German grammar

Dative Case

The German dative case is generally used for the indirect object. The indirect object is often the receiver of the direct object. Example:

• Der Bäcker gibt den Armen kein Brot – The baker gives no bread to the poor

Ask: To whom or for whom is the action being done? The indirect object is often a person, but it can also be an inanimate object.

Endings in the Dative Case

The dative case affects not only article endings but sometimes the noun itself.

Note: In the dative plural, add -n to the noun unless it already ends in -s or -n.

Personal Pronouns

Dative Case After Certain Verbs

These verbs always require the dative case:

Dative Case After Certain Prepositions

The following prepositions always trigger the dative case:

Interrogatives in the Dative Case

The interrogative wer becomes wem in the dative. Welcher changes as follows:

Impersonal Expressions

Some expressions use es as the subject and often require a dative object:

• Es fällt mir ein. – It occurs to me.
• Es kommt dir vor. – It appears to you.
• Es scheint ihm. – It seems to him.
• Es gefällt dem Mann. – It appeals to the man.

Examples

Here are some example sentences using the dative case:

• Ich gebe meiner Schwester einen Hut. – I’m giving a hat to my sister.
• Wir folgen den Kindern. – We are following the kids.
• Sie kommt aus dem Museum. – She is coming from the museum.
• Wir fahren mit dem Zug. – We’re riding the train.

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