In regard to sentences in which there appears both a direct and indirect object, I found online the following general rule:
a) If both the direct and indirect object are nouns, the indirect object comes first.
b) If both the direct and indirect object are pronouns, the direct object comes first.
c) If either the direct or indirect object is a pronoun, the pronoun comes first.
I have two questions regarding the above:
1 - Is this, in fact, a general grammar rule in German, and how strictly is it adhered to?
2 - In lesson 13.5, we are presented with the sentence, "Ich habe gestern ein tolles Kleid im Schaufenster gesehen." The word order of this sentence is not in strict accordance with the rule in (a) above. Should I interpret this to mean that the speaker wants to place emphasis on "ein tolles Kleid" (and not simply an inversion of the direct and indirect objects without the nuance of emphasis)?
Thanking you in advance for providing some clarification on the above.
a) If both the direct and indirect object are nouns, the indirect object comes first.
b) If both the direct and indirect object are pronouns, the direct object comes first.
c) If either the direct or indirect object is a pronoun, the pronoun comes first.
I have two questions regarding the above:
1 - Is this, in fact, a general grammar rule in German, and how strictly is it adhered to?
2 - In lesson 13.5, we are presented with the sentence, "Ich habe gestern ein tolles Kleid im Schaufenster gesehen." The word order of this sentence is not in strict accordance with the rule in (a) above. Should I interpret this to mean that the speaker wants to place emphasis on "ein tolles Kleid" (and not simply an inversion of the direct and indirect objects without the nuance of emphasis)?
Thanking you in advance for providing some clarification on the above.