Indirect object pronouns replace the indirect object in a sentence—the person or thing receiving the direct object. In English, these are pronouns like "me," "you," "him," "her," "us," and "them" used after prepositions like "to" or "for." German indirect object pronouns appear in the dative case and include mir (to me), dir (to you), ihm (to him), ihr (to her), uns (to us), and ihnen (to them). Both languages typically place the indirect object before the direct object, but German word order is more flexible.
Summary
| Aspect | English | German | Example (English) | Example (German) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Role | Receive the direct object | Receive the direct object (Dative case) | She gives me the book. | Sie gibt mir das Buch. |
| Pronouns | me, you, him, her, us, them | mir, dir, ihm, ihr, uns, ihnen | I send her a letter. | Ich schicke ihr einen Brief. |
| Word Order | Indirect before direct | Indirect before direct (flexible) | He shows us the photo. | Er zeigt uns das Foto. |
In both English and German, where do indirect objects usually appear when direct objects are also present?
Indirect objects typically come before direct objects.
In both languages, the indirect object generally precedes the direct object in a sentence (e.g., 'She gives me the book' / 'Sie gibt mir das Buch').
Usage Examples
| Pronoun | Meaning | English Example | German Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| mir | to me | My mother tells me a story. | Meine Mutter erzählt mir eine Geschichte. |
| dir | to you (singular) | I give you a gift. | Ich gebe dir ein Geschenk. |
| ihm | to him | We write him an email. | Wir schreiben ihm eine E-Mail. |
| ihr | to her | You show her the photo. | Du zeigst ihr das Foto. |
| uns | to us | They send us a postcard. | Sie schicken uns eine Postkarte. |
| ihnen | to them | I bring them the tickets. | Ich bringe ihnen die Karten. |
Key Points
- German indirect object pronouns are always in the dative case.
- They answer the question "to whom?" or "for whom?" the action is done.
- In German, indirect objects typically come before direct objects, but there can be exceptions.
- Indirect object pronouns in German never change form for gender or number except for ihm, ihr, and ihnen, which indicate masculine, feminine, and plural respectively.
Conclusion
Indirect object pronouns simplify sentences by avoiding repetition. In German, remember to use the dative case forms and place the indirect object before the direct object for most straightforward sentences.
Flashcards (1 of 9)
- Aspect: Role
- English: Receive the direct object
- Example (English): She gives me the book.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
