });
|
|
}
|
|
|
|
if (answered === total) showScore();
|
|
}
|
|
|
|
function showScore() {
|
|
const bar = document.getElementById('score-bar');
|
|
const num = document.getElementById('score-number');
|
|
const comment = document.getElementById('score-comment');
|
|
bar.classList.add('show');
|
|
num.textContent = correct + ' / ' + total;
|
|
if (correct === total) {
|
|
comment.textContent = 'All ten — the case logic is clicking. Now use it in writing.';
|
|
} else if (correct >= 8) {
|
|
comment.textContent = 'Strong. Re-read the feedback on the ones you missed — they usually point to one specific rule.';
|
|
} else if (correct >= 6) {
|
|
comment.textContent = 'The framework is forming. Run the drill again tomorrow and watch for the two-way prepositions.';
|
|
} else {
|
|
comment.textContent = 'Reread the four case blocks above slowly, then try again. The key is asking the right question for each noun.';
|
|
}
|
|
}
|
|
</script>
|
|
|
|
</body>
|
|
</html>
|