jemandenetwas

Jemandenetwas is not a standard single term in German grammar, but it describes the common ditransitive pattern in which a verb takes two objects: a dative object indicating the recipient or beneficiary and an accusative object representing the thing involved. The dative form is usually written as jemanden or jemandem depending on case, while etwas stands for “something.” In practice, verbs such as geben, schenken, senden, erklären or zeigen frequently use this construction: jemanden etwas.

Usage examples illustrate the pattern. Ich gebe dem Freund ein Buch. Sie schenkt der Schwester einen Blumenstrauß. Wir erklären dem Kind die Regeln. In these sentences the recipient is expressed in the dative (dem Freund, der Schwester, dem Kind) and the thing given or shown is in the accusative (ein Buch, einen Blumenstrauß, die Regeln).

Word order and pronouns are a notable detail. When both objects are pronouns, the accusative object typically precedes the dative: Ich gebe es ihm. If one object is a noun and the other a pronoun, the pronoun often takes the preferred position relative to the noun, e.g., Ich gebe dem Mann das Buch. These patterns reflect emphasis and fluency in standard German syntax.

Related topics include ditransitive verbs and the broader dative construction in German, as well as alternative constructions using prepositional phrases to indicate recipient or beneficiary. This pattern is widely used in everyday language and in formal writing.