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dative Definition

da·tive (dātiv)

adjective

Gram. designating, of, or in the case of the indirect object of a finite verb

Etymology: ME < L dativus, relating to giving < datus (see date); its grammatical use in LL (casus) dativus, dat. (case), translates Gr dotikē

noun

  1. the dative case: in English this case may be expressed analytically by to or by word order (Ex.: I gave the book to Jack, I gave him the book)
  2. a word or phrase in this case

Related Forms:

dative Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • interest: The DE in Slovak is often confused with the ubiquitous si dative of interest when it comes to grammatical description.

Modifies a noun

  • bond: One of the bonds forming the triple bond is a dative covalent bond.
  • case: A noun or pronoun in the dative case is called an indirect object.
  • object: It provides practice in the use of German verbs with dative objects.
  • form: The dative form is used here to denote the conflict - emphasizing the idea of two opinions moving in opposite directions.
  • pronoun: Males and merger: dative third-person pronouns among secular Berks County Pennsylvania German speakers.
  • plural: Ripon is the dative plural of OE Hrype, a tribal name, found also in Repton.

Used with adjective complement

  • label: At phrase-level, all constituents containing an instrumental are labeled dative.

Browse dictionary entries near dative

  1. dating
  2. dater
  3. datelining
  4. datelined
  5. dateline
  6. dateless
  7. dated
  8. datebook
  9. dateable
  10. date rape
  1. dative bond
  2. datively
  3. dato
  4. datos
  5. datto
  6. datum
  7. datum plane
  8. datums
  9. datura
  10. dau