When Is Dative Case Used in German?

You use the dative case for the indirect object in a sentence. The indirect object is the person or thing to or for whom something is done.

How do you know when to use a dative case in German?

The dative case describes the indirect object of a sentence in German and English and answers the question, “wem?” (whom), or “was?” (what). Typically, we use the dative case for indirect objects, which usually receive an action from the direct object (in the accusative case).

What triggers the dative case in German?

Rules for the Dative Case

When there are two objects (direct and indirect): a dative noun precedes an accusative noun; an accusative pronoun precedes a dative pronoun; and a pronoun always a noun: Ich gebe dem Mann ein Buch.