Learning Intention
Learn how to show who you're giving something TO in Latin
Success Competencies
1
I can recognise dative endings in Latin sentences (-ō and -ae for singular)
2
I can identify which person is receiving something in a sentence
3
I can translate sentences with dō and nārrō that include dative objects
4
I can use the dative case to show "to whom" or "for whom" in my own Latin sentences
Today we're learning about a new case: the dative. This case helps us show who receives something or who benefits from an action.
By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to spot the dative in sentences, understand what it means, and use it yourself!
🎯 Building Competency 2: Identifying who receives something
Spotting the Pattern
Look at these three sentences. What do you notice about the words in orange?
māter fīliō cibum dat
Click to reveal translation
pater puellae aquam dat
Click to reveal translation
amīcus dominō dōnum dat
Click to reveal translation
What did you notice?
All the orange words mean "to someone" in English. They show WHO is receiving the gift/food/water.
Subject → TO WHOM → What → Verb
This is a common pattern in Latin sentences
🎯 Building Competency 2: Understanding the dative concept
What is the Dative Case?
The words you spotted are in the DATIVE CASE.
The Dative Shows:
• TO WHOM something is given
• FOR WHOM something is done
In English, we use the word "to" or "for". In Latin, we change the ending of the noun instead!
NOMINATIVE (subject)
fīlius
the son
→
DATIVE (to/for)
fīliō
to the son
🎯 Building Competency 3: Translating sentences with dō
The Verb dō (I give)
The verb dō (I give) needs a dative. Think about it: you can't just "give" - you have to give TO someone!
The Pattern with dō:
Who (nominative) gives what (accusative) to whom (dative)
māter
fīliō
cibum
dat
Click to reveal translation
pater
servō
pecūniam
dat
Click to reveal translation
dominus
amīcō
vīnum
dat
Click to reveal translation
puella
fīliae
epistulam
dat
Click to reveal translation
Notice how the dative word comes between the subject and the object? This is very common in Latin!
🎯 Building Competency 1: Recognising -ō and -ae endings
1st & 2nd Declension Dative Endings
Let's learn the dative singular endings for the two declensions you know best:
2nd Declension: -ō
(dominus, servus, fīlius type words)
1st Declension: -ae
(puella, fīlia type words)
How to Form Them:
2nd declension: Take the stem (domin-, serv-, fīli-) and add -ō
1st declension: Take the stem (puell-, fīli-) and add -ae
⚠️ Important!
puellae can mean TWO things:
• to the girl (dative singular)
• the girls (nominative plural)
You need to look at the context to work out which one!
Practice Sentences
māter dominō aquam dat
Click to reveal translation
pater servō cibum dat
Click to reveal translation
pater puellae dōnum dat
Click to reveal translation
māter fīliae epistulam dat
Click to reveal translation
servus amīcō vīnum dat
Click to reveal translation
dominus fīliō pecūniam dat
Click to reveal translation
🎯 Building Competency 3: Translating sentences with nārrō
The Verb nārrō (I tell)
Just like dō, the verb nārrō (I tell) also needs a dative. You tell a story TO someone!
The Pattern with nārrō:
Who (nominative) tells what (accusative) to whom (dative)
māter
puellae
rem
narrat
Click to reveal translation
amīcus
dominō
rem
narrat
Click to reveal translation
pater
fīliō
fābulam
narrat
Click to reveal translation
Verbs that Need the Dative
dō, dare - I give (to someone)
nārrō, nārrāre - I tell (to someone)
These verbs naturally need someone to give/tell TO!
🎯 Building All Competencies: New words that use the dative
New Vocabulary (Chapter 9)
Here are two new verbs that also take the dative case:
New Verbs
trādō, trādere, trādidī
hand over (to someone)
petō, petere, petīvī
ask for (from someone)
New Nouns
cīvis, cīvem
citizen
hostis, hostem
enemy
nūntius, nūntium
messenger, message
vīta, vītam
life
vir, virum
man
līberī, līberōs
children
vir nūntiō pecūniam trādit
Click to reveal translation
līberī mātrī auxilium petunt
Click to reveal translation
dominus servō vītam trādit
Click to reveal translation
🎯 Building Competency 4: Using the dative yourself
Practice: Translate into English
Click each sentence to reveal the translation.
1. māter fīliō aquam dat.
The mother gives water to her son.
2. pater puellae dōnum dat.
The father gives a gift to the girl.
3. servus dominō vīnum dat.
The slave gives wine to the master.
4. amīcus dominō rem narrat.
The friend tells the story to the master.
5. puella fīliae epistulam dat.
The girl gives a letter to her daughter.
6. māter fīliae cibum dat.
The mother gives food to her daughter.
7. dominus servō pecūniam dat.
The master gives money to the slave.
8. nūntius virō epistulam trādit.
The messenger hands over a letter to the man.
9. puella dominō aquam dat.
The girl gives water to the master.
10. servus fīliō vītam trādit.
The slave hands over life to the son. (spares his life)
Practice: Translate into Latin
Click each sentence to reveal the Latin.
1. The father gives money to the slave.
pater servō pecūniam dat.
2. The girl gives water to the friend.
puella amīcō aquam dat.
3. The master gives food to the slave.
dominus servō cibum dat.
4. The mother tells the story to the daughter.
māter fīliae rem narrat.
5. The friend gives a gift to the girl.
amīcus puellae dōnum dat.
6. The boy gives a letter to the master.
puer dominō epistulam dat.
7. The man hands over the letter to the messenger.
vir nūntiō epistulam trādit.
8. The children ask the slave for food.
līberī servō cibum petunt.
✓ Lesson Complete!
Well done! You can now recognise and use the dative case. Check back at the learning intention to see what you've achieved today.