The Dative Case

Level 2

The case for to and for.

How It Works

JobLatinEnglish
the one who getspuellaeto the girl
the thing givenrosama rose
the giverMarcusMarcus

English often says the receiver without to, as in Marcus gives the girl a rose. Latin always needs the dative: puellae.

Prayers use it often: Gloria Patri (glory to the Father), Deo gratias (thanks to God).

The endings are -ae and -o in the singular, and -is in the plural.

A verb of giving has three parts: the giver (nominative), the gift (accusative) and the receiver (dative). Find the dative first and the sentence falls into place.

Verbs that often take a dative are dare (give), dicere (say), monstrare (show), mittere (send) and scribere (write).

Examples (5)

  1. Marcus puellae rosam dat.

    Marcus gives the girl a rose.

    Puellae is the dative: the one who gets the rose.

  2. Iulia amico librum portat.

    Iulia carries a book for her friend.

    Amico is the dative.

  3. Pater filio donum dat.

    The father gives his son a gift.

    Filio is the dative of filius.

  4. Deo gratias.

    Thanks to God.

    Deo is the dative of Deus.

  5. Gloria Patri et Filio.

    Glory to the Father and to the Son.

    Patri and Filio are both dative.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the one who receives in the accusative.

    Marcus puellam rosam dat.
    Marcus puellae rosam dat.

    Puellam would be the thing that is given. The receiver of the rose is in the dative, puellae.

How It Connects

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

The Dative CaseLevel 2

Learn This First

The dative follows the genitive in the case list.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.