Dativ (Dative Case) in German Grammar

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🔹 What is the Dativ?

The Dativ (Dative Case) shows the indirect object of a sentence — the person to whom or for whom something is done.
It answers the questions “Wem?” (To whom?) or “Für wen?” (For whom?).

✅ Example:
➡️ Ich gebe dem Mann ein Buch. → I give the man a book.
Here, dem Mann is the indirect object (the person receiving the book) → therefore it’s in the Dativ case.

🧩 Definite Articles (Bestimmte Artikel) – Dativ

Case        Masculine            Feminine      Neuter  Plural
Dativ       dem Mann           der Frau          dem Kind           den Kindern

🧩 Indefinite Articles (Unbestimmte Artikel) – Dativ

Case      Masculine            Feminine    Neuter       Plural
Dativ        einem Mann              einer Frau           einem Kind         ---

✨ Examples of Dativ Sentences

  1. Ich helfe dem Lehrer. → I help the teacher.

  2. Er gibt der Frau Blumen. → He gives the woman flowers.

  3. Sie zeigt dem Kind den Weg. → She shows the child the way.

  4. Wir danken den Freunden. → We thank the friends.

  5. Die Mutter kocht dem Sohn das Essen. → The mother cooks food for the son.

💡 How to Identify the Dativ

Ask “Wem?” (To whom?) or “Für wen?” (For whom?) after the verb — the answer will be the Dativ object.

Example:
➡️ Wem gibst du das Buch? – Ich gebe dem Mann das Buch.
(To whom do you give the book? – I give the book to the man.)

🧠 Quick Summary

  • Dativ = Indirect Object (the receiver of something)

  • Articles change for all genders in Dativ:

    • der → dem

    • die → der

    • das → dem

    • die (Plural) → den + -n (add -n to the noun if possible)

📘 Example Comparison

Case   Masculine              Example          Meaning
Nominativ der Mann                   Der Mann liest. The man reads.
Akkusativ  den Mann  Ich sehe den Mann. I see the man.
Dativ   dem Mann                   Ich gebe dem Mann ein Buch.              I give the man a book.


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