Russian Dative Case: To Whom, for Whom, and Experiencing What?
Use the dative for recipients, age, feelings and common Russian constructions.
RU008 · RU · A1 / A2 · cases, grammar
The question
Why do Russians say Я даю книгу другу and Мне холодно?
The dative case often marks a recipient or person affected by an event: Я дал книгу другу (I gave a book to a friend). It also appears in natural Russian constructions for sensations, age and necessity: Мне холодно (I'm cold); Мне двадцать лет (I'm twenty years old); Мне нужно идти (I need to go).
Dative in everyday use
| Russian | English | Construction |
|---|---|---|
| Я пишу маме. | I'm writing to Mum. | Recipient |
| Мне нравится музыка. | I like music. | Experiencer of нравиться |
| Ему двадцать лет. | He is twenty. | Age |
| Нам нужно работать. | We need to work. | Necessity |
Common singular endings include -у/-ю for many masculine and neuter nouns (брату, морю) and -е or -и for many feminine nouns (маме, России). Important pronouns are мне, тебе, ему, ей, нам, вам, им. Some verbs require dative even when English has a direct object: помогать другу (to help a friend).
Common mistake
Don't translate 'I like music' word for word as *Я нравлюсь музыку. Say Мне нравится музыка; the thing liked is the grammatical subject.
Remember
Use dative for recipients and learn the many impersonal Russian expressions built around a dative experiencer.