German Tutor
Android app ↗
Ask: “To whom?”
„Ich helfe dem Freund.“ — “I help the friend.” The verb helfen takes the dative case, so der Freund becomes dem Freund.
GERMAN GRAMMAR
Dativ? To whom?Now it clicks.
Three simple rules. Nine everyday sentences. Instant feedback that explains why each answer works.
About 4 minutes · No sign-up · Works on your phone
IN 90 SECONDS
The rule you’ll remember.
Dativ is the German dative case. A dative object often answers „Wem?“ — “to whom?”
Watch the articles
dem Mann · der Frau · dem Kind · den Kindern. In the dative plural, the noun usually gains an extra -n.
Spot the trigger
mit, nach, bei, von, zu, aus, seit always take dative. With two-way prepositions such as in, a location (where?) takes dative; a destination (where to?) takes accusative.
See the difference
Ich bin im Supermarkt. → Where? Dative.
Ich gehe in den Supermarkt. → Where to? Accusative.
This location/destination distinction applies to two-way prepositions. Zu always takes dative: Ich gehe zum Supermarkt.A CLOSER LOOK
Dative triggers and forms at a glance
The dative can mark a recipient, follow certain verbs or prepositions, or express location with a two-way preposition. Do not use “movement” alone as the test.
Article forms
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| dem Mann | der Frau | dem Kind | den Kindern |
Swipe the table sideways to see all columns →
Common dative prepositions: aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu. Common dative verbs include helfen, danken, gehören.
Location versus destination
“Ich bin im Park” answers where? and uses dative after in. “Ich gehe in den Park” answers where to? and uses accusative. This distinction concerns two-way prepositions. “Ich gehe zum Park” still uses dative because zu always takes dative.
Try this: Dative plural often adds -n to the noun: mit den Kindern; plurals ending in -s do not: mit den Autos.
For a fuller reference, see the Goethe-Institut German grammar overview ↗.
YOUR DATIV CHALLENGE
Nine sentences.
One insight at a time.
Choose the missing word. Get an explanation after each answer, and try again if you miss one.
LEVEL 1 · ARTICLES0 / 9 correct first try
This exercise runs in your browser. We do not receive your score.
YOUR NEXT SENTENCE
Now try your own.
Practise Dativ here, then check your own German sentences offline with the free Android app. Premium adds explanations in English and follow-up conversation in German.
Get German Tutor on Google Play ↗ONE MORE QUESTION?
Dativ, explained simply.
What is Dativ?
Dativ is one of the four German cases. A dative object often answers „Wem?“ (“to whom?”). For example, „Ich danke dem Mann“ means “I thank the man.”
When do I use dative instead of accusative?
The verb or preposition determines the case. Helfen (“to help”) and mit (“with”) take dative. With a two-way preposition such as in, a location usually takes dative, while a destination takes accusative.
Which prepositions take dative?
Common ones include aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von and zu. Examples: mit dem Bus (by bus), bei der Freundin (at the friend’s place), and seit einem Jahr (for a year).
What happens in the dative plural?
The definite article becomes den. The noun usually adds -n if it does not already end in one: mit den Kindern. Plurals ending in -s do not add it: mit den Autos.