The Dative Case (Celownik) is the third Polish case. It is used for indirect objects. The Dative Case describes to whom something is done or given and from whom something is taken.
Examples
Something is done to someone
Przygotowałem mojej żonie romantyczną kolację.- I prepared a romantic dinner for my wife.
mojej żonie - Dative Case (indirect object)
romantyczną kolację - Accusative Case (direct object)
Something is given to someone
Czy możesz oddać mi książkę?- Can you return the book to me?
mi - Dative Case (indirect object)
książkę - Accusative Case (direct object)
Something is taken from someone
Zabrałem dziecku zabawkę, bo było niegrzeczne.- I took the toy from the child because it was being rude.
dziecku - Dative Case (indirect object)
zabawkę - Accusative Case (direct object)
Each case has its own interrogative words that it answers. The Dative Case answers komu? and czemu?.
komu?- refers to people
czemu?- refers to things, animals, and abstractions
The interrogative words of a case can be used to form a question about that part of the sentence. The following examples illustrate this concept.
Example
komu?
Pomagam mamie w ogródku.- I'm helping mom in the garden.
Komu pomagam w ogrodzie?- Who do I help in the garden?
mamie - Dative Case
mama - Nominative Case
czemu?
Dzięki Słońcu na Ziemi istnieje życie.- Thanks to the Sun, life exists on Earth.
Dzięki czemu istnieje na Ziemi życie?- Thanks to what does life exist on Earth?
Słońcu - Dative Case
Słońce - Nominative Case
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