When you speak or write, you do it in sentences. How these sentences are formed is not accidental. There are many rules in grammar for German sentence structure, for example those of sentence parts. They determine which clauses a sentence contains, how they are placed in the sentence and what function they have.
There are three main clauses: the subject, the predicate and the object.
That subject Also known as the subject of a sentence. It indicates who or what acts or suffers. The subject is always in the nominative, i.e. in the 1st case.
That predicate tells what the subject is doing or what it is suffering. It always consists of at least one verb.
That object Also known as sentence completion. It is required by the verb of the sentence, i.e. by the predicate.
Subject and predicate form the core of the sentence, too minimum rate called. The object, on the other hand, is not a necessary part of the sentence. However, you will find objects in most sentences because minimal sentences are often not very descriptive.
If you would like to know more about this, please have a look at our explanation «Parts of sentences»!
In this explanation you will get to know one type of object: the dative object.
Dative Object – Definition
The dative object is a Object, which in the 3rd case, the dative stands.
The word «dative» comes from Latin. It becomes from the word dative derived and means «given». Sometimes the dative is therefore also referred to as «giving case». The dative is the third of four cases (case) in German.
The dative object is a sentence completion, which adds important information to the predicate. Most of the time it is a person who receives something given (also called recipient or addressee).
After the dative object you ask with: «Whom?».
Sentence: I’m giving Emma a hat.
Question: Whom do I give a hat?
Answer: Emma.
In this example, Emma is the dative object.
Since you used the dative object with «Who?» ask, it is sometimes also called «whom supplement» designated. It is also often iindirect object called.
The dative object often occurs together with another object: the accusative object. You can find both types of objects with the appropriate questions:
dative object (Who?) and accusative object (Who or what?)
The teacher calls the students many examples.
dative object: Whom does the teacher give many examples? Answer: the students.
accusative object: Who or what does the teacher name the student? Answer: many examples.
Formation of the dative object
A dative object can consist of one word or several words. In the previous example, it was a single word.
I give Emma a cap.
But you could also say:
Sentence: I’m giving little Emma a hat.
Question: Whom do I give a hat?
Answer: little Emma.
Here the dative object consists of three words.
The answer you get to the «who question» can vary in length. Each word belonging to the answer belongs to the dative object, i.e. in the example just mentioned really the whole group of words «little Emma».
But that’s not the only thing you need to consider. There are different forms of the dative object. It can as pronoun, noun, nominal group or as a whole supplementary set appear.
pronoun as a dative object
I give to you a cap.
If you ask the «who question», you will get the answer here: «you».
So «dir» is the dative object. As you probably know, this is a pronoun.
become pronouns instead of a noun deployed. It is also called «Pronoun».
There are different types of pronouns, e.g. B. Personal pronouns, possessive pronouns and interrogative or relative pronouns. A pronoun is related to a noun, so it also has the characteristics of this noun. This applies to case, number and gender.
Noun as dative object
Here is the initial example again:
I give Emma a cap.
The dative object in this sentence is «Emma».
Emma is a Noun.
So you can form sentences in which the dative object is a noun.
Noun group as dative object
I give little Emma a cap.
As you already know, a group of words here is the dative object: «the little Emma». This group is called nominal group designated. You always have one there nounwhich is complemented with other words: ein article and often one or more attributes.
So you form the dative object in the previous example:
the (Article)
small (Attribute)
Emma (Noun).
an attribute defines clauses in more detail. It is therefore part of a clause.
NOTE: An attribute is not a separate part of the sentence, but a Tpart of a sentence.
Almost all parts of speech can be used as attributes. Mostly they are adjectives, adverbs, nouns and pronouns, sometimes also participles.
After the attribute you can use: «What a?» ask. Attributes always have a reference wordwhich they determine in more detail.
Dative object as a supplementary sentence
Whole sentences can also be a dative object. This is usually one relative clause. Here, too, you ask about the object with «Who?».
Sentence: If you are cold, I will give you a hat.
Question: Whom do I give a hat?
Answer: who is cold.
Here forms the complete subordinate clause the dative object. As with a noun group, you have several words here, but they are different parts of speech.
With a noun phrase you always have an article, mostly an attribute and always a noun. In our example, however, both a noun and an article are missing.
Verbs that require the dative object
The dative object does not appear in every sentence, but some verbs may require it. For the most part, there are no uniform rules for which verbs this applies to. Therefore, it is best to memorize the most important verbs that require the dative object.
However, there are a few rules. Verbs that require the dative object can, for example intransitive verbs be. But also Verbs of taking and giving such as verbs of sharing ask for the dative.
Intransitive verbs
Intransitive verbs enter without accusative object up. You can in one sentence without object stand or with a dative object (also with the genitive and the prepositional object).
Some of these verbs are:
help, answer, thank, belong, taste, congratulate, follow, believe, happen, fail, watch.
The cap heard Emma.
Emma thanks me for the nice new hat.
I look my cat to.
Verbs of give and take
Many verbs that are formed with the dative object belong to two large groups that you can easily remember. On the one hand, they are Verbs of give and take and on the other hand the of sharing.
Examples of give and take verbs include:
bring, give, help, borrow, give, send, offer, deliver, hand over, serve.
I bring to you the cap.
You give me something red.
Emma offers her mother her cap on.
The online shop delivers the children the caps.
verbs of sharing
Verbs of sharing include, for example:
show, tell, answer, name, report, confirm, communicate, explain, teach, report.
I show to youwhere I found the hat.
I explain to youhow to knit.
I reports to you from my success.
The teacher names the students many examples.
The free dative
If you have a dative object in a sentence that is not mandatory, then it is the so-called free dative. It is important to note that these are not supplements, but Additional information.
I am knitting my mother a cap.
Sentence without a dative object: I am knitting a hat.
You could use the word «my mother» in this sentence omitting. A complete set of subject, predicate, and object would still be preserved. «My mother» is one additional but not mandatory information. With the omission sample you can find out whether it is a free dative or not.
Me fails the task.
Without a dative object: fails the task.
Here «me» is the dative object. If you omit it, the sentence would not be complete. This is therefore a mandatory sentence supplement.
Have a look at our articles «Parts of sentences» for recognizing and identifying parts of sentences. There we also explained the omission test in a little more detail.
Dative object – the most important thing
- This is in the dative object object in the dative and will with «Whom?» he asks.
- The dative object adds important information to the predicate, usually a person who receives something given (called recipient or addressee).
- The dative object can of one or more words exist. this can noun, nominal groups (article, attribute and noun) or pronoun be.
- Also clauses can be dative objects if you start the clause with «Wen?» can ask.
- There are some verbs that require the dative object, e.g. B. Certain intransitive verbs, verbs of give and take and verbs of sharing.
- Of the free dating is a dative object that can be omitted in the sentence, i.e not mandatory is.