Dative

The dative case in German is mainly used to mark the indirect object of a sentence. The indirect object usually refers to the person or thing that benefits from or is affected by the action. It often answers the question to whom or for whom. Many German verbs require the dative, so understanding this case is essential for correct sentence structure.

In this guide, you will learn:

• how to identify the indirect object in a sentence

• which articles, pronouns, and nouns change in the dative

• common verbs that require the dative case

• how the dative is used after specific prepositions

This guide helps English-speaking learners clearly distinguish the dative from other cases and use it correctly in everyday German.