TOPIC · Verbs (Verben)

List of common verbs used with the Dative

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After this lesson, you will be able to identify and correctly use verbs that take the dative in German.

In this lesson, we will discuss verbs that require the dative case in German. Understanding these verbs is crucial as they frequently appear in daily communication. The dative case is used, for example, to indicate the recipient of an action or the party benefiting from it. Below are some commonly used verbs that take the dative, along with example sentences:

Common Verbs with Dative

VerbExampleTranslation
antwortenIch habe ihm geantwortet.I answered him.
dankenSie dankt ihrer Freundin.She thanks her friend.
gefallenDas Bild gefällt mir.I like the picture.
helfenEr hilft dir beim Umzug.He helps you with the moving.
gehörenDas Buch gehört mir.The book belongs to me.
passenDie Jacke passt dir gut.The jacket fits you well.
wehtunDer Fuß tut mir weh.My foot hurts.
zustimmenIch stimme dir zu.I agree with you.
zuhörenDie Kinder hören der Lehrerin zu.The children listen to the teacher.
folgenEr folgt mir ins Geschäft.He follows me into the shop.

Using the Verbs in Sentences

To ensure you are using these verbs correctly, it's important to practice them in full sentences. Here are some example sentences:

  • Ich habe ihm gedankt.
    (I have thanked him.)
  • Was tut dir weh?
    (What hurts you?)
  • Die Blumen gefallen ihr.
    (The flowers please her.)
  • Er hilft mir immer.
    (He always helps me.)

Tips for Usage

  • Understand Context: Learn in which context each verb is used. Sometimes the same verb can have different meanings based on its use in a sentence.
  • Repetition: Regularly review the verbs and their usage. The more you practice, the better you'll become at using them correctly.
  • Practical Exercises: Try to create your own sentences that incorporate these dative verbs.