Adjectives With the Dative
Some adjectives need a dative to say who or what they relate to: līdzīgs tēvam (like his father), pateicīgs tev (grateful to you), kaitīgs veselībai (bad for your health). English uses to, for or like; Latvian uses the dative with no preposition.
How It Works
1. Common adjectives with the dative.
- līdzīgs (similar, like): Dēls ir līdzīgs tēvam. (The son looks like his father.)
- pateicīgs (grateful): Esmu jums ļoti pateicīgs. (I am very grateful to you.) The reason goes with par: pateicīgs tev par palīdzību (grateful to you for your help).
- noderīgs (useful): Šī grāmata man bija ļoti noderīga.
- kaitīgs (harmful): Smēķēšana ir kaitīga veselībai. (Smoking is bad for your health.)
- uzticīgs (loyal): Suns ir uzticīgs saimniekam.
- pazīstams (familiar): Šī dziesma man ir pazīstama.
2. Needed and important. Vajadzīgs works the same way: Man ir vajadzīga palīdzība (I need help). So does svarīgs (important): Šis darbs man ir svarīgs.
3. The same dative with adverbs. A dative person also goes with adverbs in -i: Man ir auksti (see feeling cold or hot). The adverb līdzīgi takes a dative too: līdzīgi citiem (like others).
4. A word with two meanings. Pateicīgs can also describe a thing that rewards your effort: pateicīgs darbs (rewarding work). Then it has no dative.
Examples (6)
- Viņš ir ļoti līdzīgs tēvam.
He looks a lot like his father.
Tēvs → tēvam, the dative.
- Es esmu tev pateicīga par palīdzību.
I am grateful to you for your help.
Said by a woman: pateicīga. The person is dative (tev), and the reason goes with par.
- Šī vārdnīca man ir ļoti noderīga.
This dictionary is very useful to me.
Noderīga agrees with vārdnīca; man is dative.
- Cukurs ir kaitīgs zobiem.
Sugar is bad for your teeth.
Zobi → zobiem, the dative plural.
- Suns ir uzticīgs savam saimniekam.
A dog is loyal to its owner.
Savs saimnieks → savam saimniekam, the dative.
- Tava seja man šķiet pazīstama.
Your face seems familiar to me.
Pazīstama agrees with seja, and man is dative.
Common Mistakes
Adding a preposition after līdzīgs.
Viņš ir līdzīgs uz tēvu.Viņš ir līdzīgs tēvam.English like and Russian похож на suggest a preposition, but līdzīgs takes a plain dative: tēvam.
Using the accusative for the person.
Es esmu pateicīgs tevi.Es esmu pateicīgs tev.Pateicīgs takes the dative: tu → tev.
Forgetting to make the adjective agree.
Viņa ir līdzīgs mātei.Viņa ir līdzīga mātei.The adjective agrees with viņa, so it takes the feminine ending: līdzīga.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Some adjectives take the dative.
Related Patterns
- Dative Endings
The endings these adjectives need.
Level 2 - man ir aukstiFeeling Cold or Hot
Adverbs in -i with a dative person.
Level 2 - Adjective Agreement
The adjective itself still agrees with its noun.
Level 1 - palīdzēt / zvanīt / ticēt + DativeVerbs with Dative Objects
Verbs that take a dative where English uses a direct object.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice Adjectives With the Dative in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Latvian lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
