The dative is used for the
indirect object of a sentence. The accusative on the other hand is used for the
direct object of sentence.
Examples:Ich gebe
dem Mann ein Buch. (I give the man a book.)
(if masculine use "dem")Ich gebe
der Frau ein Buch. (I give the woman a book.)
(if feminine use "der")Ich gebe
dem Baby ein Buch. (I give the baby a book.)
(if neuter use "dem")Ich gebe
den Frauen ein Buch. (I give the women a book.)
(if plural use "den")Ich gebe
den Männern ein Buch. (I give the men a book.)
(if plural use "den")Ich helfe
dem Mann. (I help the man.)
(if masculine use "dem")Ich helfe
der Frau. (I help the woman.)
(if feminine use "der")Ich helfe
dem Baby. (I help the baby.)
(if neuter use "dem")Ich gehorche
dem Chef. (I obey the male boss.)
(if masculine use "dem")Ich gehorche
der Chefin. (I obey the female boss.)
(if feminine use "der")Ich gehorche
den Frauen. (I obey the women.)
(if plural use "den")Ich gehorche
den Männern. (I obey the men.)
(if plural use "den")Often the dative addresses a person, who is part of an event. The person is often the recipient of something.
Verbs often used in dative cases: vertrauen (to trust), gehorchen (to obey), gefallen (to like), folgen (to follow), glauben (to believe), helfen (to help), gehören (to belong)
Overview of the dative case declension:
| |
Masculine |
Feminine |
Neuter |
Plural |
| Dative |
dem |
der |
dem |
den |
