Questions & Answers about Sie bittet das Kind.
Why does this sentence use bittet for 'asking' instead of fragt?
In English, we use 'ask' for both asking a question and asking someone to do something. German splits this up! Use fragen when asking a question to get information. Use bitten (conjugated here as bittet) when making a request or asking for a favor.
How do we know Sie means 'she' here, rather than 'they' or formal 'you'?
The secret is in the verb ending. The verb bitten is conjugated here as bittet, which ends in -t. This is the standard ending for er/sie/es (he/she/it). If sie meant 'they' or the formal 'you', the verb would keep its -en ending: sie bitten (they ask).
Is das Kind the direct object in this sentence?
Yes! The child is the one receiving the action of being asked, making it the direct object. The verb bitten requires its object to be in the accusative case. It might not look like it changed because for neuter words like Kind, the word for 'the' remains das for both the subject and the direct object.
How does using bitten compare to using möchten for a request?
möchten (would like) is a modal verb, meaning it usually acts as a 'helper' to another verb to make things polite, like Sie möchte das Kind fragen (She would like to ask the child). bitten is just a regular standalone verb that means 'to request' or 'to ask for'. Both are great for being polite, but they are used differently in a sentence.
Learn Sie bittet das Kind and more in German
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free