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On this page you'll learn everything about verbs with dative complements. Complements are really important to help you know whether you should use the Nominative, Accusative, Dative, or Genitive case.
But first, you have to know what a complement is. If you aren't sure, take a look at this page on Complements in the German language.
Dative Complements (Verben mit Dativ)
There are very few verbs with dative complements. When a verb always has a dative complement, the direct object is in the dative case (not accusative).
Examples - Verben mit Dativ
- „Wem antwortet sie?“ – „Sie antwortet ihrem Vater.“
"ihrem Vater" → "antworten" has a dative complement → Even when it is the direct object, the dative case must be used.
Attention:
Prepositions can replace the dative complement and create a "Prepositional Complement":
- „Sie antwortet auf die Frage ihres Vaters.“
Free download: List - 45 Verben mit Dativ
You should memorize the verbs that use dative complements.
There is no rule explaining all cases.
Marking them with different colors will help you to memorize the cases.
- „Die Frau hilft dem Mann.“
- „Ich glaube meinem Vater.“
- „Die Hose passt mir nicht.“
Word Order - Verben mit Dativ
Normal Sentences / Main Clause:
Question:
Summary
- A few verbs have a dative complement.
- There is no rule as to which verbs require a dative suffix. You just must know it.
- These verbs require the dative case for the direct object, but prepositions always change the rules.
- If there is a preposition in front of a noun, it is no longer an object, and the following rule applies. → The preposition always determines the case.
Are you still having problems with the German cases?
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Related Topics:
Entire lesson in German only: Verben mit Dativ
You can find more lessons on Verbs here:
- Was sind Verben? (What are Verbs?)
- Starke Verben (Strong Verbs)
- „sein“ und „haben“ ("sein" and "haben")
- Reflexive Verben (Reflexive Verbs)
- Trennbare & Untrennbare Verben (Separable & Inseparable Verbs)
- Modalverben (Modal Verbs)
- Partizip 1 (Present Participle)
- Partizip 2 (Past Participle)
- Das Verb „werden” (Verb "werden")
- Das Verb „lassen” (Verb "lassen")
- Imperativ (Imperative)
- Konjunktiv 1 (Subjunctive 1)
- Konjunktiv 2 (Subjunctive 2)
- Das Passiv (Passive Voice)
- Vorgangspassiv (Process Passive)
- Das Passiv in allen zeitformen (Process Passive in all tenses)
- Verben ohne Passiv (Verbs without Passive voice)
- Zustandpassiv (Status Passive)
- Das unpersönliche Passiv (Impersonal Passive)
- Verben mit Ergänzungen (Verbs with Complements)
- Verben mit Nominativ (Verbs with Nominative)
- Verben mit Akkusativ (Verbs with Accusative)
- Verben mit doppeltem Akkusativ (Verbs with double Accusative)
- Verben mit Akkusativ & Dativ (Verbs with Accusative & Dative)
- Verben mit Genitiv (Verbs with Genitive)
- Verben mit Präpositionen (Verbs with Prepositions)
Lists on the topic of German verbs:
- Die 30 wichtigsten Verben mit Vokalwechsel (The 30 most important verbs with vowel change)
- Untrennbare Präfixe (Inseparable Prefixes)
- Wechselpräfixe (Two-case Prefixes)
- Unregelmäßige Partizip 2 Formen (Irregular Participle 2 forms)
- Nomen-Verb-Verbindungen (Noun-Verb compounds)
You can find an overview of all topics under German Grammar.
Related Topics:
You can find more lessons on Verbs here:
- What are Verbs?
- „sein“ and „haben“
- Strong Verbs
- Reflexive Verbs
- Separable & Inseparable Verbs
- Modal Verbs
- The Partizip 1 (Present Participle)
- The Partizip 2 (Past Participle)
- The Verb „werden“
- The Verb „lassen“
- Imperative
- Subjunctive 1
- Subjunctive 2
- Passive (Usage & Meaning)
- Passive of Action (Vorgangspassiv)
- The Passive in all Tenses (from Active to Passive)
- Verbs without Passive
- Passive of State (Zustandspassiv)
- The Impersonal Passive
- Difference between Indication and Complements
- Verbs with Nominative
- Verbs with Accusative
- Verbs with Double Accusative
- Verbs with Accusative & Dative
- Verbs with Genitive
- Verbs with Prepositions
Lists on the topic of German verbs:
- The 30 Most Important Verbs with Vowel change
- Inseparable Prefixes
- Change Prefixes
- Irregular Participle 2 Forms
- Noun-Verb Compounds
You can find an overview of all topics under German Grammar.
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