Anne Mahoney, Overview of Latin Syntax, Verbs, Tense, Dative

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Dative

The dative case is most often used for the indirect object of a verb. AG 361

“Ei filiam suam in matrimonium dat.” Caesar, BG 1.3
“Cui dono lepidum novum libellum?” Catullus 1.1
“Si hoc adulescenti optimo P. Sestio vel fortissimo viro M. Marcello dixissem, iam mihi vim et manus intulisset.” Cicero, Catil. 1.21

Some compound verbs take a dative, even though the prepositions they are compounded with take the accusative or ablative. AG 370

“Orgetorix virtute omnibus praestabat” Caesar, BG 1.2
“Verani, omnibus e meis amicis
antistans mihi milibus trecentis
”
Catullus 9.1-2
Here “ex omnibus meis amicis” is equivalent to “omnium meorum amicorum”. “Mihi” is dative of interest, but “milibus trecentis” goes with “antistans”.
“Incubuere mari” Virgil, Aen. 1.84

The dative can be used to indicate a person interested in the action of the verb. This construction is variously called "dative of reference," "dative of interest", "dative of advantage," or "ethical dative." AG 376-380

“Helvetii trium mensium molita cibaria sibi quemque domo effere iubent.” Caesar, BG 1.5
“At vobis male sit, malae tenebrae
Orci, quae omnia bella devoratis,
tam bellum mihi passerem abstulistis.
”
Catullus 3.13-15
(these are perhaps better called datives of disadvantage)
“Conservate parenti filium, parentum filio.” Cicero, Cael. 80

Some adjectives take a dative. AG 383-385

“Belgae proximi sunt Germanis.” Caesar, BG 1.1
“Sit suo similis patri.” Catullus, 61.221

The dative denotes the agent with the passive periphrastic. AG 374

“Omnibus Gallis idem est faciendum quod Helvetii faciunt.” Caesar, BG 1.31
“Nobis... nox est perpetua una dormienda” Catullus 5.5-6

The "double dative" is two datives, one an ordinary dative of reference or an indirect object, the other denoting a purpose or goal. Usually the verb is a form of “sum”, though other verbs are also used. AG 382

“Haedui equitatum Caesari auxilio miserant.” Caesar, BG 1.18 They had sent an army to Caesar as assistance, in order to help him, for the purpose of being an aid to him, as a source of aid to him.
“Estne novis nuptis odio Venus?” Catullus 66.15 Is Venus hateful to newlyweds?

Overview of Latin Syntax. Anne Mahoney. 2000. Text created electronically.

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Anne Mahoney, Overview of Latin Syntax

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Dative