Two Objects, Two Orders
The previous lesson gave you the default: indirect object before a definite direct object — Ik geef mijn broer het boek. That order flips the moment the direct object becomes an unstressed pronoun like het.
Pronoun First
A pronominal direct object moves in front of the indirect object:
| I will give it to him tomorrow. | Ik geef het hem morgen. |
| She is sending it to me today. | Zij stuurt het mij vandaag. |
| Give it to me, please. | Geef het mij, alsjeblieft. |
Ik geef hem het is wrong — unstressed het can never stand at the end after an indirect object.
Noun Last
With a full noun as direct object, the familiar order holds — indirect object first:
| I am giving him the book. | Ik geef hem het boek. |
| She is sending him the letter. | Zij stuurt hem de brief. |
| He is giving me the key. | Hij geeft mij de sleutel. |
Side by Side
| direct object | order | example |
|---|---|---|
| pronoun (het) | DO before IO | Ik geef het hem. |
| noun (het boek) | IO before DO | Ik geef hem het boek. |
The aan-alternative from the previous lesson stays available and neutral: Ik geef het aan hem is always correct, and with aan the pronoun rule above does not apply — the aan-phrase simply follows the direct object.
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