German A2.8 Listening Practice: Extend The Recipient Set
Listen to a A2 German dialogue about extend the recipient set, with audio, transcript, and grammar notes for language learning.
Podcast listening pages are in beta while chapter audio, transcripts, and discussion flows are still being completed.
Level
A2.8
Audio
Segmented audio
Transcript
15 segments
A short German listening chapter with transcript.
Keep the recipient role stable while expanding who can receive the writing or transferred object.
Read while you listen.
1. Hanna · Teacher
Welcome to German Audio Lab! I'm Hanna. Today, we're extending our recipient pronouns beyond 'mir' and 'dir' to forms like 'ihr', 'ihnen', and 'uns'. Let's listen to Clara and Felix plan their work day.
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2. Clara · Native Speaker 2
Schreibst du Maria heute eine E-Mail?
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3. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Ja, ich schreibe ihr heute.
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4. Clara · Native Speaker 2
Und was machen wir mit Paul und Lisa?
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5. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Wir geben ihnen morgen das Buch.
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6. Clara · Native Speaker 2
Das ist super, das hilft uns allen.
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7. Hanna · Teacher
Let's look at Felix's first response: 'Ja, ich schreibe ihr heute.' This means 'Yes, I am writing to her today.' The verb 'schreiben' takes a dative recipient, so female singular 'sie' becomes 'ihr'.
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8. Lukas · Student
So whenever I write to a female person, I use 'ihr' for 'to her'?
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9. Hanna · Teacher
Exactly, Lukas! 'Sie' changes to 'ihr' in the dative case when she is the recipient.
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10. Hanna · Teacher
Next, Felix says: 'Wir geben ihnen morgen das Buch.' This means 'We are giving them the book tomorrow.' The verb 'geben' takes both a dative recipient—'ihnen'—and an accusative object, 'das Buch'.
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11. Lukas · Student
Does 'ihnen' with a lowercase 'i' always mean 'to them'?
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12. Hanna · Teacher
Yes! Lowercase 'ihnen' means 'to them', while capitalized 'Ihnen' is the formal 'to you'.
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13. Hanna · Teacher
Finally, Clara says: 'Das hilft uns allen.' Meaning 'That helps us all.' Here, 'uns' is the dative recipient form for 'wir'.
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14. Lukas · Student
Is 'uns' the same for both accusative and dative?
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15. Hanna · Teacher
That's right! 'Uns' stays 'uns' in both cases, which makes it very easy to remember. Great work today, everyone!
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