Dative
adjective
Relating to the grammatical case that, in some languages, is used for indirect objects. An indirect object is the person or thing who receives the action of a verb.
In the sentence 'I gave him a book.', 'him' is in the dative case.
Usage tips
Academic
noun
The grammatical case that shows the indirect object of a verb.
In German, the dative is used after certain prepositions.
Often appears as...
- dative case
- dative object
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Relating to the grammatical case that, in some languages, is used for indirect objects. An indirect object is the person or thing who receives the action of a verb.
In the sentence 'I gave him a book.', 'him' is in the dative case.
Usage tips
Academic
noun
The grammatical case that shows the indirect object of a verb.
In German, the dative is used after certain prepositions.
Often appears as...
- dative case
- dative object
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Language Specific
Dative case exists in some languages, but not in English.
In German, 'dem Freund' is dative, but in English, we say 'to the friend'.
Pro Tip 2/3Use After Verbs
Dative is used after certain verbs to indicate to whom or for whom something is done.
In the phrase 'She wrote her friend a letter,' 'her friend' would be dative in some languages.
Pro Tip 3/3No English Equivalent
English doesn't have a dative case, but knowing it helps understand other languages.
Learning dative helps when you study German, Russian, or Latin.
Pro Tip 1/3Language Specific
Dative case exists in some languages, but not in English.
In German, 'dem Freund' is dative, but in English, we say 'to the friend'.
Pro Tip 2/3Use After Verbs
Dative is used after certain verbs to indicate to whom or for whom something is done.
In the phrase 'She wrote her friend a letter,' 'her friend' would be dative in some languages.
Pro Tip 3/3No English Equivalent
English doesn't have a dative case, but knowing it helps understand other languages.
Learning dative helps when you study German, Russian, or Latin.
Pro Tip 1/3Language Specific
Dative case exists in some languages, but not in English.
In German, 'dem Freund' is dative, but in English, we say 'to the friend'.
Pro Tip 2/3Use After Verbs
Dative is used after certain verbs to indicate to whom or for whom something is done.
In the phrase 'She wrote her friend a letter,' 'her friend' would be dative in some languages.
Pro Tip 3/3No English Equivalent
English doesn't have a dative case, but knowing it helps understand other languages.
Learning dative helps when you study German, Russian, or Latin.
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Video examples
Steven Pinker: What our...
So, a problem in explaining how children learn language, a problem in teaching language to adults so that they don't make grammatical errors, and a problem in programming computers to use language is which verbs go in which constructions. For example, the dative construction in English.
Video examples
Steven Pinker: What our...
So, a problem in explaining how children learn language, a problem in teaching language to adults so that they don't make grammatical errors, and a problem in programming computers to use language is which verbs go in which constructions. For example, the dative construction in English.
Example 1 of 1
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