A2-19 · Use mir, dir and other dative forms
Customs and manners
Express appreciation, identify belongings and offer help during a fictional visit.
About 5 minutes to read · 12 quiz questions
01
Say what you like
In this fictional visit, Amir admires Eva's table. Gefallen describes what someone finds pleasing. The thing is the subject; the person takes the dative.
Die Dekoration gefällt mir.
I like the decoration.
Die Blumen gefallen dir.
You like the flowers.
Das Geschirr gefällt dem Gast.
The guest likes the tableware.
Die Servietten gefallen Eva.
Eva likes the napkins.
Use mir for to me and dir for to you. A singular thing takes gefällt, while plural things take gefallen. These are personal reactions, not universal rules of etiquette.
02
Ask who owns it
Near the door, Amir asks about coats and bags. Gehören takes a dative owner. The object remains the subject, so its number determines gehört or gehören.
Wem gehört die Jacke?
Who owns the jacket?
Die Jacke gehört Amir.
The jacket belongs to Amir.
Die Schuhe gehören ihm.
The shoes belong to him.
Gehört die Tasche Ihnen?
Does the bag belong to you?
Wem asks who receives or owns something in a dative construction. Ihm means to him, ihr means to her, and Ihnen is the formal form for to you.
03
Offer help politely
Amir offers to help Eva carry plates. Helfen takes a dative person. The present-tense forms include ich helfe, du hilfst and er hilft.
Kann ich dir helfen?
Can I help you?
Amir hilft der Gastgeberin.
Amir helps the hostess.
Du hilfst dem Gast.
You help the guest.
Wir helfen Ihnen gern.
We are happy to help you.
Use dir with someone you address as du. Use Ihnen in formal address. With helfen, use dem Gastgeber for the male host and der Gastgeberin for the female host.
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