Dative Case
Indirect object: 'to' or 'for' whom
The dative case marks the indirect object—the recipient of an action.
In "I give the book to the student," "to the student" is dative.
The dative has several important uses:
• Indirect object: "He told the story to the children"
• Instrument/means: "He struck with a sword" (dative of means)
• Location: "in the city" (locative dative, often with ἐν)
• Association: "with friends" (dative of accompaniment)
Common dative endings:
• First declension: -ᾳ, -ῃ
• Second declension: -ῳ
• Third declension: -ι
• Plural (all declensions): -οις, -αις, -σι(ν)
Examples from Texts
Here are some words showing the dative case in actual Greek texts:
κακοποιοῖς
κακοποιός
doing ill, mischievous
noun
dative
masculine
plural
σκοπέλοισι
σκόπελος
lookout-place
noun
dative
masculine
plural
οἰκτίρμονι
οἰκτιρμων
merciful
noun
dative
masculine
singular
Ζωπύρῳ
Ζώπυρος
glowing
noun
dative
masculine
singular
αὐχμηροῖς
αὐχμηρός
dry, without rain
noun
dative
masculine
plural
ὀρθίωι
ὄρθιος
straight up, steep, uphill
noun
dative
masculine
singular
ἅλῳ
ἧλος
nail-head, stud
noun
dative
masculine
singular
πέμψηι
πέμψις
sending, mission
noun
dative
feminine
singular