(to write) – Ich schreibe meiner Mutter einen Brief. (I am writing my mother a letter.)
Dative verbs are considered "exceptions" to the general rule of using the accusative for direct objects. These must be memorized as they often don't have a logical reason for being dative. German Verb English Meaning Example Sentence Antworten Sie mir ! danken Ich danke dir . fehlen to be missing Du fehlst mir . folgen Bitte folgen Sie mir ! gefallen to like / please Dein Hemd gefällt mir . gehören to belong to Das Buch gehört mir . glauben to believe Er glaubte mir nicht. gratulieren to congratulate Wir gratulieren dir . helfen Ich helfe ihm . passen to fit / suit Die Schuhe passen mir nicht. passieren to happen (to) Was ist dir passiert? schmecken Das Essen schmeckt mir . vertrauen Sie vertrauen ihrem Anwalt . wehtun Mein Kopf tut mir weh. 2. Common Accusative Verbs (Verben mit Akkusativ)
Without a structured list, learners often default to the accusative for everything, leading to errors like “Ich helfe dich” (incorrect) instead of “Ich helfe dir” (correct).
(to belong to) – Das Auto gehört meinem Vater. (The car belongs to my father.) List Of Accusative And Dative Verbs In German Pdf
Before diving into verb lists, it’s essential to understand the core function of these two cases.
Dative verbs are less common, which actually makes them easier to memorize. These verbs bypass the accusative case entirely and force their single object directly into the dative case. High-Frequency Dative Verbs
To practice, try writing three sentences using a verb from each category. If you need assistance , or if you want more advanced verbs with prepositions , let me know! Share public link (to write) – Ich schreibe meiner Mutter einen Brief
These verbs often involve giving, showing, or telling something (accusative) to someone (dative). German Takeaways Dative and Accusative Verbs German | PDF - Scribd
(to congratulate): Wir gratulieren zum Geburtstag. (We congratulate you on your birthday.)
(to bring) – Der Kellner bringt dem Gast den Kaffee. (The waiter brings the guest the coffee.) German Verb English Meaning Example Sentence Antworten Sie
(to drink) – Ich trinke einen Kaffee. (I am drinking a coffee.)
Some verbs can take both an accusative and a dative object. These verbs are often called "double-object verbs." Here are some examples:
(to eat) – Ich esse einen Apfel. (I am eating an apple.)
| Verb | Meaning | Example (Dative = person, Accusative = thing) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | to give | Ich gebe dem Mann (D) das Buch (A). | | zeigen | to show | Sie zeigt mir (D) die Fotos (A). | | schicken | to send | Er schickt seiner Mutter (D) einen Brief (A). | | bringen | to bring | Bringst du mir (D) einen Kaffee (A)? | | schenken | to gift | Sie schenkt ihrem Sohn (D) ein Fahrrad (A). | | erklären | to explain | Erkläre mir (D) die Regel (A)! | | sagen | to say/tell | Sag ihm (D) die Wahrheit (A)! (tell him the truth) | | empfehlen | to recommend | Ich empfehle Ihnen (D) dieses Restaurant (A). |
If you have ever searched for a , you know that most resources are either incomplete or confusing. This article serves as your definitive guide. We will break down the logic behind verb cases, provide the most comprehensive categorized lists, and—most importantly—offer you a free, printable PDF cheat sheet to download at the end.