Dative of Purpose
A noun in the dative, with no preposition, can say what something is for: dovana gimtadieniui (a present for the birthday), pinigai kelionei (money for the trip).
How It Works
Purpose without a preposition
You already know the dative for the person who receives something: Daviau dovaną mamai. See Dative Recipient. The same case can name the purpose or occasion: what you buy, save or get ready for.
- Occasions: dovana gimtadieniui (a present for the birthday), Kalėdoms (for Christmas)
- Meals: pusryčiams, pietums, vakarienei (for breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Getting ready: ruoštis egzaminui, ruoštis kelionei
- Saving: taupyti atostogoms (to save for a holiday)
Other ways to say for
- už + accusative means in exchange for: Sumokėjau už kelionę. (I paid for the trip.) See For and In Exchange For With Už.
- dėl + genitive means because of: dėl lietaus (because of the rain). See Because of and For the Sake of With Dėl.
- A noun naming what you go to get or do normally goes in the genitive: Einu duonos. (I am going for bread.) Užeikite pietų. (Come in for lunch.) See Genitive of Purpose.
A goal, not a date
This dative names a goal, not a point in time. For as of today, say šiandien or šiuo metu.
Examples (6)
- Nupirkau dovaną sesers gimtadieniui.
I bought a present for my sister's birthday.
Word by Word: (I) bought present of-sister for-birthday.
gimtadienis becomes gimtadieniui: the occasion the present is for.
- Visą savaitę ruošiuosi egzaminui.
I have been preparing for the exam all week.
Word by Word: All week (I) prepare for-exam.
ruoštis takes the thing you prepare for in the dative.
- Ką valgysi pusryčiams?
What will you have for breakfast?
Word by Word: What (you) will-eat for-breakfast?
pusryčiai becomes pusryčiams, the dative plural.
- Taupome kelionei į Nidą.
We are saving for a trip to Nida.
Word by Word: (We) save for-trip to Nida.
The goal of the saving is in the dative: kelionei.
- Pietums išsivirsiu sriubos.
For lunch I will make myself some soup.
Word by Word: For-lunch (I) will-cook-myself of-soup.
pietūs becomes pietums.
- Man reikia sąsiuvinio užrašams.
I need a notebook for notes.
Word by Word: To-me is-needed of-notebook for-notes.
užrašams says what the notebook is for.
Common Mistakes
Using ant for the intended purpose of saving.
Taupau ant atostogų.Taupau atostogoms.Purpose takes the bare dative. The State Commission of the Lithuanian Language corrects ant atostogų to atostogoms.
Using už for a purpose.
Nupirkau dovaną už gimtadienį.Nupirkau dovaną gimtadieniui.Už means in exchange for, so it would sound like a payment for the birthday. The occasion takes the dative.
Using the dative after a verb of going.
Užeikite pietums.Užeikite pietų.After verbs of going, such as eiti, užeiti and važiuoti, the purpose goes in the genitive.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The dative can express the purpose for which something is intended.
Related Patterns
- Genitive of Purpose
A noun naming what you go to get or do normally takes the genitive.
Level 5 - už + accusativeFor and in Exchange for with Už
Už means for in exchange, as in paying for something.
Level 2 - dėl + genitiveBecause of and for the Sake of with Dėl
Dėl can express a reason or a goal, as in dėl lietaus and dirbti dėl pinigų; it is not interchangeable with every dative of purpose.
Level 3 - Reflexive -siReflexive Verbs in -si
Ruoštis, a reflexive verb, often takes this dative.
Level 2 - Going Somewhere to Do Something
Another way to say why you go: an infinitive after a verb of going.
Level 2
Practice Dative of Purpose in Bubblegum
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