Deutsch · A2 · grammar · 4 minutes
The dative case
Mark recipients and complements after dative prepositions.
Understand the choice
A three-part giving sentence reveals two object roles: the thing transferred is accusative, while the recipient is dative. Prepositions can also require dative regardless of movement.
Core rule: Dative marks many recipients and follows aus, außer, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, and zu; masculine/neuter der/das become dem, feminine die becomes der.
Notice it in context
Ich gebe meiner Nachbarin den Schlüssel.
I give my neighbor the key.
Meiner Nachbarin is the recipient in dative; den Schlüssel is the transferred accusative object.
Wir fahren mit dem Zug zu unseren Freunden.
We travel by train to our friends.
Mit dem Zug and zu unseren Freunden are both dative phrases.
Seit einem Monat arbeitet er bei einer Bank.
He has worked at a bank for a month.
Seit and bei each require dative articles.
What to remember
- Plural dative usually adds -n to the noun when possible: mit den Freunden.
- Pronoun dative forms include mir, dir, ihm, ihr, uns, euch, ihnen.
Common trap: Do not identify dative only by position. A preposition or verb role licenses it.