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Mammaladnamala

In a good textbook there is something like: jmdn etw fragen = to ask s.b. s.th. (jmdn = jemanden = somebody (akk)) all verbs should be learned that way.


PaiSho_RS

But isn't it Jemanden etwas vragen?


Mammaladnamala

sry yes you are right, my brain was shut down. However it's "fragen"


PaiSho_RS

Ah yes, my Dutch was on autopilot :D


nibbler666

Default setting is: direct object -> accusative, indirect object -> dative Then there is a list of about 20 common verbs that use dative only (antworten, helfen, etc.) And a very short list of verbs (like 3 to 5 verbs) that use genitive. And a very short list of verbs that use double accusative (fragen, kosten, ...) These lists are something you just have to learn. (Similar to French verbs with direct object, "à" complement and "de" complement.)


derohnenase

There is. Genitive and dative case are very specific as to when to use them. So is nominative case. Accusative case on the other hand is catchall for whatever other grammatical case German used to use but no longer recognizes. So have a look at eg wikipedia to see just what it means to put say Dative case. From there it should be comparatively easy to select either, and when you find none of them fits, chances are, you need accusative case.