Lesson 37 – Dative

Welcome back! In this lesson, we’re diving into the Dative Case (Celownik) in Polish. This case is used to indicate the indirect object of a sentence, often translating to “to/for someone” in English. By the end of this lesson, you’ll understand when and how to use the dative case, and you’ll be able to confidently construct sentences with indirect objects. Let’s get started!

What Is the Dative Case?

The dative case is used:

1. To indicate the recipient of an action (e.g., giving something to someone).
   • Daję prezent mamie. – I give a present to my mom.
2. To express how someone feels.
   • Jest mi zimno. – I feel cold.
3. To indicate the person you’re speaking to.
   • Mówię lekarzowi, co mnie boli. – I tell the doctor what hurts.

When to Use the Dative Case

You’ll use the dative case:

1. When giving something to someone:
   • Kupuję prezent mojej mamie. – I buy a present for my mom.
   • Daję lekarstwo dziecku. – I give medicine to the child.
2. When saying something to someone:
   • Mówię koleżance prawdę. – I tell my friend the truth.
   • Powiedziałem nauczycielowi, że jestem chory. – I told the teacher that I’m sick.
3. When expressing how someone feels:
   • Jest mi smutno. – I feel sad.
   • Było jej zimno. – She felt cold.

Dative Case Endings

Here’s how nouns change in the dative case based on gender and number:

Examples:

• Daję prezent mamie. – I give a present to my mom.
• Mówię lekarzowi, co mnie boli. – I tell the doctor what hurts.
• Jest mi zimno. – I feel cold.

Using the Dative Case in Sentences

Let’s see how the dative case works in real-life sentences:

1. Giving Something to Someone:
   • Daję książkę koledze. – I give a book to my friend.
   • Kupuję kwiaty babci. – I buy flowers for my grandma.
2. Saying Something to Someone:
   • Mówię nauczycielowi, że jestem chory. – I tell the teacher that I’m sick.
   • Powiedziałem mamie, że wracam później. – I told my mom that I’m coming back later.
3. Expressing How Someone Feels:
   • Jest mu smutno. – He feels sad.
   • Było jej gorąco. – She felt hot.

Grammar Notes

1. Dative Endings:
   • Masculine: -owi (e.g., lekarzowi).
   • Feminine: -ie or -e (e.g., mamie).
   • Neuter: -u (e.g., dziecku).
   • Plural: -om (e.g., lekarzom).
2. Common Verbs with Dative:
   • dawać (to give), kupować (to buy), mówić (to say), powiedzieć (to tell).
3. Expressing Feelings:
   • Use jest + dative pronoun + adjective to express how someone feels.
     • Jest mi zimno. – I feel cold.
     • Jest jej smutno. – She feels sad.

Practice Tasks

1. Fill in the Blanks:
   Complete the sentences with the correct dative form:
   • Daję prezent ___ (mom).
   • Mówię ___ (doctor), co mnie boli.
   • Kupuję kwiaty ___ (grandma).
   • Jest ___ (I) zimno.
2. Translate These Sentences:
   • I give medicine to the child.
   • She tells the teacher the truth.
   • He feels sad.
   • We buy a present for our friend.
3. Create Your Own Sentences:
   Write 5 sentences using the dative case. For example:
   • Daję książkę koledze. – I give a book to my friend.
   • Jest jej gorąco. – She feels hot.

Cultural Tip: Expressing Feelings in Poland

In Poland, it’s common to express how you feel using the dative case. For example:

• Jest mi smutno. – I feel sad.
• Jest mu zimno. – He feels cold.

These phrases are great for practicing the dative case and sounding more natural in Polish.

Homework

1. Write 10 sentences using the dative case. Include examples of giving, saying, and expressing feelings.
2. Practice saying these sentences out loud. Focus on pronunciation and fluency.
3. Bonus: Look up 5 new verbs that require the dative case and practice using them in sentences.

That’s it for Lesson 37! You’ve now mastered the dative case in Polish. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be using it effortlessly in conversations. Do zobaczenia! 😊