Easy Guide to German Dative Case (Der Dativ)

If you're learning German grammar, one of the most important topics to understand is the Dative case (German: der Dativ). The dative is essential when forming sentences that involve indirect objects, certain prepositions and dative-only verbs. This article will help you learn how and when to use the German dative case.

📘 What is the German Dative Case?

In German, the Dative case shows the indirect object of a sentence—that is, the person or thing that receives the action indirectly.

🔹 English example:

I give my friend a book.
Here, "my friend" is the indirect object = Dative case in German.

🔹 German equivalent:

Ich gebe meinem Freund ein Buch.

📌 When to Use the Dative Case in German

✅ 1. To Show the Indirect Object

The dative is used for the person to whom or for whom something is done.

Examples:

• Ich bringe meiner Schwester einen Kaffee. → I bring my sister a coffee.

• Wir zeigen dem Lehrer unsere Hausaufgaben. → We show the teacher our homework.

✅ 2. With Dative-Only Verbs (Verben mit Dativ)

Some German verbs always require the dative case for their object.

Common dative verbs:

Examples:

• Kannst du mir helfen? → Can you help me?

• Dieses Lied gefällt ihm. → He likes this song (literally: This song pleases him).

✅ 3. Prepositions with Dative

These prepositions are always followed by the dative:

Examples:

• Ich fahre mit dem Auto.
  → I’m going by car.

• Wir wohnen bei unseren Großeltern.
  → We live with our grandparents.

• Nach der Schule gehen wir ins Kino.
  → After school, we’re going to the cinema.

📚 Dative Case Articles in German

When a noun is in the dative case, its article changes. Here's how:

🎯 Definite Articles in the Dative (der/die/das → dem/der/dem/den)

Examples:

• Ich helfe dem Mann. → I help the man.

• Sie gibt der Frau die Tasche. → She gives the woman the bag.

• Er erzählt dem Kind eine Geschichte. → He tells the child a story.

• Wir danken den Gästen. → We thank the guests.

🎯 Indefinite Articles in the Dative (ein/eine/kein/keine)

Examples sentences with Dative (Beispielsätze mit Dativ)

"ein/eine":

• Ich gebe einem Freund ein Geschenk. → I give a gift to a friend.

• Sie hilft einer Kollegin. → She helps a (female) colleague.

• Er erzählt einem Kind eine Geschichte. → He tells a story to a child.

"kein/keine":

• Ich helfe keinem Mann. → I’m not helping any man.

• Sie antwortet keiner Frau. → She doesn’t answer any woman.

• Wir schreiben keinen Schülern. → We’re not writing to any students.

Dative Personal Pronouns in German

Here are the personal pronouns in the nominative and dative (Dativ Personalpronomen):

Examples:

• Der Lehrer gibt mir die Hausaufgabe. → The teacher gives me the homework.

• Kannst du uns helfen? → Can you help us?

• Ich vertraue ihm. → I trust him.

🔠 German Nouns in Dative Plural (+ "-n" Rule)

In the dative plural, most German nouns add an -n at the end (unless they already end in -n or -s).

Examples:

• mit den Freunden → with the friends

• von den Kindern → from the children

• von den Schülern → from the pupils

🛠️ German Dative Case Example Sentences