A2-21 · Give someone something

At the hotel

Use dative recipients and accusative objects in a fictional hotel reception conversation.

About 5 minutes to read · 12 quiz questions

Gouache illustration of a receptionist handing a key to an adult guest across a wooden hotel desk, with a lift and luggage in the background.

A key for the guest

In this fictional hotel, receptionist Eva welcomes guest Paul. Some verbs take two objects. The person receiving something is in the dative; the thing given is in the accusative.

Eva gibt dem Gast den Schlüssel.

Eva gives the guest the key.

Paul zeigt der Rezeptionistin den Ausweis.

Paul shows the receptionist his identity card.

Eva gibt dem Gast eine Zimmerkarte.

Eva gives the guest a room key card.

Paul gibt der Rezeptionistin die Buchungsnummer.

Paul gives the receptionist the booking number.

With two noun objects, put the dative person before the accusative thing: dem Gast den Schlüssel. Der Gast becomes dem Gast; der Schlüssel becomes den Schlüssel.

Explain the facilities

Eva shows Paul the hotel facilities. Zeigen, erklären and bringen can also take a dative person and an accusative thing. Ask wem for the person and was for the thing.

Eva zeigt dem Gast den Aufzug.

Eva shows the guest the lift.

Sie erklärt dem Gast den Weg zum Zimmer.

She explains the way to the room to the guest.

Eva zeigt den Gästen den Frühstücksraum.

Eva shows the guests the breakfast room.

Ein Mitarbeiter bringt dem Gast ein Handtuch.

An employee brings the guest a towel.

Der Aufzug is the lift, der Frühstücksraum is the breakfast room, and das Handtuch is a towel. In plural dative nouns, an extra -n often appears: den Gästen.

Use a pronoun for the person

Once Paul and Eva know who they mean, they can use a dative pronoun. Mir replaces to me, ihm replaces to him, and Ihnen is formal to you. Keep the thing in the accusative.

Eva sagt: Ich gebe Ihnen den Schlüssel.

Eva says: I am giving you the key.

Paul fragt: Zeigen Sie mir den Frühstücksraum?

Paul asks: Will you show me the breakfast room?

Eva bringt ihm die Rechnung.

Eva brings him the bill.

Paul gibt ihr die Zimmerkarte.

Paul gives her the room key card.

With a dative personal pronoun and an accusative noun, put the pronoun first: Ich gebe Ihnen den Schlüssel. This chapter keeps the thing as a noun so you can see its case.

Ready to try it?

Check what you remember with 12 short questions.