Questions & Answers about Wir schicken einem Kind ein Buch.
Why is it einem Kind and not ein Kind?
In this sentence, the child is the receiver of the book. In German, the receiver (indirect object) takes the dative case. Because Kind is a neuter noun (das Kind), its indefinite article changes to einem in the dative case.
Why does Buch use ein while Kind uses einem? Aren't they both neuter nouns?
Yes, both are neuter nouns! The difference is their role in the sentence. Buch is the direct object (the thing being sent), which takes the accusative case. For neuter words, the accusative article remains ein. Kind is the indirect object (the receiver), so it takes the dative case, changing the article to einem.
Why does einem Kind come before ein Buch?
When a sentence has both a dative receiver and an accusative object, and both are regular nouns (not pronouns), the dative object usually comes first. That is why the receiver (einem Kind) is placed before the thing being sent (ein Buch).
The English translation says "are sending", but where is the word for "are" in the German sentence?
German does not have an "-ing" form (continuous tense) like English. The single verb schicken covers both "send" and "are sending". You just conjugate it to match wir (we).