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Worked Examples ​

The method from Finding the Case, applied to eight real sentences — simple to complex.

Each sentence is broken into its parts, with the role and case under every chunk and a step-by-step "why". If a chip or label is new to you, start with Finding the Case first.
Nom subjectAkk direct objectDat indirect object / after Dativ words

1. A simple sentence ​

Subject + verb + one object — the most common shape in German.
Der JungeSubjectNomsiehtVerbden BallDirect objAkk
The boy sees the ball.
Why
  1. Verb: sieht (sehen = to see).
  2. Wer sieht? → der Junge → subject → Nominativ.
  3. Wen/was sieht er? → den Ball → direct object → Akkusativ. Watch the article change: der → den (maskulin).

2. A Dativ verb ​

Some verbs (gehören, gefallen, helfen…) take their object in the Dativ. Here "belong to" — gehören.
Der MantelSubjectNomgehörtVerb (Dativ)dem LehrerObjectDat
The coat belongs to the teacher.
Why
  1. Wer/was gehört? → der Mantel → subject → Nominativ.
  2. gehören is a Dativ verb, so its object dem Lehrer is Dativ (der → dem) — not Akkusativ, even though in English "the teacher" feels like an object.

3. Two objects at once ​

Verbs of giving (geben, schenken, schicken) take both a Dativ (the receiver) and an Akkusativ (the thing). When both are nouns, Dativ comes first.
Der VaterSubjectNomschenktVerbdem KindIndirect objDateinen BallDirect objAkk
The father gives the child a ball.
Why
  1. Wer schenkt? → der Vater → Nominativ.
  2. Wem schenkt er etwas? → dem Kind → the receiver → Dativ (das → dem).
  3. Was schenkt er? → einen Ball → the thing given → Akkusativ (ein → einen).

4. An Akkusativ preposition ​

The preposition durch always takes the Akkusativ — no need to ask the questions for that phrase.
WirSubjectNomgehenVerbdurchPrepositionAkkden ParkNoun phraseAkk
We're walking through the park.
Why
  1. Wer geht? → wir → Nominativ.
  2. durch is an always-Akkusativ preposition, so den Park is Akkusativ (der → den) automatically.

5. A Dativ preposition ​

The preposition bei always takes the Dativ.
SieSubjectNomwohntVerbbeiPrepositionDatder FamilieNoun phraseDat
She lives with the family.
Why
  1. Wer wohnt? → sie → Nominativ.
  2. bei is an always-Dativ preposition, so der Familie is Dativ (die → der).

6. The same preposition, two cases ​

Two-way prepositions (an, auf, über, in…) switch case by meaning: Dativ for a location (Wo? — no movement), Akkusativ for a direction (Wohin? — movement to a new place). Same word "über", two different cases:
Die LampeSubjectNomhängtVerbüberPrepositionDatdem TischNoun phraseDat
The lamp hangs over the table. (location — Wo?)
Why
  1. The lamp isn't moving — it's a location (Wo? = where?).
  2. So über takes the Dativ: dem Tisch (der → dem).
IchSubjectNomhängeVerbdie LampeDirect objAkküberPrepositionAkkden TischNoun phraseAkk
I hang the lamp over the table. (direction — Wohin?)
Why
  1. Now the lamp moves to a new place — a direction (Wohin? = where to?).
  2. So the same über takes the Akkusativ: den Tisch (der → den).
  3. (And die Lampe is the direct object of "hängen" — also Akkusativ, but feminine so "die" doesn't change.)

7. A sentence with an adjective ​

When there's an adjective, it sits between the article and the noun and takes a case ending. Here's the whole sentence, then a zoom into the object phrase.
SieSubjectNomkauftVerbeine rote JackeDirect objAkk
She's buying a red jacket.
Why
  1. Wer kauft? → sie → Nominativ.
  2. Was kauft sie? → eine rote Jacke → direct object → Akkusativ.
eineArticleroteAdjectiveJackeNoun
… a red jacket (which word is what)
Why
  1. eine = indefinite article, feminin Akkusativ (same as Nominativ: eine).
  2. rote = the adjective; after "eine" it takes -e (see Adjective Endings).
  3. Jacke = the noun (feminin), the head of the phrase.

8. A sentence with pronouns ​

Pronouns follow the exact same case logic as nouns — they just have their own forms (er/ihn/ihm, sie/sie/ihr). See Pronouns for the full table.
ErSubjectNomgibtVerbihrIndirect objDatdas GeldDirect objAkk
He gives her the money.
Why
  1. Wer gibt? → er → subject → Nominativ.
  2. Wem gibt er? → ihr → the receiver → Dativ (ihr = the Dativ form of "sie" = to her).
  3. Was gibt er? → das Geld → direct object → Akkusativ.