Articles in dative

dem, der, dem, den (+ n plural)

• Ich helfe dem Freund.
• Ich danke den Gästen.

Prepositions

mit, nach, bei, von, zu, aus … always dative in these uses.

Practical Examples

1. Ich helfe meinem Bruder bei den Hausaufgaben.

• I help my brother with the homework.
• Usage Note: The verb "helfen" (to help) always takes a dative object. "Bruder" is masculine, so "mein" becomes "meinem".

1. Danke dir für die Blumen!

• Thank you for the flowers!
• Usage Note: The verb "danken" (to thank) always takes a dative object. "Du" becomes "dir" in the dative case.

1. Gehört das Fahrrad der Frau?

• Does the bicycle belong to the woman?
• Usage Note: The verb "gehören" (to belong) always takes a dative object. "Frau" is feminine, so "die" becomes "der".

1. Die Suppe schmeckt mir nicht.

• The soup doesn't taste good to me.
• Usage Note: The verb "schmecken" (to taste good to someone) always takes a dative object. "Ich" becomes "mir" in the dative case.

1. Gefällt euch die neue Wohnung?

• Do you all like the new apartment?
• Usage Note: The verb "gefallen" (to like/please someone) always takes a dative object. "Ihr" (you all) becomes "euch" in the dative case.

1. Ich fahre mit dem Bus zur Arbeit.

• I travel by bus to work.
• Usage Note: The preposition "mit" (with/by) always takes the dative case. "Bus" is masculine, so "der" becomes "dem".

1. Nach dem Essen gehen wir spazieren.

• After the meal, we go for a walk.
• Usage Note: The preposition "nach" (after/to) always takes the dative case. "Essen" is neuter, so "das" becomes "dem".

1. Er kommt von seinen Freunden.

• He is coming from his friends.
• Usage Note: The preposition "von" (from/of) always takes the dative case. "Freunde" (plural) takes "seinen" (dative plural).

1. Wir gehen zu meiner Tante.

• We are going to my aunt's place.
• Usage Note: The preposition "zu" (to/at) always takes the dative case. "Tante" is feminine, so "meine" becomes "meiner".

1. Das Kind gibt der Katze Milch.

• The child gives milk to the cat.
• Usage Note: "Der Katze" is the indirect object (who receives the milk) and is in the dative case. "Katze" is feminine, so "die" becomes "der".

1. Ich wohne seit zwei Jahren in Berlin.

• I have been living in Berlin for two years.
• Usage Note: The preposition "seit" (since/for) always takes the dative case. "Jahre" (plural) takes "zwei Jahren" (dative plural).

1. Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch.

• The book is lying on the table.
• Usage Note: "Auf" is a two-way preposition. Since it describes a location (where something is), it takes the dative case. "Tisch" is masculine, so "der" becomes "dem".

1. Kannst du mir bitte helfen?

• Can you please help me?
• Usage Note: As seen in example 1, "helfen" always takes dative. "Ich" becomes "mir".

1. Ich antworte ihm morgen.

• I will answer him tomorrow.
• Usage Note: The verb "antworten" (to answer) always takes a dative object. "Er" (he) becomes "ihm" in the dative case.

1. Die Blumen passen gut zu deiner Vase.

• The flowers go well with your vase.
• Usage Note: The verb "passen" (to fit/suit) often takes "zu" + dative. "Vase" is feminine, so "deine" becomes "deiner".