Dative basics
The dative often marks the recipient, beneficiary, or indirect object in a sentence.
Examples
GermanTranslation
Ich gebe dem Kollegen die Notizen.
I give the colleague the notes.
Kannst du mir kurz antworten?
Can you answer me briefly?
Sie schreibt ihrer Mutter jeden Sonntag.
She writes to her mother every Sunday.
Pattern
dative recipient + accusative thing
How it works
The dative often marks the recipient, beneficiary, or indirect object in a sentence. This pattern typically appears as dative recipient + accusative thing and becomes easier when you meet it again in short, readable examples.
What to notice
- The dative often answers “to whom?”
- Articles and some pronouns change visibly in the dative.
Why it matters
Build more precision with indirect objects and split verbs.
Use in context
This is a high-value pattern because it appears in giving, telling, showing, and helping situations.