« Dative Case (Дательный Падеж)

When to Use the Dative Case

• Indirect Object: The dative case is most commonly used to denote the indirect object, the person or thing that is the recipient of an action.
  • Example: Я даю книгу другу. (I am giving a book to a friend.)
  • Example: Он отправил письмо учителю. (He sent a letter to the teacher.)
• Expressing Age: The dative case is used to indicate someone's age.
  • Example: Ему 30 лет. (He is 30 years old.)
  • Example: Мне 25 лет. (I am 25 years old.)
• Expressing Necessity or Obligation: The dative case is used with certain constructions to express necessity, obligation, or need.
  • Example: Мне нужно учиться. (I need to study.)
  • Example: Тебе нужно работать. (You need to work.)
• Expressing Feelings: The dative case is used with certain verbs and expressions to convey feelings, such as joy, sorrow, or envy.
  • Example: Ему радостно. (He is happy.)
  • Example: Мне грустно. (I am sad.)

Dative Case Endings

The dative case is used to indicate the indirect object of a sentence, typically answering the questions "кому?" (to whom?) or "чему?" (to what?). Below is a detailed explanation of the dative case endings:

Singular Nouns:

• Masculine:
  • For nouns ending in a consonant, add -у (e.g., стол → столу - to the table).
  • If the noun ends in -ь or -й, replace it with -ю (e.g., учитель → учителю - to the teacher).
• Feminine:
  • If the noun ends in -а or -я, replace it with -е (e.g., книга → книге - to the book, неделя → неделе - to the week).
  • If the noun ends in -ь, replace it with -и (e.g., дочь → дочери - to the daughter).
  • If the noun ends in -ия, replace it with -ии (e.g., станция → станции - to the station).
• Neuter:
  • For nouns ending in -о, replace it with -у (e.g., окно → окну - to the window).
  • If the noun ends in -е, replace it with -ю (e.g., море → морю - to the sea).

Plural Nouns:

• If the noun ends in -а, -о, or a consonant, replace it with -ам (e.g., стол → столам - to the tables).
• For all other nouns, replace the ending with -ям (e.g., друзья → друзьям - to the friends).

Adjective Endings:

Adjectives in the dative case must agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case:

• Masculine Singular: Ends in -ому or -ему (e.g., новому столу - to the new table).
• Feminine Singular: Ends in -ой or -ей (e.g., новой книге - to the new book).
• Neuter Singular: Ends in -ому or -ему (e.g., новому окну - to the new window).
• Plural (all genders): Ends in -ым or -им (e.g., новым столам - to the new tables).

Pronouns in the Dative Case

• Me: мне
• You (singular, informal): тебе
• Him/It: ему
• Her: ей
• Us: нам
• You (plural or formal): вам
• Them: им

Additional Notes

• Adjective Agreement: In the dative case, adjectives must agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case.
  • Example: старому другу (to the old friend)
  • Example: маленькому ребёнку (to the small child)
• Prepositions: Certain prepositions always require the dative case, such as к (to, towards), по (along, by), and навстречу (towards).
  • Example: Я иду к врачу. (I am going to the doctor.)
  • Example: Он учится по книге. (He is learning by the book.)
• Special Constructions: The dative case is used with certain impersonal constructions to express necessity, ability, and feelings.
  • Example: Мне надо идти. (I need to go.)
  • Example: Ему хочется спать. (He feels like sleeping.)

Practice Exercises

Translate the following sentences into Russian, making sure to use the correct form of the dative case:

1. I am giving a book to my brother.
2. She is talking to the teacher.
3. He needs to go to the store.
4. We are happy for our friend.