Breakdown of Ihr werdet dem Chef gehorchen, das ist ihm nämlich wichtig!
sein
to be
ihr
you (informal plural)
der Chef
the boss (male)
wichtig
important
ihm
him / it / to him / to it (dative)
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
werden
will (future auxiliary)
nämlich
you see
gehorchen
to obey
Questions & Answers about Ihr werdet dem Chef gehorchen, das ist ihm nämlich wichtig!
Why use werdet ... gehorchen here instead of the normal imperative gehorcht?
Using the Futur I (werden + infinitive) creates a highly authoritative, indisputable command. While gehorcht is a standard command, ihr werdet dem Chef gehorchen translates to 'you will obey the head chef' and leaves absolutely no room for discussion. It sounds like a strict authority figure laying down the law.
Why is it dem Chef and not den Chef?
The verb gehorchen (to obey) is a dative verb. This means it always requires a dative object, even though in English you obey a direct object. Therefore, the masculine noun der Chef changes to its dative form, dem Chef.
How does nämlich work here? Doesn't it usually mean 'namely'?
While nämlich can mean 'namely', it is frequently used as a conversational particle to give a reason or explanation, similar to saying 'you see' or 'because' in English. Here, it explains why you must obey. Notice that unlike a conjunction like weil, nämlich does not send the verb to the end; it simply sits inside the clause.
Why is ihm in the dative case in the second half of the sentence?
The adjective wichtig (important) uses a dative pronoun to express to whom something is important. Therefore, das ist ihm wichtig literally translates to 'that is to him important'.
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