Day 51 - word order

Question 1

Like English, basic German word order is subject, verb, object (SVO).
You’ve also learned many ways in which German sends the verb to the end of the sentence.

Sentences can be more complex by adding the time (T), manner (M), and place (P).

Study the following example:

I’m going into the city today by car.
Ich fahre heute (TIME) mit dem Auto (MANNER) in die Stadt (PLACE).

Notice the English example uses the order S-V-P-T-M,
while the German example uses the order S-V-T-M-P. subject-verb-time-manner-place

The default German word order is T-M-P (time-manner-place); however, like in English, you can rearrange T-M-P however you like, but your sentence may sound funny or poetic.

If you begin a sentence with T, M, or P, S and V will switch places.

Study the following example:

Today I’m going into the city by car.
HEUTE (NOTICE V-S) fahre ich MIT DEM AUTO in die STADT. TIME-MANNER-PLACE

Sentence structure is a bit more complicated when using a direct object (DO) and an indirect object (IO).
In German, the IO will come first.
However, if the DO is a pronoun, it will come first.

Study the following examples:

I bought my mother the flowers. Ich kaufte meiner Mutter (IO COMES FIRST) die Blumen.
I bought the flowers for her. Ich kaufte ihr (IO COMES FIRST) die Blumen.
I bought them for my mother. Ich kaufte sie (SIE [THEM] COMES FIRST BECAUSE IT IS A PRONOUN) meiner Mutter.
I bought them for her. Ich kaufte sie (DO COMES FIRST BECAUSE IT IS A PRONOUN) ihr.

To conclude, basic word order is S-V-IO-DO-T-M-P.
If the DO is a pronoun, IO and DO are switched.
If the sentence starts with T, M, or P, switch S and V.

Question 2

1. die Behörde…agency die Behörde (-n)
2. häufig…often / frequently häufig
3. das Gesetz…law das Gesetz (-e)
4. der Anteil…percentage / share der Anteil (-e)
5. die Lösung…solution / answer die Lösung (-en)
6. die Aktie…stock / share die Aktie (-n)
7. der Verein…club / association der Verein (-e)
8. der Bescheid…official document / notice der Bescheid (-e)
   *The phrase Let me know, uses this word: “Sag mir Bescheid.”
9. der Schritt…step der Schritt (-e)
   *der Schritt is quite a versatile word. It can literally mean step as in footsteps, but also has the metaphorical meaning, like: Let’s take a step backward. An idiomatic expression is “Schitt für Schritt,” which can be translated as: gradually, step by step.
10. die Bevölkerung…population / public die Bevölkerung (-en)

Question 3

1. The agency gave it to me.

DO-IO

Answer 3

Die Behörde gab es mir.
(DO-IO)

Question 4

2. I buy her presents frequently.

IO-T-DO

Answer 4

Ich kaufe ihr häufig Geschenke.
(IO-T-DO)

Question 5

3. He explained the law to me.

IO-DO

Answer 5

Er erklärte mir das Gesetz.
(IO-DO). erklären

Question 6

4. He gave his share to her.

IO, DO

Answer 6

Er gab ihr seinen Anteil. (IO-DO).
der Anteil. George Antheil

Question 7

5. Can you tell me the solution?

IO, DO

Answer 7

Kannst du mir die Lösung verraten? (IO-DO).
verraten…give away or reveal

Question 8

6. He sold his shares to the bank.

IO, DO

Answer 8

Er verkaufte der Bank seine Aktien. (IO-DO).
die Aktie…share. die Bank

Question 9

7. The club gave it to him.

DO-IO

Answer 9

Der Verein gab es ihm.
(DO-IO because DO is a pronoun).
der Verein

ihm. = dativ von er, es. Ihr=dativ von die

mir, dir, ihm, ihr, ihm, ihnen, uns

Question 10

8. Please give me the official document.

Answer 10

Bitte geben Sie mir den Bescheid. (IO-DO). der Bescheid

Question 11

9. I’ll tell you the dance steps.

IO-DO

Answer 11

Ich bringe dir die Schritte bei.
(IO-DO).
beibringen…to teach (lehren, unterrichten, beibringen, belehren, anleiten)
Die Schritte

Question 12

10. The public opinion is changing.

The opinion of the public…

Answer 12

Die Meinung der Bevölkerung ändert sich.
die Meinung. -ung=fem.
die Bevölkerung=public