Word
Der Vater verspricht dem Sohn ein Geschenk.
Meaning
The father promises the son a gift.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Der Vater verspricht dem Sohn ein Geschenk.
ein
a, an (eine)
der Vater
the father
der Sohn
the son
das Geschenk
the gift
Questions & Answers about Der Vater verspricht dem Sohn ein Geschenk.
Why is it dem Sohn ein Geschenk and not the other way around?
When a German sentence has two noun objects, the standard word order is to place the dative receiver (dem Sohn) before the accusative thing being acted upon (ein Geschenk).
Why is the article dem instead of den for the son?
The person who receives something, like a promise or a gift, is the indirect object, which takes the dative case. Because Sohn is a masculine noun, the dative article is dem.
What case is ein Geschenk in this sentence?
It is in the accusative case because it is the direct object, meaning it is the actual thing being promised. Since Geschenk is a neuter noun, its accusative article ein happens to look exactly the same as it does in the basic nominative case.
Why does the verb change to verspricht with an 'i'?
The verb versprechen (to promise) is built on the root verb sprechen (to speak). Just like sprechen, it is an irregular verb that changes its stem vowel from 'e' to 'i' for 'he/she/it' subjects. So, for der Vater, we use verspricht.