The dative case is used to indentify indirect objects. Indirect objects ask ‘for whom’ or ‘to whom’.

Example: Alexander gibt seinem Freund 200 Euro. Alexander gives his friend 200 Euros.

In this case ‘seinem Freund’ is the dative

Here is the dative of the definite article.

Dative masculine: dem

Dative feminine: der

Dative neuter: dem

Dative plural: den

Now let’s look at the dative indefinite

dative masculine: einem

dative feminine: einer

dative neuter: einem

dative plural: -

These verbs are commonly used in the dative:

danken: to thank

dienen: to serve

gefallen: to please, to like

glauben: to believe

helfen: to help

raten: to advise