German question - Ihnen and ihnen?

Question

If the word "Ihnen" can mean both "You" and "them" do Germans know what context you are using it in?

For instance apparently if you say "I gave them a gift" would be "Ich gab ihnen ein geschenk"... would a german know you were talking about "them" and not saying "I gave you a present" (formal)? how would they know? does it just depend on the context it is used in the story you are telling that they can know? i hope that makes sense

Answer 1

German is just like English in that a pronoun always has an antecedent (something it refers to).

No one is going to say "Ich gab ihnen/Ihnen ein Geschenk" without some sort of context: My future in-laws are visiting and I hope I'm making a good impression. I know they like wine, so ich gab ihnen ein Geschenk of a couple of bottles of a local red...

Answer 2

If the sentence you mention ("I gave them a present" - "Ich gab ihnen ein Geschenk." or better "Ich machte ihnen ein Geschenk." is not written but spoken it will depend on the context of the sentence or the situation to determine what is meant but such a sentence would not stand isolated so it would be no problem.
"Ihnen (=you-formal) is only used in direct speech or in letters (which are a form of written direct speech) so to confuse the meaning would require that you say that sentence to a person or a group of persons who you do not address with first name(s), whom you gave a present and whom you are telling a story about a group of different people whom you gave a present as well.
In written German it will be clear (Ihnen is only used if addressing someone directly - as I said before either in direct speech or in letters).

Hope that makes sense to you.

Answer 3

Dativ form of both "Sie " ( you-respect) and "sie" (they) is "Ihnen"-"ihnen".
Anyways Verbs that go with Dativ are less than those with Akkusativ, but when it comes to the situation you asked, yeh, ;-) good question of you, I think it must be understood due to the context.

Answer 4

Ihnen is used in the respected form. that is when you want to show respect to some body like aap in hindi.

ihnen is for plural like say you people or them

Answer 5

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