Personal pronouns in accusative
A2 · Elementary · Cases & Verbs
The rule
mich, dich, ihn, sie, es, uns, euch, sie.
How it works
The accusative personal pronouns are mich, dich, ihn, sie, es, uns, euch and sie. They replace the direct object: Ich sehe dich. Learners sometimes confuse ihn (him, accusative) with ihm (to him, dative). The accusative forms are used after verbs such as sehen, kennen, brauchen and lieben.
When to use it
Use mich, dich, ihn, sie, es, uns, euch and sie as the direct object.
Use cases
- Replacing a direct object: Ich kenne sie gut
- Describing feelings for someone: Ich liebe dich
- Making requests: Kannst du ihn anrufen?
Examples
- Ich sehe dich – I see you
- Wir besuchen euch morgen. – We are visiting you tomorrow.
- Ich brauche es dringend. – I urgently need it.
- Er hat mich nicht gesehen. – He did not see me.
Common mistake
Confusing ihn (him) with ihm (to him), which is dative.
Memory tip
Ask: is it the direct object? Then use the accusative: ihn, sie, es.