Explanation
The dative case marks the indirect object — the recipient of an action. It also follows certain prepositions and verbs that always require dative.
Rules
Dative articles:
| Gender | Definite (the) | Indefinite (a) |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | dem | einem |
| Feminine | der | einer |
| Neuter | dem | einem |
| Plural | den (+n to noun) | — |
Plural nouns add -n in dative if they don’t already end in -n: die Hunde → den Hunden
Common dative prepositions (always trigger dative): aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu, gegenüber
Common dative verbs (subject → dative person): helfen (to help), gefallen (to like/please), gehören (to belong to), danken (to thank)
Examples
- Ich gebe dem Hund Wasser. — I give the dog water. (indirect object)
- Sie hilft dem Mann. — She helps the man. (dative verb)
- Er kommt aus der Stadt. — He comes from the city. (dative preposition)
- Ich fahre mit dem Bus. — I travel by bus. (dative preposition)
- Das gefällt mir. — That pleases me / I like that. (dative pronoun)
Related Vocabulary
- der Hund — Ich gebe dem Hund Wasser.
Exceptions
Personal pronouns in dative: mir, dir, ihm, ihr, ihm, uns, euch, ihnen/Ihnen
Notes
Dative is often the trickiest case for beginners. Focus on memorising dative prepositions first, then dative verbs. See Nominative Case, Accusative Case, Personal Pronouns.
Resources
- How to use Nominativ Akkusativ & Dativ - Lets analyze a German text together — YourGermanTeacher · all three cases analyzed together in a real German text