![]() ![]() Let’s look at the above example in German: Der Mann kauft dem Hund einen Knochen.ĭer Mann = subject, dem Hund = indirect obkect (Dative), einen Kochen + direct object (Accusative)ĭer Hund is changing to dem Hund and ein Knochen is changing to einen Knochen.Īpart from indicating the function of a noun, cases are also required after prepositions. The German languages decline not only pronouns but also articles, adjectives and sometimes even nouns. In modern English, the indirect object is often distinguished by the use of prepositions for example, He is buying a bone for the dog. Again, you can see the Dative case in English when replacing nouns with pronouns: He is buying him a bone. The man is the subject, the bone is the direct object (it is being bought), and the dog is the indirect object (he receives the bone). The indirect object comes into the equation: The man is going to the shop and buying the dog a bone. ![]() The indirect object in the German language If you replace nouns with pronouns, you can see the Accusative case in English: He is biting him. Him being the Accusative. Here the man is the subject, and the dog is the direct object (he is being kicked). The dog is the subject (doing the biting), and the man is the direct object he receives the action of the verb (he is being bitten). The direct object in the German languageĬonsider the following example: The dog is biting the man. In German, the indirect object in a given sentence is flagged by little grammar changes (called declensions) to the words that come in front of the noun. In German, the direct object requires the Accusative case, and the indirect object requires the Dative. Many languages use cases, including English. The round is on me / you / etc.)Īs you can see, there is no distinction – regarding the form – between dative “us” (uns) and accusative “us” (uns) as well as dative “you” (euch) and accusative “you” (euch).Whilst providing German tuition, students often ask me what the Accusative and the Dative are.Īccusative and Dative are cases that tell the function of nouns in a sentence. She takes consideration on me / you / etc.)Ĥ. Sie nimmt Rücksicht auf mich / dich / etc. – We are drinking a toast on me / you / etc.ģ. The bill is on me / you / him / her / us / you / them.)Ģ. – This is my / your/ his / her / our / their treat. Die Rechnung geht auf mich / dich / ihn / sie / uns / euch / sie. The personal pronouns mich, dich, ihn, sie, and es indicate the accusative case.ġ. – A burden rests on me / you / him / her / it / us / you / them. Eine Last liegt auf mir / dir / ihm / ihr / ihm / uns / euch / ihnen. ![]() – A curse rests on me / you / him / her / it / us / you / them.Ģ. Ein Fluch liegt auf mir / dir / ihm / ihr / ihm / uns / euch / ihnen. The reflexive pronoun sich can indicate either the accusative or dative. The personal pronouns mir, dir, ihm, ihr, and ihnen indicate the dative case.ġ. In German, a direct object is normally in the accusative, but the case can. Is it either dative or accusative?Įxample sentences in the dative case (“auf mir”) Which form you have to use is dependent on the grammatical case of the object, that is, the personal pronoun. Summary: Nominative and accusative within a sentence Nominative The subject of a sentence is always in the nominative case. The bad news is: Both forms are not interchangeable at will. The good news is that both forms exist in German and thus they are both correct. I received the question whether it is auf mich or auf mir, which are translated as “on me” in English. ![]()
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