Holidays

When do I need dative?
Let’s review when to use the dative case!​

You’ll need it when someone is receiving something.​
Wir schenken den gesamten Familie Wein.
We gave the whole family wine.​
And it’s used after special verbs, like helfen.
Der Junge hilft dem alten Mann.
The boy helps the old man.​
Finally, you’ll use it after words like von, aus, or mit.
Die Großmutter spricht von den vergangenen Tagen.
The grandmother is speaking of the past days.​
Dative Endings
Let’s review the endings you’ll use when you need the dative case!
Er schenkt seinem Mann ein Buch.
He gives his husband a book. ​

Sprichst du mit der bekannten Ärztin?
Are you speaking with the famous female doctor?​

Ich spreche mit dem gesamten Personal.
I am talking to the entire staff.​

Ich spiele mit den deutschen Kindern.
I am playing with the German children.​
Don’t forget to put an ‑n at the end of plural nouns!
Am or an dem?
Here are a few more words that smoosh together!
an + dem
on + the​
am
on the​
in + dem
in + the​
im
in the​
zu + der
to + the ​

zu + dem
to + the​
zur
to the​

zum
to the ​
Zur heutigen Zeit ist der Wald kleiner.
At the present time the forest is smaller.​
Sometimes, people will keep the words separate, and this makes it feel more emphatic, like the difference between saying don’t and do not in English.