You can also say 'Das Kind von Vater' but that would imply that he is your own father. You know that "vom" is short for "von dem" and removing the m just leaves 'von'. Without article it is considered a name. Still a Dativ, you just can't see it ;) Dativ because preposition "von" always wants a Dativ. mit, nach, bei, seit, von, zu, aus <- Always Dativ.
durch, für, ohne, um, gegen <- always Akkusativ
There are some that can take both and change their meaning by it buuut I would have to look them up.
Quick google search. Here pronouns:
http://www.canoo.net/services/OnlineGra ... -Pers.htmlHmm your example works with a preposition. In German it translates with a preposition too because 'haben' is transitive (Verb wants only one object), indirect objects only exist in ditransitive sentences (verb wants two objects). In your sentence 'her sister' would be Akkusativ because 'für' wants an Akkusativ. If you use 'send' instead of 'has got' it would work.
That woman sent a bunch of flowers to her sister.
Diese Frau (subject>Nominativ) schickte ihrer Schwester (indirect> Dativ) einen Blumenstrauß (direct>Akkusativ)
The more I try to explain it the more German seems completely horrible to me :'D
Maybe it would be easier if I knew a little about Dutch. They are sister languages after all >.<"
Use of Genitiv is always sure. My German professor even claimed that people using Dativ instead of Genitiv are stupid. Thank you Mister prof
When you learned it in school don't you have a book that explains everything?