A2Reviewed 2026-07-024 examples3 exercises4 checks

German Dative Case: dem, der, dem, den (+n) for the Indirect Object

How the dative case marks the receiver in a German sentence, with the article table (der→dem, die→der, das→dem, die→den +n) and common dative verbs.

The dative case marks the indirect object — the person who receives something. In Ich gebe dem Kind das Buch (I give the child the book), the child gets the book, so Kind is dative.

The articles change in a fixed pattern:

Gender Nominative Dative
masculine der dem
feminine die der
neuter das dem
plural die den (+n)

In the plural, the noun itself also takes -n: die Kinder → den Kindern.

Some verbs are always followed by the dative even though English feels like a direct object: helfen (to help), danken (to thank), antworten (to answer). So it is Ich helfe dem Mann, not den Mann.

Contrast with the accusative: the accusative is the direct object (what is acted on); the dative is the receiver. Only the masculine changes in the accusative (der→den), while the dative changes every gender. If you can ask whom / to whom does it go?, that noun is dative.

Examples

Grammatical analysisBase form ichCaseNominativ (nominative)NumberSingular (singular)Person1st person singular (ich)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form gebenPerson1st person singular (ich)TensePräsens (present)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form derCaseDativ (dative)Genderneutrum (neuter)NumberSingular (singular)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form KindCaseDativ (dative)Genderneutrum (neuter)NumberSingular (singular)Checked deterministically before build das Buch.

I give the child the book. (dem Kind = dative receiver; das Buch = accusative object)

Die Frau Grammatical analysisBase form helfenPerson3rd person singular (er/sie/es)TensePräsens (present)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form derCaseDativ (dative)Gendermaskulin (masculine)NumberSingular (singular)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form MannCaseDativ (dative)Gendermaskulin (masculine)NumberSingular (singular)Checked deterministically before build.

The woman helps the man. (helfen takes the dative: der → dem)

Grammatical analysisBase form wirCaseNominativ (nominative)NumberPlural (plural)Person1st person plural (wir)Checked deterministically before build danken Grammatical analysisBase form derCaseDativ (dative)NumberPlural (plural)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form KindCaseDativ (dative)NumberPlural (plural)Checked deterministically before build.

We thank the children. (dative plural: die → den, and Kinder → Kindern)

Grammatical analysisBase form derCaseNominativ (nominative)Gendermaskulin (masculine)NumberSingular (singular)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form VaterCaseNominativ (nominative)Gendermaskulin (masculine)NumberSingular (singular)Checked deterministically before build kauft der Mutter eine Blume.

The father buys the mother a flower. (der Mutter = dative feminine: die → der)

Common mistakes

Not quite: Ich helfe den Mann.Correct: Ich helfe dem Mann.

helfen always takes the dative, so masculine der becomes dem, not the accusative den.

Not quite: Wir danken den Kinder.Correct: Wir danken den Kindern.

In the dative plural the noun itself adds -n, so Kinder becomes Kindern.

Not quite: Ich gebe die Frau das Buch.Correct: Ich gebe der Frau das Buch.

The receiver is the indirect object and must be dative: feminine die becomes der.

Related topics

Practice

  1. Der Ober hilft ___ Mann mit dem Mantel.

  2. Das alte Fahrrad gehört ___ Kindern.

  3. Die neue Wohnung gefällt ___ Frau sehr gut.

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