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Dative case of Russian nouns

Russian grammar --> Russian cases --> Dative Case

The dative case is a set of word forms that are generally used to show the receiver of the action, like the English preposition "to" in the phrase "they are giving this book to Ann".

Uses of the Dative

1. To show the receiver of the action, most often an indirect object in the sentence.

Usually, the dative case is required after verbs which mean giving something, speaking and communicating:

говорить – to tell
давать – to give
разрешать – to allow
помогать – to help
звонить – to call, to phone
приносить – to bring

2. In impersonal constructions that describe an emotional or physical states the dative case is used to indicate the person affected by this state. (see also: Impersonal constructions)

3. After prepositions:

к – towards, to
по – along
благодаря - thanks to
вопреки - in spite of, despite
навстречу - towards, to meet
подобно - likewise
согласно - in accordance with

Formation

Here we provide general rules how to form dative case forms from nominative singular forms. These rules cover the vast majority of Russian nouns. However, you should be aware that rules described below may have other exceptions.

Dative case endings

The table below represents regular endings for singular and plural dative case forms:

Gender	Singular	Plural
Masculine	-у / -ю	-ам / -ям
Feminine	-е / -и
Neuter	-у /-ю

Below, you will find detailed information about dative singular and plural forms of masculine, feminine and neuter nouns.

Dative singular

Masculine nouns

1. Nouns ending in a consonant add the ending -у:

2. Nouns ending in -ь and -й change their final letters to -ю:

3. Masculine nouns ending in -a/-я (see: Masculine nouns) form the dative case forms following the rules for feminine nouns (see below).

Feminine nouns

1. Nouns ending in -а change their ending to -e:

2. Nouns ending in -я, except nouns ending in -ия, change -я to -е:

3. Nouns ending in -ия and in -ь change -я and -ь to -и:

Neuter nouns

1. Nouns ending in -o change their ending to -у:

2. Nouns ending in -е change their ending to -ю:

3. Nouns ending in -мя (see: Neuter nouns ending in -мя) change -я to -ени:

Dative plural

Masculine nouns

1. Nouns ending in a consonant add the ending -ам:

2. Nouns ending in -ь and -й change their final letters to -ям:

3. Masculine nouns ending in -a/-я (see: Masculine nouns) form the dative case forms following the rules for feminine nouns (see below).

Feminine nouns

1. Nouns ending in -а change their ending to -ам:

2. Nouns ending in -я and in -ь change -я and -ь to -ям:

Neuter nouns

1. Nouns ending in -o change their ending to -ам:

2. Nouns ending in -е change their ending to -ям:

3. Nouns ending in -мя (see: Neuter nouns ending in -мя) change -я to -енам:

See also

- Russian Cases
- Russian Nouns Declension
- Exercises: Dative case of Russian nouns

You can find more examples of word forms in dative singular and dative plural on the page Russian nouns declension