Grammar · A1 · Cases
Accusative vs dative (requests)
mir/dir = to me/you (dative). mich/dich = me/you as object (accusative). helfen / geben / sagen take dative: Hilf mir!
Bridges
EN direct / indirect object
PT objeto direto / indireto
ES acusativo / dativo
FR COD / COI
Forms: Pronouns you need daily
/
me / you (acc)
PT me / te (OD) · ES me / te (OD) · FR me / te (COD)
/
to me / to you (dat)
PT me / te (OI) · ES me / te (OI) · FR me / te (COI)
/
to him / to her
PT lhe · ES le · FR lui
/
us / to you (formal)
PT nos / ao senhor · ES nos / a usted · FR nous / vous
/
them (acc) / to them (dat)
PT os/as / lhes · ES los/las / les · FR les / leur
Forms: Verb → case
, , →
help / tell / give → dative
, , →
see / need / excuse → accusative
+ +
show someone (dat) something (acc)
/
ask me (acc) / tell me (dat)
Examples
?
Can you help me?
helfen → dative
.
Give me the ticket.
.
Show me the exit.
.
Excuse me.
accusative
.
Please tell me the number.
.
I need you here.
brauchen → akk
?
Can you show us the way?
Common mistakes
- Können Sie *mich* helfen? → mir helfen.
- Mixing mein (possessive) with mir/mich.
- Assuming all 'me' is mich — many service verbs want dative.
- Forgetting Ihnen (formal dat) vs Sie (formal subject/acc).
When you use it in Berlin
Everywhere polite: Können Sie mir helfen? Sagen Sie mir bitte, wo…? Zeigen Sie mir den Weg.
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