Dative Pronouns

Level 3

Short forms are unstressed and sit early in the sentence: Dajem ti kafu. Long forms are stressed: Dajem kafu tebi, ne njemu.

How It Works

PersonLongShort
jamenimi
titebiti
on, ononjemumu
onanjojjoj
minamanam
vivamavam
oni, one, onanjimaim

The short forms are clitics. They cannot start a sentence or follow a preposition, and they go in second position: Amir mi piše. Dajem ti knjigu. A later entry gives the order of several clitics together.

Use the long form after a preposition: k meni, prema njemu. You also use it for a clear contrast: Meni se sviđa, a njoj ne.

Examples (5)

  1. Amir mi piše poruku.

    Amir is writing me a message.

    Mi is the short form of meni.

  2. Hoćeš li mi dati vodu?

    Will you give me some water?

    The short form follows li in second position.

  3. Dajem kafu tebi, a ne njemu.

    I give the coffee to you, not to him.

    Long forms add stress.

  4. Idem k tebi poslije škole.

    I am coming to your place after school.

    Prepositions need the long form.

  5. Emina nam kuha ručak.

    Emina cooks lunch for us.

    Nam is the short form of nama.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a short form after a preposition.

    Idem k ti.
    Idem k tebi.

    A preposition needs the long form tebi.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Dative PronounsLevel 3

Learn This First

Pronouns have dative forms.

Words in This Pattern

jamenitebinjemunjojnamavamanjimamujojnamvamimtidativmi