Question 1

Why is seiner Schwester in the dative case rather than the accusative?

Accepted Answer

Because German distinguishes between the direct object (accusative) and the indirect object (dative). In Er reicht seiner Schwester das Brot, seiner Schwester answers the question “to whom?” (Wem?), so it must be dative. She is the recipient of the bread, the indirect object, while the bread itself is the direct object.

Question 2

How do I know that das Brot is accusative?

Accepted Answer

You ask “what is being handed?” (Wen oder was?). The answer is das Brot, so it’s accusative. In German, direct objects answer “wen?” or “was?” and take accusative.

Question 3

What questions would I ask to identify the two objects in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Wem reicht er das Brot? → seiner Schwester (dative)  
Wen oder was reicht er seiner Schwester? → das Brot (accusative)

Question 4

Why does the dative object come before the accusative object here?

Accepted Answer

When both objects are nouns, German usually places the dative object before the accusative object:
  • Er reicht seiner Schwester das Brot.  
If one of them were a pronoun, the pronoun would take priority:
  • Er reicht es seiner Schwester. (accusative pronoun before noun)  
  • Er reicht ihr das Brot. (dative pronoun before noun)

Question 5

What is the difference between reichen and geben in German?

Accepted Answer

Both can mean “to give,” but:
  • geben is the general verb for “to give.”  
  • reichen often implies “to hand over” or “to pass (something within reach).”  
In many contexts you can swap them, but reichen emphasizes the act of handing something directly.

Question 6

How would I say “He passes it to her” using pronouns?

Accepted Answer

“He passes it to her” becomes Er reicht es ihr.  
Note: with two pronouns, the accusative pronoun comes before the dative pronoun.

Question 7

Can I use a preposition like an with reichen, and how does that affect case?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can say Er reicht das Brot an seine Schwester.  
  • Then das Brot stays accusative (direct object).  
  • an seine Schwester is a prepositional phrase requiring accusative after an (direction).

Question 8

Can I change the word order to emphasize one of the objects?

Accepted Answer

Yes. German allows topicalization. For example:
  • Das Brot reicht er seiner Schwester. (emphasis on the bread)  
  • Seiner Schwester reicht er das Brot. (emphasis on “to his sister”)  
In both cases the finite verb reicht stays in second position.

Question 9

Why is the possessive pronoun sein- used for seiner Schwester?

Accepted Answer

The subject is Er (“he”), so we need the masculine/neuter possessive sein-. Because Schwester is feminine, in dative it takes the ending -er, giving seiner Schwester.

Er reicht seiner Schwester das Brot.

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