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      Berufserfahrung: verbs with indirect objects, dative pronouns

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can use dative verbs and indirect object pronouns when communicating with other people in the context of work experience.

      Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

      Key learning points

      1. The German [ch] can be soft or hard. Soft [ch] should not be confused with [sch].
      2. Certain verbs are dative verbs and use indirect object (dative) pronouns.
      3. The dative pronouns are 'mir', 'dir', 'ihm', 'ihn', 'uns', 'euch', 'ihnen'.
      4. Some dative verbs are also impersonal like 'gefallen', 'gelingen' and 'genügen'.

      Keywords

      • Dative - case used for the indirect object in a sentence, and after a dative verb or presposition

      • Indirect object pronoun - replaces the person, people or thing(s) noun that the the verb action is done 'to' or 'for', e.g., 'to me', 'for them'

      Common misconception

      Verbs are only followed by the dative case if we translate the verb with 'to' or 'for' in English.

      Some verbs are impersonal, and take the dative, and are usually used with 'es'. For example, 'gelingen' - 'es gelingt mir' (I succeed).

      Teacher tip

      In Learning Cycle 2, the indirect object pronouns 'uns', 'euch' and 'ihnen' are used along with some Higher vocabulary. Task B can be adapted to use only 'mir', 'dir', 'ihm' and 'ihr' and Foundation vocabulary as required.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the German and English.

      Correct Answer:das Bild,picture
      Correct Answer:das Jahr,year
      Correct Answer:das Wort,word
      Correct Answer:die Größe,size, height
      Correct Answer:die Zukunft,future
      Correct Answer:der Gegenstand,object

      Q2.
      'Mir', 'dir', 'ihm', 'ihr', 'uns', 'euch' and 'ihnen' are all examples of pronouns.

      Correct Answer: indirect object, dative

      Q3.
      'Ich habe dir eine E-Mail geschrieben, aber du hast mir nicht geantwortet.'. Choose the correct translations.

      I write you a letter but you don't reply to me.
      Correct answer: I wrote an email to you but you haven't replied to me.
      Correct answer: I wrote you an email but you haven't replied to me.
      I wrote you a letter but you didn't reply to me.

      Q4.
      Which of the following statements apply to impersonal verbs?

      Correct answer: Impersonal verbs are dative verbs.
      Correct answer: Impersonal verbs often use 'es' as their subject.
      Impersonal verbs always begin with 'ge'.
      Impersonal verbs are accusative verbs.

      Q5.
      Which of these are not dative verbs?

      Correct answer: sehen
      zeigen
      geben
      schreiben
      Correct answer: essen

      Q6.
      Sort the words below into the correct order to construct the following sentence: 'I give her the book. She thanks me.'

      1 - ich
      2 - gebe
      3 - ihr
      4 - das Buch
      5 - sie
      6 - dankt
      7 - mir

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which of these words describe positive characteristics?

      Correct answer: ehrlich
      Correct answer: freundlich
      kritisch
      schrecklich
      Correct answer: pünktlich

      Q2.
      Match the German and English.

      Correct Answer:dir,(to) you (sing)
      Correct Answer:euch,(to) you (pl)
      Correct Answer:ihnen,(to) them
      Correct Answer:mir,(to) me
      Correct Answer:ihm,(to) him
      Correct Answer:ihr,(to) her

      Q3.
      Match the German and English.

      Correct Answer:erklären,to explain, explaining
      Correct Answer:drohen,to threaten, threatening
      Correct Answer:gehören,to belong, belonging to
      Correct Answer:genügen,to be enough, sufficient
      Correct Answer:gefallen,to please, like
      Correct Answer:passen,to suit, fit

      Q4.
      Some __________ verbs are __________ verbs. They're usually used with the subject pronoun __________. Grammatically, the person is the __________ __________ of the verb, e.g., 'it is pleasing to me'.

      1 - dative
      2 - impersonal
      3 - 'es'
      4 - indirect
      5 - object

      Q5.
      Match the German and English.

      Correct Answer:die Berufserfahrung,work experience
      Correct Answer:das Arbeitsangebot,job offer
      Correct Answer:die Berufsberatung,careers advice
      Correct Answer:die Arbeitswelt,workplace
      Correct Answer:der Bereich,area
      Correct Answer:die Gesellschaft,company, society

      Q6.
      Translate the following sentence into German: 'He writes a letter to me.'

      Correct Answer: Er schreibt mir einen Brief.

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