Shapes of molecules.

A dative covalent bond is the same as one single bond

So if you had 1 dative covalent bond and 1 single bond from one atom to another, would you count that as 1 area of negative charge or 2?

I see what you're getting at now. Something like CO, which has a double bond and a dative bond between two atoms? That's exactly the same as having 1 triple bond. And you count multiple bonds and single bonds the same for determining shape - they both count as one area of negative charge