German : position of noun objects

German : position of noun objects

When there are TWO objects,

i) if BOTH are nouns, the indirect precedes the direct :

eg.,

Er zeigte seinem Lehrer das Buch.

ii) if BOTH are pronouns, the direct precedes the indirect :

eg.,

Er zeigte es ihm.

iii) If one is a noun and the other a pronoun, the pronoun always comes FIRST.

eg.,

Er zeigte ihm das Buch.

Er zeigte es seinem Lehrer.


* Note, however, that either the direct or indirect object may be placed in INITIAL position if it is desired to STRESS it.

eg.,

Meinem Vater schenkte er die kostbarsten.

Mich kann niemand anklagen.