The Dative Case
Understanding 'to' and 'for' - the indirect object
What is the Dative Case?
The dative case means 'to' or 'for'. It is used when a noun is the indirect object - the person or thing that is affected by the action but is not the direct object of the verb.
Think of it this way: "I give the money to the slave". The money is the direct object (accusative), but the slave is the indirect object (dative) - the person who receives or benefits from the action.
Dative Endings
Here's the complete case table including the new dative endings. Notice how the dative has its own unique endings - click to reveal each one:
| Number | Case | 1st Declension (f.) | 2nd Declension (m.) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Nominative |
puell-a
|
domin-us
|
Subject
|
| Accusative |
puell-am
|
domin-um
|
Object
|
|
| Genitive |
puell-ae
|
domin-i
|
Of
|
|
| Dative |
puell-ae
|
domin-o
|
To, for
|
|
| Plural | Nominative |
puell-ae
|
domin-i
|
Subject (plural)
|
| Accusative |
puell-as
|
domin-os
|
Object (plural)
|
|
| Genitive |
puell-arum
|
domin-orum
|
Of (plural)
|
|
| Dative |
puell-is
|
domin-is
|
To, for (plural)
|
How to Translate the Dative
The dative is usually translated with to or for. Both meanings express the idea of someone receiving or benefiting from an action:
New Verb: do (I give)
Since we're learning about giving things to people, let's learn the verb do (I give). It follows the same pattern as porto (1st conjugation):
Practice Examples
Let's see the dative in action! Click each sentence to reveal the breakdown and translation. Pay attention to who is receiving or benefiting from the action:
Using Context Clues
Just like with the genitive, sometimes endings look the same. Here's how to work out whether puellae is dative, genitive, or nominative plural: