Relative clauses in the dative
Relativsätze im Dativ
When the relative is a , it takes dem (m/n), der (f), or denen (pl).
Structure
dem/der/dem/denen + Verb am Ende - Kasus = Dativfunktion im Relativsatz
dem/der/dem/denen + verb at the end - case = dative function in the relative clause
Details
- Part of Speech
- Sentence Structure
- Register
- Standard
Explanation
When the relative functions as a dative object inside the , it takes the dative form. This happens when a like helfen, danken, gehören, gefallen requires the , or when the context demands it.
Dative relative pronouns: dem (m), der (f), dem (n), denen (pl).
The goes to the end of the clause. The keeps the gender/ of its .
Examples:
- Das ist die Frau, der ich gestern geholfen habe. - That is the woman whom I helped yesterday.
- Der Mann, dem das Auto gehört, ist mein Nachbar. - The man to whom the car belongs is my neighbour.
- Das sind die Kinder, denen wir das Buch geschenkt haben. - Those are the children to whom we gave the book.
Common mistakes: Using den instead of denen in the (a very frequent error). Forgetting that certain verbs trigger the dative, and wrongly using an or .
About Relative clauses in the dative
When the relative is a , it takes dem (m/n), der (f), or denen (pl).
If a or context inside the requires the , use dem (m/n), der (f), denen (pl). The keeps the gender of its .
Im lauten die Relativpronomen dem, der, dem und denen.
Caution
The plural dative relative pronoun is 'denen', not 'den'. Use the dative whenever the verb in the relative clause (e.g. helfen, danken, gehören) demands it.