Nominativ = subject Akkusativ = direct object Also, there are a few prepositions/verbs after which an Akkusativ always follows. Example: Der Mann sieht den Spanier. (the man sees the Spaniard) Der Spanier sieht den Mann. (the Spaniard sees the man) Die Frau kann nicht leben ohne ihren Mann (the woman can't live withour her man/husband). So you have different conjugations for the Akk. an Nom. (which are btw only noticeable for male gender words or plural words.) I can explain this more, if you would like to...