Personal pronouns in the dative case
Understanding grammar is key to understanding a language.
German grammar tips with Wunderbla, online German lessons.
Personal pronouns in the dative case
You can replace the dative object with a personal pronoun.
Ich gebe dem Kind ein Fahrrad. Ich gebe ihm ein Fahrrad.
I give the child a bike. I give him a bike.
Anna schmeckt nur vegetarisches Essen. Ihr schmeckt nur vegetarisches Essen.
Anna only likes vegetarian food. She (dative) only likes vegetarian food (literally "Only vegetarian food tastes good to her").
Sigi hilft dem Gast. Sigi hilft ihm.
Sigi helps the guest. Sigi helps him.
Here are the personal pronouns for the dative:
| Nominative | Dative | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ich | mir | Gibst du mir deine Adresse? Will you give me your address? |
| du | dir | Ich vertraue dir. I trust you. |
| er | ihm | Anna hilft ihm. Anna helps him. |
| sie | ihr | Ich antworte ihr. I reply to her. |
| es | ihm | Ihm gefällt das Buch. He (dative) likes the book. |
| wir | uns | Du kannst uns glauben. You can trust us. |
| ihr | euch | Schmeckt euch das Essen? Do you (dative) like the food? |
| sie | ihnen | Du musst ihnen gratulieren. You must congratulate them. |
| Sie | Ihnen | Ich danke Ihnen, Frau Sonne. I thank you, Mrs. Sonne. |
Taking your learning further
Still facing difficulties with 'Personal pronouns in the dative case'? Improve your German with Wunderbla - try our German lessons for free now and receive a free level assessment!
Do you know any tips to avoid making mistakes with 'Personal pronouns in the dative case'? Share it with us!
Improve your German further and test Wunderbla, online German lessons.