German Dative Verbs:
What Are German Dative Verbs?
German dative verbs are verbs that require their objects to be in the dative case,
like helfen (to help) or danken (to thank). Mastering these
German dative verbs is essential for speaking natural German,
because the case of your object pronoun or noun changes the meaning of your sentence.
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Master German Dative Verbs – 50+ Verbs with Free PDF Cheat Sheet
Tired of forgetting German dative verbs? Get your printable list and examples below.
| Verb | Meaning & Mini‑Example |
|---|---|
| helfen | to help — Ich helfe dir. |
| danken | to thank — Wir danken Ihnen. |
| gefallen | to please — Das gefällt mir. |
| gehören | to belong — Wem gehört das? |
| glauben | to believe — Ich glaube dir. |
| gratulieren | to congratulate — Ich gratuliere dir. |
| passen | to fit — Die Hose passt mir. |
| schmecken | to taste — Der Kaffee schmeckt mir. |
| vertrauen | to trust — Ich vertraue dir. |
| zuhören | to listen to — Hör mir zu! |
| verzeihen | to forgive — Verzeih mir. |
| begegnen | to meet (by chance) — Ich bin ihm gestern begegnet. |
| drohen | to threaten — Er droht mir mit Konsequenzen. |
| folgen | to follow — Folge mir bitte. |
| missfallen | to displease — Das Buch missfiel mir. |
| widersprechen | to contradict — Du widersprichst mir ständig. |
| zustimmen | to agree — Ich stimme dir zu. |
| entgegnen | to reply — Er entgegnete mir schnell. |
| einfallen | to occur to — Mir fällt ein guter Plan ein. |
| antworten | to answer — Bitte antworte mir bald. |
| raten | to advise/guess — Ich rate dir, früher zu kommen. |
| abraten | to advise against — Ich rate dir von dem Plan ab. |
| fehlen | to be missing — Du fehlst mir sehr. |
| schaden | to harm — Rauchen schadet der Gesundheit. |
| sich nähern | to approach — Wir nähern uns dem Ziel. |
| dienen | to serve — Das Instrument dient mir als Referenz. |
| schmeicheln | to flatter — Er schmeichelt mir zu viel. |
| nachlaufen | to chase — Die Kinder laufen mir nach. |
| nachgeben | to give in — Ich gebe dem Druck nach. |
| wehtun | to hurt — Mein Kopf tut mir weh. |
| gelingen | to succeed — Mir ist das Projekt gelungen. |
| misslingen | to fail — Das Experiment ist mir misslungen. |
| reichen | to hand/be enough — Kannst du mir das Buch reichen? |
| verheimlichen | to hide — Er verheimlicht mir die Wahrheit. |
| überlassen | to entrust — Ich überlasse dir die Entscheidung. |
| überreichen | to hand over — Er überreichte mir die Urkunde. |
| zusehen | to watch — Ich sehe dir beim Spielen zu. |
| versprechen + Akk | to promise — Ich verspreche dir meine Hilfe. |
| zeigen + Akk | to show — Zeig mir das Foto. |
| bieten + Akk | to offer — Ich biete dir meine Unterstützung. |
| empfehlen + Akk | to recommend — Ich empfehle dir dieses Restaurant. |
| erklären + Akk | to explain — Er erklärte mir die Regeln. |
| erzählen + Akk | to tell — Er erzählte mir eine Geschichte. |
| geben + Akk | to give — Er gibt mir das Buch. |
| schenken + Akk | to gift — Sie schenkt mir ein Geschenk. |
| schicken + Akk | to send — Schick mir die Datei. |
| senden + Akk | to send — Bitte sende mir die E-Mail. |
| sagen + Akk | to say — Sag mir die Wahrheit. |
| verkaufen + Akk | to sell — Er verkauft mir ein Auto. |
| ähneln | to resemble — Du ähnelst mir sehr. |
| beitragen | to contribute — Ich trage zur Diskussion bei. |
Why Learn German Dative Verbs?
Without a solid grip on the dative case, even simple sentences like “Ich helfe dir” (I help you) can come out awkward or incorrect. By drilling these German dative verbs and seeing them in example sentences, you’ll build muscle memory and boost your confidence when speaking or writing in German.
How to Use This German Dative Verbs Cheat Sheet
- Print or download your PDF using the buttons above.
- Quiz yourself: cover the English column and recall the meaning of each verb.
- Write your own sentences in German: Ich helfe dir., Sie dankt mir.
- Review regularly to lock in the dative case patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are German dative verbs?
German dative verbs are verbs that require their direct object to be in the dative case, for example helfen (to help) takes mir/dir as in Ich helfe dir.
How do I download or print the cheat sheet?
Click the Print button to open your browser’s print dialog (select “Save as PDF” to download) or click the Download PDF button to fetch the ready‑made PDF directly.
Can I use these verbs in both spoken and written German?
Yes—these 50+ dative verbs appear frequently in everyday speech and formal writing. Practice forming sentences like Sie dankt mir or Er vertraut dir to build fluency.
What’s the best way to memorize these verbs?
Print out the cheat sheet and quiz yourself by covering the English column. Then write original sentences using each verb, and review daily until the patterns stick.
Are there common mistakes I should watch out for?
Yes—make sure you use the dative pronouns (mir, dir, ihm, ihr, uns, etc.) not accusative. Mixing up cases (e.g. Ich helfe dich) is a very common pitfall.
Can I get more practice with interactive exercises?
Absolutely! Try our Dative Case Noun Trainer for live sentence drills, and the German Article Game to reinforce article usage.
Clicking and purchasing through these links supports our site and helps us continue creating fun, effective learning experiences without any cost to you, Danke schön!
Recommended Resources & Further Reading
- Deutsche Welle: German Grammar Guide
- Hammer’s German Grammar and Usage (German Edition) – Amazon
- PONS Verbtabellen Deutsch – German Verb Flashcards – Amazon
- Langenscheidt Audio-Grundwortschatz Deutsch – Amazon
- Interactive Dative Case Noun Trainer
- German Article Game
- Free German Learning Materials for Kids
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