Learn All German B1 Dative Verbs in 10 Minutes
Dative verbs are verbs that require their object in the dative case, and this lesson gives you the 19 B1 dative verbs with an example sentence for each. In every example the object that stands in the dative is the one the verb forces into that case. Some of the verbs are separable (abraten, einfallen, entgegenkommen, hinterherlaufen, nachlaufen, zusehen). At the end you get a bonus tip on trauen, vertrauen and sich trauen.
The 19 B1 Dative Verbs
| # | Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | abraten von (separable) | to advise against | Der Mann rät dir von dieser Idee ab. The man advises you against this idea. |
| 2 | begegnen | to meet somebody by chance | Gestern bin ich unserer Nachbarin am Strand begegnet. Yesterday I met our neighbor on the beach by chance. |
| 3 | dienen | to serve | Diese Sache dient einem guten Zweck. This matter serves a good purpose. |
| 4 | drohen | to threaten | Lars droht mir mit der Faust. Lars threatens me with his fist. |
| 5 | einfallen (separable) | to come to mind | Ist dir schon etwas eingefallen? Have you come up with anything yet? |
| 6 | entgegenkommen (separable) | to come towards somebody | Ich komme dir entgegen. I am walking towards you. |
| 7 | entsprechen | to meet, to correspond to | Entspricht das Hotel deinen Erwartungen? Does the hotel meet your expectations? |
| 8 | erscheinen | to seem, to appear | Das Kaninchen erscheint mir sehr jung. The rabbit seems very young to me. |
| 9 | gelingen | to succeed | Ist es ihr gelungen, ihn zu überreden? Did she succeed in persuading him? |
| 10 | genügen | to be enough | Es genügt mir, dass du mir dein Wort gibst. It is enough for me that you give me your word. |
| 11 | hinterherlaufen (separable) | to run after | Der Hund läuft dem Ball hinterher. The dog runs after the ball. |
| 12 | nachlaufen (separable) | to follow, to run after | Die Katze ist mir bis nach Hause nachgelaufen. The cat followed me all the way home. |
| 13 | nutzen | to be useful | Seine Sprachkenntnisse haben ihm sehr genützt. His language skills were very useful to him. |
| 14 | schaden | to harm | Rauchen schadet deiner Gesundheit. Smoking harms your health. |
| 15 | trauen | to trust | Dieser Person kann man trauen. This person can be trusted. |
| 16 | verzeihen | to forgive | Der Mann hat ihr verziehen. The man forgave her. |
| 17 | widersprechen | to contradict | Hast du auch einen Freund, der dir ständig widerspricht? Do you also have a friend who constantly contradicts you? |
| 18 | winken | to wave | Das Mädchen winkt dem Kellner. The girl waves to the waiter. |
| 19 | zusehen (separable) | to watch | Maxi sieht seinem Vater bei der Gartenarbeit zu. Maxi watches his father working in the garden. |
Situations and Notes
- abraten von: you have what you think is a brilliant idea and tell your friend, who answers Ich rate dir von dieser Idee ab. The person is in the dative (dir), the idea comes after von (von dieser Idee).
- begegnen: it was not on purpose, that is why we use this verb.
- dienen: you can serve kings or queens, but that is not very common anymore. The sentence with einem guten Zweck is the common use.
- drohen: it is usually used with body language, but you can also threaten verbally.
- einfallen: your group is looking for an idea or a suggestion, and you ask a friend Ist dir schon etwas eingefallen?
- entgegenkommen: somebody is coming to your home, is nearby but cannot find your house. You ask Wo bist du?, see them and say Ich komme dir entgegen.
- entsprechen: you and your partner want a nice vacation, you booked the hotel, and now you ask Entspricht das Hotel deinen Erwartungen? Probably not.
- erscheinen: you could also say Das Kaninchen sieht jung aus. Erscheinen is the nicer way.
- genügen: it is about trust: you do not need a contract, your word is enough. It is also a common reaction when a friend pours more wine in your glass: Danke, das genügt.
- nachlaufen: it is very similar to hinterherlaufen, but more like "to follow".
- winken: it is perfectly fine in a big, packed restaurant. If the waiter is too far to say something, raise your hand or wave a little, not like crazy. He or she will see you and come to your table.
Bonus Tip: trauen, vertrauen and sich trauen
- trauen and vertrauen both mean to trust and are almost the same. Vertrauen is the stronger and more personal trust. You use it for very close friends and family. Trauen is used for pretty much anybody else, and for people you are not talking to directly. If you talk about a third person you can say Ich traue ihm or Ich traue ihr. It means yes, I trust this person, but it is not yet vertrauen.
- sich trauen has a completely different meaning: to dare. Traust du dich, das zu essen? Do you dare to eat this? You are in a foreign country and your friend points at something strange you have never eaten. Answer Ja, ich traue mich or Nein, ich traue mich nicht.
What to Learn Next
If you are looking for the dative verbs of the lower levels, start with ALL 14 German Dative Verbs for A1 and ALL A2 Level Dative Verbs. To get the dative pronouns right, read German Personal Pronouns in Dative. For verbs with a dative and an accusative object, see Verben mit Dativ und Akkusativ, and for the order of the two objects, Position of Dativ and Akkusativ Objects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are dative verbs in German?
They are verbs that require the dative case for their object, for example helfen or schaden. You have to learn them, because most German verbs take an accusative object.
How many dative verbs are there at B1 level?
This lesson covers 19 B1 dative verbs, from abraten to zusehen. There are separate lessons for A1 and A2.
What is the difference between trauen and vertrauen?
Both mean to trust. Vertrauen is stronger and more personal, for close friends and family. Trauen is used for other people: Ich traue ihm.
What does sich trauen mean?
It means to dare to do something: Traust du dich, das zu essen? It is a completely different verb from trauen.
How does gelingen work?
It is used with es and a person in the dative: Ist es ihr gelungen, ihn zu überreden? Did she succeed in persuading him?
Want to practice cases and verbs like these with a clear structure? Our B1 German online course weaves them into video lessons with exercises, so they stick.
