на + Recipient

Indirect Objects with На

Level 2Sounds Like na za neprâko dopʺlnenie

Put на before the person who receives or hears something: Давам книгата на Иван. (I'm giving the book to Ivan.) Казах на мама. (I told Mom.)

How It Works

1. Giving, telling, showing.

  • Давам книгата на Иван. (I'm giving the book to Ivan.)
  • Изпратих снимки на родителите си. (I sent photos to my parents.)
  • Покажи града на гостите. (Show the town to the guests.)

2. Verbs that take на in Bulgarian but not in English. помагам на (help), обаждам се на (call someone), благодаря на (thank), вярвам на (believe someone), звъня на (ring someone): Помагам на мама в кухнята. (I help Mom in the kitchen.)

3. Pronouns. For a person already known, use a short pronoun: Казах ѝ всичко. (I told her everything.) To stress the person, use на + a full pronoun: Казах на нея, не на него. (I told her, not him.) In speech the noun is often repeated with a short pronoun: На Мария ѝ дадох цветя. (I gave Maria flowers.) See doubling the object.

4. Other uses of на. The same word also marks place and direction (на работа) and possession (колата на Мария).

Examples (6)

  1. Давам книгата на Иван.

    I'm giving the book to Ivan.

  2. Казах на мама, че ще закъснея.

    I told Mom that I would be late.

    Казвам takes на before the person who hears.

  3. Помагам на сестра си с домашното.

    I help my sister with her homework.

    Помагам needs на, although English help has no preposition.

  4. Обади се на Петър довечера.

    Call Peter tonight.

  5. Благодаря на всички за помощта.

    Thanks to everyone for the help.

  6. Дадох му ключовете.

    I gave him the keys.

    The short pronoun му replaces на него.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out на after verbs like помагам.

    Помагам мама.
    Помагам на мама.

    Помагам, обаждам се and благодаря take на before the person.

  • Copying the English order give someone something.

    Давам Иван книгата.
    Давам книгата на Иван.

    A noun recipient needs на. Without it, Bulgarian cannot tell the recipient from the thing given.

  • Putting на before a short pronoun.

    Дадох на му книгата.
    Дадох му книгата.

    Short pronouns like му already mean to him. Use either му or на него, never на му.

How It Connects

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на + RecipientLevel 2Indirect Objects with На

Learn This First

На for the indirect object extends на.

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Words in This Pattern