German Dative Verbs

Using German Verbs: Dative Verbs

Also see > The Dative Case

In the following chart you'll find those German verbs that take a "direct" object in the dative case rather than the normal accusative case. (More details about this distinction below.)

The "dative verbs" category is a rather loose classification because almost any transitive verb can have a dative indirect object. But in general a dative verb is one that normally takes an object in the dative caseusually without any other object. The list below does not include such "normal" verbs, as geben (give) or zeigen (show, indicate), that commonly have both a direct and an indirect object (as in English): Er gibt mir das Buch.mir is the indirect object (dative) and Buchis the direct object (accusative).

In addition to the single-word English translation, many dative verbs can be translated with a to -phrase: antworten, to give an answer to; danken, to give thanks to; gefallen, to be pleasing to; etc. This favorite grammar trick of many German teachers does not always hold up (as with folgen, to follow). But this "to" aspect does have some basis in the German grammar of some dative verbs, in that they are not actually taking a true direct object. Ich glaube dir nicht. (I don't believe you.) is short for Ich glaube es dir nicht in which es is the true direct object and dir is a sort of "dative of possession" that could be translated "of you" (i.e., "I don't believe it of you."). However, even if you are one of those rare people who find all this dative grammar fascinating, it is best to simply learn (memorize!) the more common dative verbs. Thus, the chart below, which lists the most common dative verbs those that you should learn first! On the next page you'll find more dative verbs, some of which are less common but also important to learn after those in this chart.

Note that many dative verbs also have an acc usative be- prefix variation:antworten/beantworten , danken/bedanken, etc. In many cases we have listed these under Beispiele (examples) in the following chart.

This verb chart uses the new German spelling (die neue Rechtschreibung ). More > Contents | Dative Verbs 2

Dativ-Verben - Dative Verbs

Also see Dative Verbs 2 Deutsch antworten answer English Antworten Sie mir! Antworten Sie auf die Frage! Beantworten Sie die Frage! Ich danke dir. Ich bedanke mich. Du fehlst mir. Was fehlt dir? Also see befehlen. Bitte folgen Sie mir! Ich bin ihm gefolgt. Ich befolge immer deinen Rat. Dein Hemd gefllt mir. Also negative, missfallen, to not like Dein Hemd missfllt mir. Das Buch gehrt mir, nicht dir. Er glaubte mir nicht. Hilf deinem Bruder! Ich kann dir leider nicht helfen. Es tut mir Leid. Sie tut mir Leid. Was ist dir passiert? Ich kann ihm nicht verzeihen. Wo tut es Ihnen weh? Beispiele

danken fehlen

thank be missing

folgen

follow

gefallen

like, be pleasing to

gehren glauben helfen Leid tun passieren verzeihen wehtun

belong to believe help be sorry to happen (to) pardon, forgive to hurt

German Dative Verbs 2

German Verbs: More Dative Verbs + Genitive
Below are additional dative verbs that are perhaps less common and not listed in Part One. However, many of the verbs in this chart are important German vocabulary and should also be learned. You'll also find a few genitive verbs listed below the dative chart.

Below the chart you will also find links to dative verb references and other related grammar.

More German Verbs > Contents | Dative Verbs 1 Also see > The Dative Case

Dativ-Verben - Dative Verbs

Also see Dative Verbs 2 Deutsch hneln befehlen begegnen bleiben dienen drohen einfallen erlauben gehorchen gelingen misslingen geraten resemble command, order encounter, meet remain serve threaten occur to, think of allow obey succeed fail turn out well English gratulieren glcken lauschen munden ntzen passen raten schaden schmecken schmeicheln Deutsch congratulate be lucky overhear taste be of use fit, suit advise harm taste flatter English

trauen trust vertrauen gengen be enough widersprechen contradict geschehen happen winken wave at/to gleichen be like zrnen be angry with Zuhren (listen to), zulcheln (smile at), zujubeln (rejoice), zusagen (agree to), zustimmen(agree with), and other verbs with a zu- prefix take the dative. EXAMPLES: Stimmst du mir zu?(Do you agree

with me?); Ich hre dir zu. (I'm listening to you.) Genitiv-Verben - Genitive Verbs Verbs that take a genitive object Deutsch bedrfen sich erinnern gedenken require remember commemorate English sich vergewissern sich schmen spotten Deutsch ascertain be ashamed scorn English

Note: Verbs used with the genitive tend to be found in more formal writing (literature) or informal expressions . They are rare in conversational German. For some of these verbs the genitive can be replaced by a prepositional phrase. Genitive examples: Ich bedarf deiner Hilfe. Sie schmen sich ihres Irrtums. Wir treffen uns um je nes Mannes zu gedenken, dessen Werk so bedeutend war. For reflexive verbs (sich), see our Reflexive Verbs glossary.

Nominativ | Akkusativ | Dativ | Genitiv

The Dative Case Used with Nouns

ALSO > The dative case with Prepositions

The dative case in German is a vital element of communicating in German. In English the dative case is known as the indirect object. Unlike the accusative, which only changes in the masculine gender, the dative changes in all genders and in the plural. The pronouns also change correspondingly.

In addition to its function as the indirect object, the dative is also used after certain dative verbsand with dative prepositions . In the examples below, the dative word or expression is in red: Der Polizist gibt dem Fahrer einen Strafzettel. The policeman is giving the driver a ticket. Ich danke Ihnen. I thank you. Wir machen das mit einem Computer. We do that with a computer.

The indirect object (dative) is usually the receiver of the direct object (accusative). In the first example above, the driver got the ticket. Often the dative can be translated with "to"-"the policeman gives the ticket to the driver." The following color-coded chart shows how the dative forms are used in various situations.

Sponsored Links Instant Grammar CheckerCorrect All Grammar Errors And Enhance Your Writing. Try Now!www.Grammarly.com/ B.A. Aviation ManagementStart your studies in aviation in English language in Germany!www.p2uc.org CBSE Class VI to XLearn with animated videos & tests Study from Home. Register freewww.LearnNext.com Definite Article (the) Fall Case Nom Dat Masc. Fem. die der der Frau der Verkuferin

der dem dem Bleistift dem Mann dem Wagen dem Prsidenten* dem Jungen* *Note: Some masc. nouns add an -en or -n ending in the dative and in all other cases besides the nominative. Fall Neu. Case Nom das Dat dem dem Mdchen dem Haus Note: In the dative, plural nouns add an -en or -n if the plural does not already end in -n, except for plurals ending in -s. Indefinite Article (ein, eine, keine) Fall Case Nom Dat Masc.

Plur. die den den Leuten den Autos

Fem. eine einer einer F rau einer Verkuferin

ein einem einem Bleistift einem Mann einem Wagen einem Prsidenten* einem Junge n* *Note: Some masc. nouns add an -en or -n ending in the dative and in all other cases besides the nominative. Fall Neu. Case Nom ein Dat einem einem Mdchen einem Haus Note: In the dative, plural nouns add an -en or -n if the plural does not already end in -n, except for plurals ending in -s.

Plur. keine keinen keinen Leuten keinen Autos

The Germanic word for the dative case, der Wemfall, reflects the der-to-dem change. The question word in the dative is, naturally enough, wem ([to] whom): Wem hast du das Buch gegeben? , Whom did you give book? (Who'd you give the book to?)

Some German verbs do not take an accusative object. For more about these exceptions, see Dative Verbs (including genitive verbs). Also see: The Dative Case (Part 1)

Prpositionen mit Dativ

Certain German prepositions are governed by the dative case. That is, they take an object in the dative case. Many dative prepositions tend to be very common vocabulary in German: nach(after, to), von (by, of) and mit (with).

In English, prepositions take the objective case (object of the preposition) and all prepositions take the same case. In Germ an, prepositions come in several "flavors," only one of which is dative.

There are two kinds of dative prepositions: (1) those that are always dative and never anything else, and ( 2) certain "two-way" or "dual" prepositions that can be either dative or accusative depending on how they are used. See the chart below for a complete list of each type.

In the German-English examples below, the dative preposition is red. The object of the preposition is blue:

Mit der Bahn fahren wir. We're going by train. Meiner Meinung nach ist es zu teuer. In my opinion it's too expensive. Das Hotel ist dem Bahnhof gegenber . The hotel is across from the train station. Er arbeitet bei einer groen Firma . He works at a big company. Wir verbringen eine Woche am See. We're spending a week at the lake. Sponsored Links Friendship Day GiftsChoose from a wide range of Gifts. Get great deals, Pay COD,Order Now!Letsbuy.com/Friendshipday Online GMAT TutoringNo matter where you live, our top experts can boost your GMAT score. VeritasPrep.com/GMAT-Online Deutsch in WienDeutschkurse im Zentrum von Wien Learn German in the heart of Viennawww.culturawien.at Notice in the second and third examples above that the object comes before the preposition. (With gegenber this is optional.) Some German prepositions use this reverse word order, but the object must still be in the correct case.

Here is a list of the dative-only prepositions. You should memorize them with their meanings.

Dative Prepositions

Deutsch

Englisch

aus

from, out of

auer

except for, besides

bei

at, near

gegenber

across from, opposite

Gegenber can go before or after its object.

mit

with, by

nach

after, to

seit

since (time), for

von

by, from

zu

at, to

NOTE: The genitive prepositions statt (instead of), trotz (in spite of), whrend (during) andwegen (because of) are often used with the dative in spoken German, particularly in certain regions. If you want to "blend in" and not sound too stuffy, you can use them in the dative also.

Two-Way P repositions Dative/Accusative

NOTE: The meaning of a two-way preposition also depends on whether it is in the accusative or dative. See below for the grammar rules.

Deutsch

Englisch

an

at, on, to

auf

at, to, on, upon

hinter

behind

in

in, into

neben

beside, near, next to

ber

about, above, across, over

unter

under, among

vor

in front of, before; ago (time)

zwischen

between

The basic rule for determining whether a two-way preposition should have an object in the accusative or dative case is motion (wohin?, where to?) versus location (wo?, where?, at rest). If there is motion towards something or a specific location, then usually that is accusative. If there is no motion at all or random motion going nowhere in particular, then that is usually dative. Remember, this applies only to the two-way prepositions! Here are two sets of examples:

Wir gehen ins Kino. (in das, accus.) We're going to the movies/cinema. (motion towards) Wir sind im Kino. (in dem, dat.) We're at the movies/cinema. (location)

Legen Sie das Buch auf den Tisch. (accusative) Put/Lay the book on the table. (motion towards) Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. (dative) The book's lying on the table. (location)

A single German two-way preposition such as in or auf may have more than one English translation, as you can see above. In addition, you'll find many of these prepositions have ye t another meaning in common everyda y idioms and expressions: auf dem Lande (in the country),um drei Uhr (at three o'clock), unter uns (among us), am Mittwoch (on Wednesday), vor einer Woche (a week ago), etc. Such expressions can be learned as vocabulary without worrying about the grammar i nvolved.

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