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Dative Case Posted by on Aug 18, 2009 in Language

The dative case is used to indentify indirect objects. Indirect objects ask ‘for whom’ or ‘to whom’.

Example: Alexander gibt seinem Freund 200 Euro. Alexander gives his friend 200 Euros.

In this case ‘seinem Freund’ is the dative

Here is the dative of the definite article.

Dative masculine: dem

Dative feminine: der

Dative neuter: dem

Dative plural: den

Now let’s look at the dative indefinite

dative masculine: einem

dative feminine: einer

dative neuter: einem

dative plural:

These verbs are commonly used in the dative:

danken: to thank

dienen: to serve

gefallen: to please, to like

glauben: to believe

helfen: to help

raten: to advise

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Comments:

  1. violinhunter:

    Marvelous tool. I wish I had known about this ten years ago.

  2. Rajiva Kumar:

    I really do not know why am I pursuing German Language. I am trying to do it through English and Hindi medium. These cases and ‘Der, Die , Das’ need a hell of time and cocentration. May I know : Why it has not been simplified over the time ?

  3. himanshu:

    Find the dative equivalent of these words

    a) die Leute der Leuten

    b) ein Schiff einem Schiff

    c) das Heft dem Heft

    d) Tische Tische

    e) der Lehrer dem Lehrer

    Translate these sentences into German:

    a) Can you open the door for us?

    b) I live with my parents Ich wohne mit meinem Eltern.

    c) I didn’t answer him Ich antwortet ihm nicht..

    d) Did the children like the cake? Sind die Kinder dem Kuchen gern gegessen?

    e) She didn’t like the play at all. Sie hat dem Schauspliel gar nich gefällen.

    Filll in the blanks using the dative:

    a) Ich möchte mit der Schüler sprechen (die Schüler)

    b) Er gibt dem Hund_ den Ball (der Hund)

    c) Niemand kann _mir__ helfen (ich)

    d) Was hast du deinem Bruder geschickt (dein Bruder)

  4. lovegerman:

    language is not only a tool, it’s a living stucture! you won’t cut your legs off pretending you don’t need them any more since you are driving your car? So please: hold on learning german cases, they’re really very useful!

  5. Kirsten:

    Is there anyone in the Falls Church or Arlington VA area who knows of a German language practice or social conversation group?

  6. Jürgen64:

    It would be fine, if all germans are able t speak their own language so well as you are trying it!

  7. Amr Boghdady:

    Great post
    My only thought is that you should add the dative prepositions to it as well