The dative case
Indirect objects and the dative prepositions.
15 minutes · A free lesson from A2: Alltag (everyday life) · Roman and Urdu pronunciation guides and English meanings are shown under each phrase
| masculine | feminine | neuter | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | der / einSay: dehr, ainدےر, آئنMeans: the / a (masculine) | die / eineSay: dee, ainuhدی, آئنَMeans: the / a (feminine) | das / einSay: das, ainداس, آئنMeans: the / a (neuter) | dieSay: deeدیMeans: the (feminine, and every plural) |
| dative | dem / einemSay: dehm, ainuhmدےم, آئنَمMeans: the / a (dative: masculine, neuter) | der / einerSay: dehr, ainerدےر, آئنرMeans: the / a (dative: feminine) | dem / einemSay: dehm, ainuhmدےم, آئنَمMeans: the / a (dative: masculine, neuter) | den (+ -n) |
| den | Say dehn | دےن | Means: the (der as an object; also the dative plural) |
These prepositions always take the dative: aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu. Ich fahre mit dem Bus. Ich wohne bei meiner Schwester.
| aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu | Say ows, bai, mit, naakh, zait, fon, tsoo | آؤس, بائی, مِت, ناخ, زائت, فون, تسُو | Means: from, at, with, to/after, since, from/of, to |
| Ich fahre mit dem Bus. Ich wohne bei meiner Schwester. | Say ikh faaruh mit dehm bus. ikh vohnuh bai mainer shvehster. | اِخ فارَ مِت دےم بُس. اِخ وونَ بائی مائنر شوےستر. | Means: I go by bus. I live at my sister's. |
Lesson quiz
Check what you have learned. Choose an answer to see whether it is right, and why.
Quick check: Choose the right word: “Ich fahre mit ___ Bus.”
- den
- der
- dem
Show the answer
C: dem — mit always takes the dative, and der Bus becomes dem Bus.
Quick check: Choose the short form of “zu dem”.
- zur
- zum
- vom
Show the answer
B: zum — zu dem becomes zum, zu der becomes zur, and von dem becomes vom.
Quick check: Which preposition always takes the dative?
- mit
- für
- ohne
Show the answer
A: mit — mit is one of aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von and zu. für and ohne take another case, the accusative.
Quick check: What does “Ich wohne bei meiner Schwester” mean?
- I am visiting my sister.
- I live next to my sister.
- I live at my sister's.
Show the answer
C: I live at my sister's. — bei with a person means at that person's home. bei takes the dative: meiner Schwester.
Marked as soon as you finish — free with an account.Practise now
Marked as soon as you finish — free with an account.Practise now
Marked as soon as you finish — free with an account.Practise now