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Learn how to use German personal pronouns in the dative case. This lesson explains the forms of dative pronouns for singular and plural persons, including the formal 'Ihnen'. Examples and key usage notes clarify how these pronouns function as indirect objects in sentences. Essential for beginner (A1) learners aiming to master dative constructions.
  1. In the dative case, the form of the personal pronoun changes depending on the person and number.
Person (Person)Singular (Singular)Person (Person)Plural (Plural)
IchmirWiruns
DudirIhreuch
ErihmSie ihnen
Sie ihr  
Esihm  

Exceptions!

  1. The polite form Ihnen is always capitalised.

Exercise 1: Personalpronomen - Dativ

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

euch, ihr, dir, Ihnen, mir, uns, ihm

1. Er:
: Wir bringen ... zu Ostern ein kleines Geschenk.
(We are bringing him a small gift for Easter.)
2. Sie (Singular):
: Im Urlaub gebe ich ... ein Buch.
(On holiday, I give her a book.)
3. Sie (höfliche Anrede):
: Ich wünsche ... ein frohes neues Jahr!
(I wish you a happy new year!)
4. Ihr:
: Ich erkläre ... am 5. Juli das Programm.
(I will explain the programme to you on July 5th.)
5. Wir:
: Frohe Weihnachten! – Der Feiertag bringt ... immer Freude.
(Merry Christmas! – The holiday always brings us joy.)
6. Sie (Singular):
: Der Karneval gefällt ... sehr gut.
(She likes the carnival very much.)
7. Ich:
: Am 1. Mai schenkst du ... eine Schokolade.
(On the 1st of May you give me a chocolate.)
8. Du:
: Am Anfang des Urlaubs koche ich ... eine Suppe.
(At the beginning of the holiday, I will cook you a soup.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Ich gebe ___ Mann das Geschenk zum Geburtstag.

(I give ___ man the gift for his birthday.)

2. Wir schicken ___ Frau eine Einladung für die Feier am Montag.

(We send ___ woman an invitation for the party on Monday.)

3. Kannst du ___ Kind das Buch vorlesen?

(Can you read the book to ___ child?)

4. Ich bringe ___ Kindern am Feiertag Süßigkeiten mit.

(I bring ___ children sweets on the holiday.)

5. Am Montag gebe ich ___ Freundin das Geschenk.

(On Monday I give ___ girlfriend the gift.)

6. Wir wünschen ___ ein frohes neues Jahr.

(We wish ___ a happy new year.)

Understanding Personal Pronouns in the Dative Case

This lesson focuses on using personal pronouns in the dative case in German (Personalpronomen - Dativ). The dative case is important because it shows the indirect object of a sentence — that is, the person or thing receiving the action or benefit.

Forms of Personal Dative Pronouns

In German, personal pronouns change their form depending on the person (first, second, or third) and number (singular or plural). For example: ich (I) becomes mir in dative, and wir (we) becomes uns. The formal form "Ihnen" is always capitalized and used to show respect.

  • ich — mir
  • du — dir
  • er — ihm
  • sie (she) — ihr
  • es — ihm
  • wir — uns
  • ihr — euch
  • Sie (formal) — Ihnen

Using Dative Pronouns in Sentences

The dative pronouns replace indirect objects and are used after certain verbs that require dative, like geben (to give), schicken (to send), or bringen (to bring). For example, "Ich gebe mir das Buch." means "I give the book to myself."

Important Highlights

  • Dative pronouns change forms based on person and number.
  • The formal "Ihnen" is capitalized.
  • They often answer "to whom?" or "for whom?" in a sentence.

Differences Between English and German Instructions

In English, indirect objects are often marked by word order and prepositions like "to" or "for." In German, the dative case takes specific pronoun forms. For example, where English uses "to him," German says "ihm." Also, unlike English, verbs in German specifically require the dative case for certain objects, making case recognition essential.

Useful phrases include:
Ich gebe dir das Buch — "I give you the book," where "dir" is the dative form of "du".
Wir schicken ihnen eine Einladung — "We send them an invitation," with "ihnen" as the plural dative form.

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Sophie Schmidt

International Administration Management

Würzburger Dolmetscherschule

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Last Updated:

Tuesday, 15/07/2025 11:41