The dative system
Use dative articles and pronouns with confidence.
The rule
Use the dative required by the verb or preposition. Replace dative noun phrases with mir, dir, ihm, ihr, uns, euch or ihnen as appropriate.
dem · der · dem · den + -n · mir/dir/ihm/ihr/ihm/uns/euch/ihnen/Ihnen
Use Wem? to identify a dative receiver or experiencer, then choose a noun phrase or personal pronoun.
Dative pronouns usually stand before noun objects: Ich gebe ihm das Buch. With two pronouns, accusative normally precedes dative: Ich gebe es ihm.
Plural dative adds -n to the noun when possible; possessives and kein take -en in all dative plural forms.
Core forms and structures
Use this table as a reference, then retrieve the forms without looking.
| Form | Function | German example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| definite | dem/der/dem/den | dem Kind | to the child |
| indefinite | einem/einer/einem | einer Freundin | to a friend |
| possessive | meinem/meiner/meinem/meinen | meinen Eltern | to my parents |
| pronouns | mir/dir/ihm/ihr/uns/euch/ihnen | Ich helfe ihr. | I help her. |
German examples with English meanings
Ich gebe dem Mann den Schlüssel.
I give the man the key.
The receiver is masculine dative dem Mann.
Sie hilft ihrer Nachbarin.
She helps her neighbour.
Helfen takes dative; feminine possessive takes -er.
Wir danken unseren Freunden.
We thank our friends.
Plural dative possessive takes -en.
Kannst du mir das erklären?
Can you explain that to me?
The receiver pronoun is dative mir.
Das Kleid gefällt ihr.
She likes the dress.
Gefallen takes a dative experiencer.
Ich schicke es ihm.
I send it to him.
Der Termin passt uns gut.
The appointment suits us well.
Was fehlt dir?
What are you missing?
Die Lehrerin zeigt den Schülern den Weg.
The teacher shows the pupils the way.
Ich antworte Ihnen morgen.
I will answer you tomorrow.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Ich schicke ihm es.
Correct: Ich schicke es ihm.
With two pronouns, accusative es normally precedes dative ihm.
Incorrect: Der Termin passt wir gut.
Correct: Der Termin passt uns gut.
Passen takes a dative person.
Incorrect: Was fehlt dich?
Correct: Was fehlt dir?
Fehlen takes dative dir.
Incorrect: Die Lehrerin zeigt die Schüler den Weg.
Correct: Die Lehrerin zeigt den Schülern den Weg.
Plural dative uses den and Schülern.
Incorrect: Ich antworte Sie morgen.
Correct: Ich antworte Ihnen morgen.
Formal dative Ihnen is capitalised.
Details and useful distinctions
Master common dative verbs—helfen, danken, antworten, gefallen, gehören, fehlen, schmecken—and do not force an accusative translation onto them.
Practise this grammar
Ask Wem?, choose dem–der–dem–den or the matching pronoun, and perform the plural -n check before finalising the sentence.
Open The dative system exercises →
For source references and editorial level notes, see the grammar reference. You can report a correction if an explanation or example seems wrong.