Dative Singular: -ae and -o

Dative Endings -ae and -o

Level 2

Two endings for to one.

How It Works

DeclensionNominativeDative singularEnglish
firstpuellapuellaeto the girl
second, masculineamicusamicoto the friend
second, neuterverbumverboto the word

The second declension dative and ablative singular have the same spelling: amico can be to the friend or with the friend. A preposition or the verb tells you which.

Amico sounds like ah-MEE-koh, and puellae like pu-EL-leh in Church Latin.

Notice that dat and scribit both point to a receiver. When you see a verb of giving, look for a noun in -ae or -o next to it.

The dative of a name works the same way: Marco (to Marcus) and Iuliae (to Iulia).

Examples (5)

  1. Iulia amico epistulam scribit.

    Iulia writes a letter to her friend.

    Amico is the dative of amicus.

  2. Lucius filiae donum dat.

    Lucius gives his daughter a gift.

    Filiae is the dative of filia.

  3. Pueri magistro librum dant.

    The boys give the teacher a book.

    Magistro is the dative of magister.

  4. Marcus puellae et amico donum dat.

    Marcus gives the girl and the friend a gift.

    Puellae and amico are both dative.

  5. Domino Deo gratias.

    Thanks to the Lord God.

    Domino and Deo are both dative.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the nominative for the one who receives.

    Marcus puella rosam dat.
    Marcus puellae rosam dat.

    Puella is the form for the subject. The one who gets the rose needs the dative, puellae.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Dative Singular: -ae and -oLevel 2Dative Endings -ae and -o

Learn This First

These are the dative endings of two families you know.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.