170. The Dative Case

170.  The Dative Case   

Today we see the last of the cases in German. It is called the Dative Case and is used for Indirect Objects. I need to explain the difference here between a direct object (of the verb) and an indirect object and as such the difference between the Accusative Case and the Dative Case.

First, with the Accusative Case, a noun or pronoun has the action happen to it directly For example:

The students are learning German - & we ask: What are they learning? - German!

My brother loves music - What does he love? - Music!

I bought him a CD for his birthday - What did I buy him? - A CD!

The teacher showed the class a map - what did he show the class? - A map!

In the above sentences, German, music, a CD and a map are all objects of the verb where the action of the verb happens directly to them. These nouns are all in the Accusative Case.

If we look at the last two sentences, however, you will have noticed two different kinds of objects. I gave him a CD for his birthday.....The teacher showed the class a map. Here him and the class are NOT direct objects but indirect objects. You didn't buy him and the teacher didn't show the class, but you bought the CD for him and the teacher showed the map to the class. If you can put  to  or  for in front of an object and it makes sense, then you have an indirect object and this is where the Dative Case kicks in. Let's look at the Dative Case for the Definite Article added to the table we saw previously.

                             Masc        Fem         Neut         Plural

Nominative        der               die           das            die        (Subject - providing action))

Accusative         den              die            das            die        (Direct Object)

Genitive             des               der            des            der        (Possession)

Dative                dem             der           dem          den      (Indirect Object)

So now for some sentences with the Dative Case ....

Der Lehrer zeigt oft den Schülern die Karten. ( Note the 'n' on Dative Plural nouns!)

Die Mutter kauft heute der Tochter die CD.

Der Osterhase bringt den Kindern viele Ostereier.

Die Kinder schenken jetzt den Eltern die Weihnachtsgeschenke.

Die Schülerin gibt dem Lehrer das Buch.

Note here also that when you have 2 objects together, the Indirect Object precedes the Direct, i.e. the Dative goes before the Accusative Object.

Strasburg - just over the Rhine but very similar to German houses