Is Dative Necessary?

[elduce]

If I write:

Rosas tibi do.

Is this an equivalent:

Rosas ad te do.

[benissimus]

The dative is always used for indirect objects, the only time you would use ad is if you were considering the English "to" to be expressing motion. The line between these two uses is often mottled, but I believe the dative would certainly be more correct in the sentence you gave.

[cweb255]

The sentence is actually saying (at least in classical use) "I gave roses towards you." Only later (but still fairly early, as someone earlier here mentioned Cicero used it in one of his personal letters) vulgarity made such usage common, and even later for accepted.

[elduce]

I suspected as much. Just needed some clarity. Thanks.