Russian Genitive Case - The Ultimate Guide

April 28th, 2023 - Vera

The Russian language is known for its six different cases, each of which has its own set of rules and nuances. One of the most important cases in Russian is the dative case. In this article, we’ll explore what the dative case is, how it’s formed, and some common uses of the dative case in Russian.

What is the Dative Case?

The dative case is used to indicate the indirect object of a sentence. This means that it’s the case used to show the recipient of an action, or the person or thing that benefits from an action. In Russian, the dative case is often used with verbs that indicate giving, showing, or telling.

How is the Dative Case Formed?

The form of a noun in the dative case depends on its gender, number, and declension. Here are the general rules for forming nouns in the dative case:

1. Masculine Nouns

2. Feminine Nouns:

3. Neuter Nouns

Some examples of nouns in the dative case:

Common Uses of the Dative Case

1. Indirect Object

As mentioned earlier, the dative case is used to indicate the indirect object of a sentence. For example, in the sentence “Я дал книгу моему другу” (I gave the book to my friend), “моему другу” (my friend) is in the dative case.

2. After Prepositions

The dative case is also used after certain prepositions, such as “к” (to), “с” (with), and “по” (along). For example, in the sentence “Я иду с другом” (I am going with a friend), “другом” (friend) is in the dative case.

3. Time Expressions

The dative case is used in some time expressions to indicate when something happened. For example, in the sentence “В пять часов я пошел на работу” (At five o’clock, I went to work), “пять часов” (five o’clock) is in the dative case.

4. Expressing Possession

The dative case is used in some expressions to indicate possession. For example, in the sentence “У меня есть книга” (I have a book), “меня” (me) is in the dative case.

5. After Certain Verbs

The dative case is also used after certain verbs, such as “нравиться” (to like), “хотеть” (to want), and “надо” (must). For example, in the sentence “Мне нравится этот фильм” (I like this movie), “мне” (to me) is in the dative case.

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