Chapter 11

Uses of the Dative Case

  The dative denotes an object not as caused by the action or as directly affected by it; that is what the accusative case is for. Rather, the dative denotes an object reciprocally sharing in an action or receiving it consciously or actively. Thus:

Vende urso cerevisiam.
Sell the bear a beer.
(The bear receives the beer.)

  Many verbs signifying to favor, help, (dis)please, (mis)trust, believe, persuade, permit, command, obey, serve, resist, envy, threaten, pardon, and spare are followed by the dative. Thus:

Cur mihi invides?
Why do you envy me?

Nobis parcit atque ignoscit.
He spares and pardons us.

Mihi licetne advocatum advocare?
May I call a lawyer?

  The dative is used with esse and similar verbs to denote possesion. Thus:

Est mihi domi pater.
I have a father at home.
(There is to me a father at home.)

Puero nomen est Marcus.
The boy's name is Marcus.

Hoc unum Caesari defuit.
This only was lacking to the Caesar.

  The dative of reference depends on the general meaning of the sentence, rather than on any particular word. It denotes the person or thing who benefits or loses as a result of the action.

The dative is also used, as we have seen, with the gerundive to denote the person on whom the necessity rests. Thus:

Mihi est pugnandum.
I have to fight.
(The need of fighting is to me.)

Haec vobis provincia est defendenda.
This province is to be defended by you.