My German Headache: Cracking the Case of Indefinite Pronouns in the Accusative

Okay, deep breaths. Moving to Berlin was the best decision I’ve ever made, truly. But let’s be honest, it’s also been a masterclass in humbling myself – especially when it comes to German grammar. And right now, I’m staring down the barrel of something particularly frustrating: indefinite pronouns in the Accusative case. It’s completely flipped my understanding of how I’m supposed to use “etwas” and “welches.” Honestly, I’m starting to think my brain is deliberately trying to make me miserable.

The Problem Starts with “Etwas”

I’ve been trying to buy groceries at the Kaufhaus des Westens (a beautiful, slightly intimidating department store) and it’s been… chaotic. Yesterday, I wanted to ask the cheese guy, the Käsewandler, if he had etwas good. I thought, “Okay, accusative because I’m taking something.” So, I said to him, “Haben Sie etwas Guten?” (Do you have something good?).

He looked at me like I’d sprouted a second head. He mumbled something in German that I vaguely understood was about ‘accusative’ and ‘etwas’. It was a moment of pure panic. Turns out, I was asking if he had something good, not demanding he give it to me. The correct way to ask was: “Haben Sie etwas Guten da?” (Do you have something good here?). The ‘da’ is crucial, right? It makes the sentence about possession, not a direct object.

“Welches” – Adding Another Layer of Confusion

Then there’s “welches”. This one is especially baffling. It seems to mean “which,” but in the accusative, it’s behaving like a direct object… but shouldn’t it be, like, Nominative because it’s just a question? Seriously, my brain is short-circuiting.

Let’s say my colleague, Markus, tells me, “Ich habe welches Buch gelesen.” (I read which book.) I instinctively wanted to respond with “Ich habe welches gelesen.” Markus, naturally, corrected me instantly. “Nein, nein! Du sagst ‘Ich habe welches gelesen’ – das ist falsch! Du musst sagen: ‘Ich habe welches Buch gelesen.’” (No, no! You say ‘I read which book’ – that’s wrong! You have to say: ‘I read which book.’)

It’s like he was speaking a completely different language! The difference is subtle, but essential. “Welches” is referring to the book itself, not me reading it.

Practical Scenarios & Common Mistakes

I’ve realised I keep falling into the trap of assuming that because “etwas” and “welches” are used in questions, they should take the accusative. It’s so frustrating when I try to order a coffee at Caffè Nero (yes, even in Berlin, there’s a familiar chain!) and stumble over my words.

Here’s another one I encountered: A friend, Lena, was telling me about a problem with her computer. She said, “Ich habe etwas mit dem Computer gemacht.” (I did something with the computer.) My first instinct was to reply with “Ich habe etwas gemacht.” But Lena gently corrected me, explaining that “mit” requires the dative case here, because I’m using the computer as a means to do something.

The key takeaway? It’s not about simply translating the English word; it’s about understanding the function of the pronoun within the German sentence.

Little Wins and Staying Patient

I’m trying to focus on small victories. I’ve been writing down example sentences for “etwas” and “welches” with their correct case endings, and repeating them aloud until they feel a little less foreign. It’s slow, painfully slow, but I’m noticing a tiny bit of progress.

Yesterday, I successfully asked the barista at Distrikt Coffee for etwas warm (something warm – a coffee!). It was a small thing, but it felt like a huge win.

I’m reminding myself that learning a language is a marathon, not a sprint. There are going to be days like today, where I feel completely overwhelmed. But I’m also determined to keep practicing, keep making mistakes, and keep asking questions – even if it means looking like a complete idiot sometimes. Tschüss for now – I’m going back to wrestling with those declensions!