053: The Prepositional case in Russian
We have already learned 5 Russian cases. There is only one case left – the Prepositional, so let’s learn it today. Study the lesson »
We have already learned 5 Russian cases. There is only one case left – the Prepositional, so let’s learn it today. Study the lesson »
In this lesson, we start learning the Instrumental case. Here you can find the general explanation and the prepositions used with the Instrumental case. In the following lessons we will learn to form the Instrumental case with Russian nouns and pronouns. Study the lesson »
During the course of several previous lessons, we have learned about the Genitive and the Acusative cases and how they affects the endings of the Russian nouns. Today we start learning the Dative case.
This lesson is dedicated to the general explanation of the Dative case and the prepositions used with it. In the following lessons we will learn how to form the Dative case.
The Dative case designates that something is given or addressed to the person or the object.
In Russian, it answers the questions кому́? (to whom?) and чему́? (to what?).
Read the examples below. The nouns in the Dative are highlighted.
Я покупа́ю пода́рок сестре́.
I’m buying a gift for my sister.
Он пи́шет письмо́ роди́телям.
He is writing a letter to his parents.
Передава́й отцу́ приве́т от меня́.
Say hello to your father from me.
Sometimes the Dative case is used without any prepositions, as in the examples above. But it can also be used with a number of prepositions:
к – to, towards
Мы идём в го́сти к мое́й ба́бушке.
We are going to visit my grandmother.
Э́то пла́тье не подхо́дит к мои́м ту́флям.
This dress doesn’t suit to my shoes.
по – over
Мы идём по у́лице.
We are walking down the street.
По како́й причи́не вы отказа́лись?
Why (For what reason) did you refuse?
подо́бно – like, similar
Промедле́ние сме́рти подо́бно.
Delay is similar to death.
согла́сно – accordingly
Всё сде́лано согла́сно прика́зу.
Everything is done according to the order.
благодаря́ – thanks to
Мы купи́ли э́ту кварти́ру благодаря́ по́мощи родны́х.
We have bought this apartment thanks to the help of the relatives.
вопреки́ – despite, contrary to
Но́вая поли́тика конфиденциа́льности Google вступи́ла в си́лу вопреки́ мне́нию Евросою́за.
The new Google privacy policy came into force contrary to the opinion of European Union.
The verbs below are given in pairs: the first one is imperfective and the second one is perfective:
дава́ть / дать – to give
дари́ть / подари́ть – to give a present
посыла́ть / посла́ть – to send
расска́зывать / рассказа́ть – to tell
говори́ть / сказа́ть – to tell, to say
отвеча́ть / отве́тить – to answer
сове́товать / посове́товать – to advise
звони́ть / позвони́ть – to call on the phone
писа́ть / написа́ть – to write
объясня́ть / объясни́ть – to explain
помога́ть / помо́чь – to help
покупа́ть / купи́ть – to buy
предлага́ть / предложи́ть – to offer
пока́зывать / показа́ть – to show
There are, of course, many more other Russian verbs that take the Dative case, here is a just a little part of them.
Examples:
Он показа́л нам доро́гу.
He showed us the way.
Она́ мне не отве́тила.
She did not reply to me.
Что тебе́ подари́ли на день рожде́ния?
What (what gift) have you been given for your birthday?
Мы помогли́ сосе́дке донести́ тяжёлые су́мки до до́ма.
We helped a neighbor bring heavy bags home.
Дай мне вон ту па́пку, пожа́луйста.
Give me that folder, please.
Он рассказа́л нам после́дние но́вости.
He told us the latest news.
Она́ написа́ла мне письмо́.
She wrote me a letter.
Ты позвони́ла роди́телям?
Did you call the parents?
Магази́н предлага́ет покупа́телям вы́годные це́ны.
The store offers customers favorable prices.
Practice the examples of this lesson with the audio track.
In the next lesson we will continue to learn Russian and the Dative case.
In this lesson, we start learning the Genitive case. Here, we will give you a general explanation and prepositions that are used with the Genitive, plus we will practice with a few examples. Study the lesson »
The next case we learn is the Accusative case. In this lesson we will see when it’s used and how to distinguish it in a sentence. Study the lesson »
Today, we start a large and complicated topic of the Russian grammatical cases. You might find it daunting in the beginning, but don’t worry. We will walk you through all of the cases step by step and help you to master them all. So let’s begin. Study the lesson »