(German guys/ladies only) What is the difference between the German words "Sie" and "Ihnen"?

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Lilly_Berlin_crackwhore

We have a section called languages for questions like this.

The Postman

Can't you t w a t read !!??
This is TRAVEL GERMANY
next time post your crap where it belongs Homework help or languages

The Postman

Hi you retarded t w a t
you ask such question in languages section

http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/;_ylt=AsDnRsq55TI1wk.p8jWGac3b7BR.;_ylv=3?link=list&sid=396545217

remember next time I ll be with you and fist you in all holes

Tina R

these people r so rude wish i could help u but i don't know german

Abi B

There's no need for everyone to be so rude to you, if they thought your question was in the wrong category, then they should just ignore you!

Anyway, I'm not German, but I've studied German for many years. The answer is fairly simple if you're familiar with the language.

The difference depends on which "case" you're using at the time.

Germans say "Wie geht es Ihnen" because literally translated this means "How goes it to you"...Wie geht es Sie would not be gramatically correct, but you would be understood.

Ihnen is used for the Dative and Genetive forms of "Sie"...this is quite complex language, so if you've only been learning for a little while, the best thing for you to do would be to learn these sorts of phrases by heart and then when you have the time, if you carry on learning the language your teacher will explain all this to you when you're ready...

Hope this helps? The main thing about going to a foreign country is to just try to speak some of the local language, even if it's not gramatically correct the local people will appreciate you making the effort!

rio-blanco

Sie ist Nominativ. "Sie" is nominative.
Beispiel example
"Geben Sie mir bitte das Buch."
Ihnen ist Dativ. "Ihnen" is dative.
Beispiel example
"Ich Ã¼bergebe Ihnen das Buch"
Notice in the first example the adressed person is acting in the second the speaking person. Remind we are discussing the vocative.

"Wie geht es Sie?" is incorrect. Correct is "Wie geht es Ihnen?"

Rachel

The reason "Ihnen" is used instead of "Sie" is because you are asking "How is it going for you?", in which "for you" is the dative case. The dative form of "Sie" is "Ihnen."

"Wie geht es Sie" is therefore gramatically incorrect.

Alwin E

> Remind we are discussing the vocative.

There is no such thing in the German language, altough rio's answer is basically correct. The dativ case, or 3rd case in German (Latin "dare" means "to give") designates the person whom (see? there is a dativ in the English language, too!) you give something to or whom you are talking to. The "Sie" pronoun is only used in that case, and the third case of "Sie" is "Ihnen". There is no logical explanation for that. -- Those who know some Spanish might compare that with the Usted/Ustedes rule, which does not only require third case, but also third person singular or plural. German is easier in that way, as "Sie" always requires the plural form of the verb.

There is also the possesive pronoun "Ihr" (or "Ihre" in the plural form), like in:
"Darf ich mir Ihr Buch ausleihen?" (May I borrow your book?)
"Darf ich mir Ihre BÃ¼cher ausleihen?" (May I borrow your books?)
"Haben Sie mir die BÃ¼cher schon zurÃ¼ckgegeben?" (Did you already return the books to me? - A friendly reminder that you're overdue.)
"Wann geben Sie mir endlich die BÃ¼cher zurÃ¼ck?" (When will you finally return the books? - A not so friendly reminder that you're long overdue.)
"Es tut mir Leid, ich habe Ihre BÃ¼cher verloren." (I am sorry, I have lost your books. - Something you rather shouldn't say, never.)
"Sie hÃ¶ren von meinem Anwalt!" (You'll hear from my lawyer. - Something you wouldn't like to hear in ANY language.)

The Big Helper

Different Spelling.

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