Grammar Theme: Direct objects and Indirect Objects in German

Instructions: Fold this paper lengthwise between German and English.

1. Circle the subject (Nominative Case).
2. Describe a rectangle around the direct object (Accusative Case).
3. Underline the indirect object (Dative Case).
4. Attempt to translate the sentence in the space below each sentence.
5. Check the English translation on the other side.
6. Attempt to translate the sentence from English to German below each sentence..
7. Check the German translation on the other side.

• Note subject-verb agreement; e.g. Ich leihe dir Geld.
• Watch for stem-changing verbs (these occur only in the the second and third person singular; e.g. Er empfiehlt mir das Restaurant)
• Word order: Verb is second element (Ich leihe dir Geld)
• Word order: Indirect object precedes the direct object; e.g. Ich leihe dir Geld.
• Word order: if both objects are pronouns, the direct object  precedes the indirect object (Ich leihe es dir. I loan it to you.)
  

Viel Glück und Spaß!

German	English
Ich leihe dir Geld.	I lend you money
Du leihst mir Geld.	You lend me money
Ich bringe dir den Kuchen.	I bring you the cake
Du bringst mir den Kuchen.	You bring me the cake
Er beantwortet ihr die Frage.	He answers to her the question
Sie beantwortet ihm die Frage.	She answers to him the question
Ich empfehle ihm das Restaurant.	I recommend the restaurant to you
Er empfiehlt mir das Restaurant.	He recommends the restaurant to me
Die Großmutter erzählt den Kindern das Märchen.	The grandmother tells the fairy tale to the children
Die Kinder erzählen der Großmutter das Märchen.	The children tells the fairy tale to the grandmother
Ich schicke den Eltern ein Päckchen.	I send a packet to the parents
Die Eltern schicken mir ein Päckchen.	The parents send me a packet
Der Vater erlaubt dem Sohn das Rauchen.	The father allows smoking to the son
Ich verspreche dem Freund Hilfe.	I promise help to the friend
Der Freund verspricht mir Hilfe.	The friend promises me help