German Grammar * Review & Exercises

DATIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ENGLISH

English uses many constructions of this type: dative + to + verb (verb extension)
= She wants him to come back later.

There is only one way to express this in German: with a dependent clause introduced by the subordinating conjunction dass (daß). The dative element becomes the subject (i.e. nominative) of the dependent clause:
= Sie will, daß er später zurückkommt.
For the dependent clause normal word order rules apply.

Vorsicht! Watch out for these situations:

1. They wish him good luck. = Sie wünschen ihm viel Glück.
   This is not identical to the structure above. Here, the dative element is a simple, straightforward (indirect) object (dative case).
2. I heard them talk. = Ich hörte sie sprechen.
   Certain verbs (hören, sehen, lassen, etc.) act like modals. Otherwise it is similar to the example in the preceding item, in other words, it is a plain indirect object/dative case and not the same as the structure in question. Note the missing to.

ÜBUNGEN

Was ist die richtige Übersetzung?

1. Petra wants her to come to the party.

2. My mom told me to be quiet.

3. Frank helped her.

4. I saw them arrive.

5. We asked you to do this.

6. Er zwang sie ihm zuzuhören.

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