Breakdown of Er ist für die Hilfe dankbar, aber er ist auch vom Geld abhängig.
sein
to be
er
he
auch
also, too
aber
but
das Geld
the money
vom
from the (von + dem) / of the (belonging to) / by the (agent in a passive clause)
für
for
die Hilfe
the help
dankbar
grateful
abhängig
dependent
Questions & Answers about Er ist für die Hilfe dankbar, aber er ist auch vom Geld abhängig.
Why does the adjective come after the prepositional phrase (für die Hilfe dankbar)?
When an adjective describes the subject using the verb sein (to be), it usually gets pushed to the end of the clause in German. That is why the prepositional object (für die Hilfe) comes before the adjective (dankbar). While you might hear er ist dankbar für die Hilfe in casual spoken German, the order shown in this sentence is the standard rule.
Do dankbar and abhängig always use these specific prepositions?
Yes, these are fixed combinations! Just like certain verbs, many adjectives require a specific preposition to complete their meaning. It is best to memorize them as a set: dankbar für (grateful for) and abhängig von (dependent on).
How do I know which case to use after these fixed prepositions?
The preposition itself dictates the case, just like it normally would! Because für is strictly an accusative preposition, it takes the accusative die Hilfe. Because von is strictly a dative preposition, it takes the dative form of das Geld, which merges into the contraction vom (von + dem).
Does the word aber change the word order in the second half of the sentence?
No. The word aber (but) is a coordinating conjunction, which means it occupies "Position 0" and does not affect the word order of the clause that follows it. The subject (er) takes Position 1, and the conjugated verb (ist) stays right where it belongs in Position 2.
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