Dative and accusative objects
Order two objects naturally.
The rule
In neutral order, two noun objects usually go dative–accusative. A short unstressed pronoun normally comes before a noun; two object pronouns usually go accusative–dative.
noun+noun: dative before accusative · pronoun+noun: pronoun first · pronoun+pronoun: accusative before dative
Identify receiver as dative and thing as accusative before arranging them.
With two nouns, the dative person normally precedes the accusative thing.
A personal pronoun usually comes before a noun object.
Core forms and structures
Use this table as a reference, then retrieve the forms without looking.
| Form | Function | German example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pattern 1 | Neutral noun order places dative receiver before accusative thing. | Ich gebe dem Kind das Buch. | I give the child the book. |
| Pattern 2 | A dative pronoun comes before a noun object. | Ich gebe ihm das Buch. | I give him the book. |
| Pattern 3 | An accusative pronoun comes before a noun object. | Ich gebe es dem Kind. | I give it to the child. |
| Pattern 4 | With two pronouns, accusative precedes dative. | Ich gebe es ihm. | I give it to him. |
| Pattern 5 | The receiver is plural dative den Schülern. | Die Lehrerin erklärt den Schülern die Aufgabe. | The teacher explains the task to the pupils. |
German examples with English meanings
Ich gebe dem Kind das Buch.
I give the child the book.
Neutral noun order places dative receiver before accusative thing.
Ich gebe ihm das Buch.
I give him the book.
A dative pronoun comes before a noun object.
Ich gebe es dem Kind.
I give it to the child.
An accusative pronoun comes before a noun object.
Ich gebe es ihm.
I give it to him.
With two pronouns, accusative precedes dative.
Die Lehrerin erklärt den Schülern die Aufgabe.
The teacher explains the task to the pupils.
The receiver is plural dative den Schülern.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Ich gebe das Buch dem Kind.
Correct: Ich gebe dem Kind das Buch.
Neutral noun order places dative receiver before accusative thing.
Incorrect: Ich gebe das Buch ihm.
Correct: Ich gebe ihm das Buch.
A dative pronoun comes before a noun object.
Incorrect: Ich gebe dem Kind es.
Correct: Ich gebe es dem Kind.
An accusative pronoun comes before a noun object.
Incorrect: Ich gebe ihm es.
Correct: Ich gebe es ihm.
With two pronouns, accusative precedes dative.
Incorrect: Die Lehrerin erklärt die Schüler die Aufgabe.
Correct: Die Lehrerin erklärt den Schülern die Aufgabe.
The receiver is plural dative den Schülern.
Details and useful distinctions
With two pronouns, accusative normally precedes dative: Ich gebe es ihm.
Practise this grammar
Mark DAT and AKK first. Then apply: pronouns early; two nouns DAT–AKK; two pronouns AKK–DAT.
Open Dative and accusative objects exercises →
For source references and editorial level notes, see the grammar reference. You can report a correction if an explanation or example seems wrong.