Object and pronoun order
Place pronouns, nouns, and negation naturally.
The rule
Check object cases before arranging them. In neutral order, put short unstressed pronouns early, two nouns dative–accusative and two object pronouns accusative–dative.
pronouns early · two nouns DAT–AKK · two pronouns AKK–DAT
Identify every object's case before arranging it.
A personal pronoun usually precedes a noun object regardless of case.
With two pronouns, accusative normally precedes dative.
Core forms and structures
Use this table as a reference, then retrieve the forms without looking.
| Form | Function | German example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pattern 1 | Two noun objects normally use dative before accusative. | Ich gebe dem Kollegen die Unterlagen. | I give the colleague the documents. |
| Pattern 2 | Ihm is dative. A pronoun normally precedes a noun object in neutral order; focused noun-first orders can also be grammatical. | Ich gebe ihm die Unterlagen. | I give him the documents. |
| Pattern 3 | An accusative pronoun precedes a noun object. | Ich gebe sie dem Kollegen. | I give them to the colleague. |
| Pattern 4 | Two pronouns normally use accusative before dative. | Ich gebe sie ihm. | I give them to him. |
| Pattern 5 | Short pronouns precede nicht; auxiliary remains second and participle final. | Heute habe ich es ihm nicht erklärt. | Today I did not explain it to him. |
German examples with English meanings
Ich gebe dem Kollegen die Unterlagen.
I give the colleague the documents.
Two noun objects normally use dative before accusative.
Ich gebe ihm die Unterlagen.
I give him the documents.
Ihm is dative. A pronoun normally precedes a noun object in neutral order; focused noun-first orders can also be grammatical.
Ich gebe sie dem Kollegen.
I give them to the colleague.
An accusative pronoun precedes a noun object.
Ich gebe sie ihm.
I give them to him.
Two pronouns normally use accusative before dative.
Heute habe ich es ihm nicht erklärt.
Today I did not explain it to him.
Short pronouns precede nicht; auxiliary remains second and participle final.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Ich gebe die Unterlagen den Kollege.
Correct: Ich gebe dem Kollegen die Unterlagen.
Two noun objects normally use dative before accusative.
Incorrect: Ich gebe ihn die Unterlagen.
Correct: Ich gebe ihm die Unterlagen.
Ihm is dative. A pronoun normally precedes a noun object in neutral order; focused noun-first orders can also be grammatical.
Incorrect: Ich gebe dem Kollegen sie.
Correct: Ich gebe sie dem Kollegen.
An accusative pronoun precedes a noun object.
Incorrect: Ich gebe ihm sie.
Correct: Ich gebe sie ihm.
Two pronouns normally use accusative before dative.
Incorrect: Heute ich habe ihm es erklärt nicht.
Correct: Heute habe ich es ihm nicht erklärt.
Short pronouns precede nicht; auxiliary remains second and participle final.
Details and useful distinctions
Negation and emphasis can shift positions, but the neutral pattern is the safest production base.
Practise this grammar
Label DAT and AKK, circle pronouns, then apply pronouns-first and AKK-pronoun-before-DAT-pronoun.
Open Object and pronoun order exercises →
For source references and editorial level notes, see the grammar reference. You can report a correction if an explanation or example seems wrong.