An indirect object is the person to whom or for whom something is done: in "the slave gives water to the master", the master is the indirect object.
Can recognize Indirect objects in a short Latin prompt
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
I give flowers to my mother.
I am telling you this.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
An indirect object is the person to whom or for whom something is done: in "the slave gives water to the master", the master is the indirect object. Latin marks this with the dative case. Once you can spot dative endings, sentences with giving, telling, showing, and handing over fall into place.
The common singular dative endings at A1 are:
| Type | Nominative | Dative (to / for) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st declension | puella (girl) | puellae |
| 2nd declension | dominus (master) | domino |
| 3rd declension | rex (king) | regi |
So the pattern is often -ae or -o or -i at the end of the receiving person.
Examples:
For English speakers: English usually needs the word "to" or "for", or else fixed word order ("give the master water"). Latin has no separate word here at all: the "to" is baked into the ending. So do not scan for a preposition, and do not assume the noun nearest the verb is the object. In domino aquam dat, domino (dative, receiver) and aquam (accusative, the thing given) are told apart purely by their endings. Read -ae / -o / -i as "to/for someone".
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesI give flowers to my mother.
Matri is the dative recipient and flores the accusative thing given - the same two roles English marks with 'to' or word order.
I am telling you this.
Tibi is the dative of tu. Latin puts it early for emphasis; English would say 'I am telling you this'.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises