The Dative Case: To Whom? For Whom?
The Dative case is used to show the indirect object of a verb – kōmu or dla kogo an action is done. It's also used after certain verbs and prepositions. Its main purpose is to indicate the recipient of something or the beneficiary of an action.
Nouns: Endings change based on gender, number, and hard/soft stem.
- Singular Masculine/Neuter: -u. (e.g., bratu - to a brother, dóm utytelowi - I give to a teacher, polu - to a field).
- Singular Feminine: hard -e, soft -i. (e.g., siostrze - to a sister, ziymii - to land).
- Plural (all genders): hard/soft -ōm. (e.g., bratōm - to brothers, utytelōm - to teachers, siostrōm - to sisters, ziymiōm - to lands, polōm - to fields).
Adjectives:
- Singular Masculine/Neuter: hard -ymu, soft -imu. (e.g., dobremu bratu - to a good brother, inšimu utytelowi - to a different teacher, dobremu polu - to a good field).
- Singular Feminine: hard -ej, soft -ij. (e.g., dobrej siostrze - to a good sister, inšij ziymii - to different land).
- Plural (all genders): hard/soft -ym/-im. (e.g., dobrym bratōm - to good brothers, inšym utytelōm - to different teachers, dobrym siostrōm - to good sisters).
Examples: Dej ksiůnżka bratu__ (Give the book to the brother). Gŏdóm študyntōm__ (I am speaking to the students). Idym do siostry__ (I am going to the sister - Dative not used with 'do'). Pisza list starzykōm__ (I am writing a letter to the parents).