Verbs Used with Specific Cases

All German verbs are used with objects placed in one of the four cases, depending on the objects' roles in the sentence. However, some verbs are only used with specific cases.

Transitive Verbs Needing Accusative

Rule 1: Most German verbs require an accusative object. Verbs with an accusative object are called transitive verbs.

Rule 2: They form the perfect with the auxiliary verb haben.

Rule 3: They can be used in the passive voice, where the accusative object in the passive becomes the subject.

Intransitive Verbs Needing Dative

Rule 4: Only a few verbs require a dative object. In that case, the dative object is the direct object.

Verbs used without an accusative object are called intransitive verbs.

Note: Intransitive verbs usually can’t be used in the passive voice.

Verbs with Accusative and Dative

Rule 5: Some verbs have a dative object and an accusative object. Mainly verbs of giving, taking and saying belong to this group. The specific thing about using these verbs is that two people and one thing occur must together in one sentence.

Verbs with Double Accusative

Rule 6: The only verbs having two accusative objects are: abfragen (to interrogate), abhören (to intercept), kosten (to cost), lehren (to teach), nennen (to name).

Note: These verbs are rare and are avoided when possible.

Verbs with More Than One Nominative

Rule 7: The verbs sein (to be), werden (to become), bleiben (to stay) and heißen (to be called) require a second nominative complement in addition to the subject.

Note: If these verbs are followed by measurements (e.g. weight, length, time), we need to use the accusative case.