Geben commonly connects a giver, a recipient and the thing given, with different cases for the last two roles.
The idea
Use dem Kind einen Apfel geben. The singular forms are du gibst and er gibt; the participle is gegeben. Es gibt is a separate fixed existence pattern.
| Form / Muster | Beispiel / Gegensatz |
|---|---|
| Empfänger: Dativ | dem Kind / mir |
| Sache: Akkusativ | einen Apfel / das Buch |
| Präsens | ich gebe / du gibst / er gibt |
| Perfekt | hat gegeben |
Borrow or lend? Follow the people in leihen, ausleihen and borgen, practise separable forms and make the direction clear. German usage: leihen / ausleihen / borgen
Examples
- Ich gebe dem Kind einen Apfel.
- Gibst du mir bitte den Stift?
- Sie gibt ihrer Freundin das Buch.
- Wir haben den Gästen Wasser gegeben.
- Gib mir bitte kurz Bescheid!
- Im Dorf gibt es eine Bäckerei.
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Watch out
With geben, distinguish the recipient in dative from the item in accusative: dem Kind einen Ball. Remember the vowel change in du gibst and er gibt.
Try it yourself
Ich gebe ___ Kind einen Ball. (dem / den)
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dem
Answer: “dem”. This complement is dative; its article, pronoun or adjective must show that case.
Du ___ mir das Buch. (geben)
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gibst
Answer: “gibst”. Check the subject: this verb changes its stem in du and er/sie/es, not generally in the plural.
Er hat uns einen Tipp ___. (geben)
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gegeben
Answer: “gegeben”. The auxiliary already carries the tense and person; the final verb needs its past participle.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Ich gebe ___ Kind einen Ball. (dem / den)
Du ___ mir das Buch. (geben)
Er hat uns einen Tipp ___. (geben)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Use “Ich gebe dem Kind einen Apfel.” as a model. Replace the noun phrase with two new people or objects, then explain which case each replacement needs.