🎓 Prepared by students from Boğaziçi University

What is Dative Case?

The dative case marks the indirect object in German sentences — the person or thing that benefits from or is affected by the action. It is also used after certain prepositions that indicate location or motion within a space.

Short answer

The dative case is the indirect object case in German. It answers the question 'To/for whom?' and identifies who or what benefits from the action.

Dative in Three-Object Sentences

1
Subject (Nominative)
performs the action
↓
2
Verb (indirect)
benefits someone
↓
3
Indirect Object (Dative)
receives the benefit

Step-by-step worked examples

Ich gebe dem Mann ein Buch. (I give the man a book.) — What case is 'Mann'?

dem Mann = indirect object
The man is who receives the benefit (the book)
Answer: Dative case

Sie zeigt dem Kind die Bilder. (She shows the child the pictures.) — Identify dative.

dem Kind = indirect object
The child is who the pictures are shown to
Answer: Dative case

Wir helfen der Frau. (We help the woman.) — Which word is dative?

der Frau = indirect object
The woman is who receives help
Answer: Dative case

Flashcards

Quick quiz

Q1.Which word is dative in 'Er hilft dem Lehrer'?

Correct answer: C. 'dem Lehrer' is the indirect object (who receives help) — dative case.

Q2.What question does dative answer?

Correct answer: C. Wem? (To/for whom?) asks for the indirect object — the dative case.

Q3.The dative case is used for…

Correct answer: C. Dative marks the indirect object — who or what benefits from the action.

Q4.Which verb commonly takes dative?

Correct answer: C. 'helfen' regularly takes dative: helfen + Wem? = dative.

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Common mistakes

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Dative and accusative are the same case. — Correct: They differ: accusative for direct object, dative for indirect object.

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Dative has no prepositions that use it. — Correct: Many prepositions use dative: mit, von, zu, bei, nach, aus, seit.

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Dative is only in sentences with two objects. — Correct: Many verbs with only one object use dative (helfen, danken, gefallen).

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Dative article is always 'dem'. — Correct: It's dem/das/der depending on gender: dem Mann, dem Kind, der Frau.

FAQ

What is dative case in German?

The case of the indirect object — the noun that benefits from or is affected by the verb's action.

What question does dative answer?

Wem? (To/for whom?) or sometimes Wo? (Where?) for location.

How is dative used in sentences?

It marks the indirect object: 'Ich gebe dem Mann ein Buch.' (I give the man a book.)

Which prepositions take dative?

mit (with), von (from), zu (to), bei (at), nach (after), aus (from), seit (since).