List: Verbs that Need Dative and Accusative Objects

Verbs with both dative and accusative objects aren’t as rare as you might think. Here is a list of the 34 most important such verbs. You can find the entire list of all verbs that have both dative and accusative objects in this PDF download.

Almost all the verbs have, in addition to the subject, an accusative OR dative complement (a.k.a. accusative object and dative object)

Some verbs even use both: an accusative AND dative complement. A more in-depth explanation can be found in Verbs with Dative and Accusative Complements.

Guide to the List:

For many of these verbs, the dative complement is NOT necessary. When that’s the case, the optional complement is in parentheses: „Ich kaufe (mir) ein neues Auto."

With the dative complement the sentence has a more personalized character. Without the dative complement it is more generalized.

Example:

• „Machst du mir einen Kaffee?“ (Für mich!!)
• „Machst du einen Kaffee? (Allgemein - Für alle!)

The dative complement can often be left out when the situation makes it clear who or what is meant.

That also is the case for most verbs with a mandatory dative complement.

When the accusative complement is actually the noun form of a verb, it can be replaced with an infinitive clause ( = infinitive + zu).

Example:

• „Ich verbiete dir das Rauchen.“
• „Ich verbiete dir im Haus zu rauchen!” (+ Infinitiv mit zu)