Direct and Indirect Object
Direct Object:
Example:
Siehst du ihn? [Do you see him?]
The subject is the do-er in a sentence (e.g. "you see," "he sees").
The subject can only be a word in the nominative case.
The pronoun "he(er)" can only function as a subject.
The word "he" is nominative.
The object receives the action of the verb.
(The viewer views the object. The hearer hears the object. The buyer buys the object. The lover loves the object.)
The object is accusative.
The do-er or subject of "Do you see . . . ?" is "you," not "he."
To complete this question we need a word that can work as an object. (answer of a question Was?/Wen?)
"Do you see h---?" needs an object word that is masculine as well.
The pronoun "him(ihn)" indicates a singular masculine object.
The word "him(ihn)" fits the sentence because it is accusative.
Example:
Siehst du ihn? [Do you see him?]
The subject is the do-er in a sentence (e.g. "you see," "he sees").
The subject can only be a word in the nominative case.
The pronoun "he(er)" can only function as a subject.
The word "he" is nominative.
The object receives the action of the verb.
(The viewer views the object. The hearer hears the object. The buyer buys the object. The lover loves the object.)
The object is accusative.
The do-er or subject of "Do you see . . . ?" is "you," not "he."
To complete this question we need a word that can work as an object. (answer of a question Was?/Wen?)
"Do you see h---?" needs an object word that is masculine as well.
The pronoun "him(ihn)" indicates a singular masculine object.
The word "him(ihn)" fits the sentence because it is accusative.
Indirect Object:
Example:
Sie kauft ihnen dieses Geschenk. [She buys them this gift.]
The nominative word "they(sie)" clearly doesn't fit here.
The function of the word we need is indirect object, the one who "benefits" from the subject's action on the direct object.
(answer of a question Wem?)
The beneficiary of this buying = the indirect object = them(ihnen).
Example:
Sie kauft ihnen dieses Geschenk. [She buys them this gift.]
The nominative word "they(sie)" clearly doesn't fit here.
The function of the word we need is indirect object, the one who "benefits" from the subject's action on the direct object.
(answer of a question Wem?)
The beneficiary of this buying = the indirect object = them(ihnen).