One of the most important uses of the dative case is as the indirect object. The indirect object is the person or thing you give something to, say something to, or do something for In these two uses of the dative, the word in the dative case is often best translated in English with the words to or for.  Some examples of the indirect object in Latin (see the new verbs below):

Sextilia Pomponiae cantat.	Sextilia sings to Pomponia.
Drusilla aram Minervae et Bellonae consecrat.	Drusilla dedicates an altar to Minvera and Bellona.
Terentia vias ancillis demonstrat.	Terentia points out the streets to the maids.
Aemilia pecuniam Zenobiae donat.	Aemilia gives money to Zenobia.
Thrasea Cinnae et Getae imperat.	Thrasea gives orders to Cinna and Geta.
Porsenna filias nautis mandat.	Porsenna entrusts the daughters to the sailors.
Valeria fabulam Agrippinae narrat.	Valeria tells the story to Agrippina.
Antonia cenam poetis parat.	Antonia furnishes dinner to the poets./ Antontia prepares dinner for the poets.

The dative is also used for the person for whom the subject does something. This dative is often called the dative of advantage or disadvantage.   For example (see new verbs).

Dolabella villam Annae aedificat.	Dolabella builds a farmhouse for Anna.
Calvia togas agricolis lavat.	Calvia washes the togas for the farmers.
Galba terram familiis arat.	Galba plows the land for the families.
In silvā Turia reginis laborat.	In the forest Turia works for the queens ,

Notice how I tended to use the dative plural instead of the dative singular in these sentences. This is because, in the first declension, the genitive singular and the dative singular have the same form. Thus Dolabella villam Annae aedificat. could be translated as Dolabella builds the house of Anna. We'll learn more about the genitive case soon. In the full context of a paragraph the true meaning would be clearer.

Now here are nine new first conjugation verbs to learn.
 

aro, arare	I plow
aedifico, aedificare	I build.
canto, cantare	I sing
consecro, consecrare	I dedicate to
demonstro, demonstrare	I point out, show
lavo, lavare	I wash
impero, imperare	I give orders to, I demand from
mando, mandare	I entrust to
paro, parare	I furnish to, I prepare for

Directions. Please Read. Here are fourteen simple sentences to translate. Please (so that it will be easier for me to give credit for all correct answers,) put direct objects before indirect objects where they occur and use standard English word order. Also, put a period after the end of sentences and begin with a capitalized word. If there is a second plural verb form, (such as lavatis) translate it as 'you pl. wash'. Also, do not put more than one space between words. When you have written your translation in the space provided, click the Check button.

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