The dative with adjectives
"Friendly to", "pleasing to", "near to": adjectives that take the dative.
LatinIntermediate Latin · Verbs: the present systemAbout 3 min: 1 reading, 2 practiceUpdated
- Recognise adjectives that take the dative
- Translate the dative as "to" or "for"
- Use the dative after amīcus, grātus and fīnitimus
Latin Level 2: verbs and the other declensions: lesson 5 of 35
- Intermediate Latin · Verbs: the present system
- sum: I am, I was, I shall be 3 min
- The present of amō and moneō 4 min
- The imperfect: was doing 4 min
- The future: will do 3 min
- The dative with adjectives 3 min
- The present of regō and audiō 4 min
- The imperfect of regō and audiō, and verbs that take the dative 3 min
- The future of regō and audiō 3 min
- capiō, and giving orders 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · The passive voice
- The passive: being done to 3 min
- The passive of regō, audiō and capiō; passive infinitives 3 min
- Synopses, and the ablative of "from" 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · The perfect tenses
- fuī, fueram, fuerō: the perfect tenses of sum 3 min
- The perfect active: did, have done 5 min
- Had done, will have done: pluperfect and future perfect active 3 min
- amātus sum: the perfect passive 4 min
- Principal parts, prepositions, and yes-or-no questions 5 min
- possum, "I can", and the infinitive 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · Pronouns
- quī, quae, quod: who, which, that 4 min
- Intermediate Latin · The third declension
- rēx, rēgis: the third declension 4 min
- hostis, urbs, mare: i-stems 4 min
- vīs and iter; gender in the third declension 4 min
- omnis, ācer, pār: third-declension adjectives 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · The fourth and fifth declensions
- manus, cornū: the fourth declension 3 min
- Rōmae, domī, Athēnīs: place and the locative 4 min
- diēs, rēs: the fifth declension and the ablative of time 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · Pronouns
- ego, tū, sē: personal and reflexive pronouns 4 min
- ipse, "himself", and īdem, "the same" 3 min
- hic, iste, ille: this and that 4 min
- aliquis, quīdam, quisque: someone, a certain, each 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · Comparison
- clārior, clārissimus: comparing adjectives 4 min
- melior, optimus: irregular comparison, plūs, and "by how much" 3 min
- clārē, fortiter: adverbs and their comparison 4 min
- Intermediate Latin · Numerals
- ūnus, duo, trēs: numerals, "of" the whole, and "for how long" 5 min
- Intermediate Latin · Deponent verbs
- hortor, sequor: deponent verbs 3 min
Try first
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Pairs with D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners (Ginn, 1909), Lesson XXII ("Review of Verbs; The Dative with Adjectives"), §§ 141–144
What it is
Some adjectives describe a quality directed towards someone or something: friendly to, pleasing to, near to. That person or thing goes in the dative:
| Adjective | Meaning |
|---|---|
| amīcus, -a, -um | friendly (to) |
| inimīcus, -a, -um | hostile (to) |
| grātus, -a, -um | pleasing (to) |
| molestus, -a, -um | annoying (to) |
| idōneus, -a, -um | suitable (for) |
| fīnitimus, -a, -um | neighbouring (to) |
| proximus, -a, -um | nearest, next (to) |
Quick check
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"pleasing to the queen"
- The thing the quality is directed to is dative, not accusative
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grātus rēgīnae. Dative with grātus: rēgīnae.
Why it matters
These adjectives are common in descriptions and in stories about allies and enemies. Knowing the rule stops you reading the dative as a possessive genitive, which can look the same in the first declension.
Worked example
- Germānī Rōmānīs inimīcī erant. → The Germans were hostile to the Romans.
- Ager est idōneus frūmentō. → The field is suitable for grain.
- Gallia Germāniae fīnitima est. → Gaul is next to Germany.
Common mistake
Reading the dative as "of": rēgīnae grātus is "pleasing to the queen", not "the queen's pleasing". With these adjectives, a singular first-declension noun in -ae that the quality is directed to is the dative (though -ae can also be a nominative plural elsewhere).
Key terms
- amīcus
- friendly (to); as a noun, friend
- inimīcus
- hostile (to); as a noun, enemy
- grātus
- pleasing (to)
- idōneus
- suitable (for)
- fīnitimus
- neighbouring (to)
Practise the key terms
Tap a card to turn it over. 5 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| amīcus | friendly (to); as a noun, friend |
| inimīcus | hostile (to); as a noun, enemy |
| grātus | pleasing (to) |
| idōneus | suitable (for) |
| fīnitimus | neighbouring (to) |
Practice
Quick quiz
Tap an answer to check it.
"hostile to the sailors"
- Accusative; these adjectives take the dative
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inimīcus nautīs. Dative plural: nautīs.
In Puer magistrō molestus est, what does magistrō mean?
- That would be genitive magistrī
Show answer
to the teacher. Dative with molestus: annoying to the teacher.
Which adjective takes the dative?
- Size is not directed towards anyone
Show answer
proximus (next to). Nearness, friendship, pleasing and fitness take the dative.
Practise speaking
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You are a patient Latin tutor. Use the classical pronunciation only, never the Church one: c is always k, g is always hard, v sounds like w, ae like the ai in aisle, and long vowels are held longer. Speak slowly. Use only these Latin words: amīcus, inimīcus, grātus, idōneus, fīnitimus, Rōmānī, agricola, lēgātus. Say an English sentence like 'the farmer is friendly to the Romans' or 'the lieutenant is pleasing to the farmer', and I will say it in Latin with the dative. Do 6 sentences. After each answer, tell me what kind of mistake I made, if any, and let me try again, then tell me one thing to improve. Keep every reply under 2 sentences. If I need a name or a town, I will make one up. Speak English except for the Latin itself.
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Good to know. AI feedback on pronunciation is hit and miss, so check yourself against native recordings. This course teaches the classical pronunciation (see lesson 1); AI voices may mix it with the Church (Italian-style) one, so ask for classical and check against lesson 1. Don't share personal details: use a made-up name and town.
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In short
- Adjectives of nearness, friendship, pleasing and fitness, and their opposites, take the dative.
- The dative answers "to whom?" or "for what?".
- A singular first-declension -ae that the quality is directed to is dative.
Mastery check
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Check yourself
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Translate Fīnitimī Rōmānīs amīcī sunt.
Show answer
The neighbours are friendly to the Romans.
Which case follows idōneus?
Show answer
The dative.
Give "pleasing to the farmer".
Show answer
grātus agricolae.
Further reading
- D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners, Lesson XXII, §§ 141–144. Public domain; Project Gutenberg.
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