Dative Singular

Level 3

Masculine and neuter nouns take -u in the dative singular, and feminine nouns take -i: bratu, djetetu, sestri.

How It Works

GenderBasic formDative
masculinebrat, Amirbratu, Amiru
neuterselo, dijeteselu, djetetu
femininesestra, Lejlasestri, Lejli

Before the ending -i, some feminine nouns change a sound: k becomes c, g becomes z, and h becomes s. So majka becomes majci, ruka becomes ruci and noga becomes nozi. The nouns that end in a consonant, such as noć, also take -i: noći.

Masculine nouns in -a, such as tata, decline like feminine nouns: tati.

Many verbs take the dative: dati (give), pomoći (help), pisati (write to), pokazati (show).

Examples (5)

  1. Dajem knjigu bratu.

    I give the book to my brother.

    Brat becomes bratu.

  2. Pišem sestri poruku.

    I am writing a message to my sister.

    Sestra becomes sestri.

  3. Pomažem majci u kuhinji.

    I help my mother in the kitchen.

    Majka becomes majci, and pomagati takes the dative.

  4. Pokazujem Amiru grad.

    I am showing Amir the city.

    A man's name takes -u.

  5. Dajem djetetu hljeb.

    I give the child some bread.

    Dijete becomes djetetu.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the nominative for the receiver.

    Dajem sestra knjigu.
    Dajem sestri knjigu.

    The receiver needs the dative ending -i.

  • Forgetting the sound change.

    Pomažem majki.
    Pomažem majci.

    Before -i, k becomes c.

How It Connects

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Dative SingularLevel 3

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Another singular case.

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Words in This Pattern

dativjednina