dla + Genitive

Dla with the Genitive

Level 2

The preposition dla means 'for' when referring to a person or thing that benefits from an action. It always requires the Genitive case.

How It Works

The preposition dla is one of the most consistent in Polish because it only ever governs the Genitive case.

1. The Beneficiary
Its most common use is to show who something is intended for.
Example: To jest prezent dla mamy (This is a gift for mom).

2. Point of View
It is used to express an opinion or how something affects a specific person.
Example: Dla mnie to jest ważne (For me/In my opinion, this is important).

3. Purpose or Reason
It is used with abstract nouns to show the motivation or reason behind an action.
Example: Robię to dla zabawy (I'm doing it for fun) or dla bezpieczeństwa (for safety).

4. Pronoun Forms
When using personal pronouns after dla, you must use the prepositional forms. For third-person pronouns (on, ona, ono, oni, one), this means adding an n- prefix to the start of the word.

  • dla mnie (for me)
  • dla ciebie (for you)
  • dla niego (for him)
  • dla niej (for her)
  • dla nich (for them)

5. What 'dla' is NOT
Learners often over-use dla because of English. Do not use it for:

  • Duration: Use przez (e.g., for two hours).
  • Exchange: Use za (e.g., I paid for coffee).
  • Waiting: Use na (e.g., I'm waiting for you).

Examples (5)

  1. Czy to jest prezent dla taty?

    Is this a gift for dad?

    Word by Word: Whether this is gift for dad?

    'Taty' is the Genitive form of 'tata'. Here, 'dla' indicates the intended recipient.

  2. Dla mnie ta herbata jest za słodka.

    For me, this tea is too sweet.

    Word by Word: For me this tea is too sweet.

    'Dla mnie' uses the Genitive form of the first-person pronoun to express a subjective opinion.

  3. Mamy specjalne menu dla dzieci.

    We have a special menu for children.

    Word by Word: We have special menu for children.

    'Dzieci' is the Genitive plural of 'dziecko', showing who the menu is intended for.

  4. To jest bardzo trudne dla początkujących.

    This is very difficult for beginners.

    Word by Word: This is very difficult for beginners.

    'Początkujących' is the Genitive plural adjective/noun indicating the group affected.

  5. Kupiłem kwiaty dla niej.

    I bought flowers for her.

    Word by Word: I bought flowers for her.

    'Niej' is the Genitive form of 'ona' used after a preposition.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'dla' for duration (time).

    Mieszkałem tam dla dwóch lat.
    Mieszkałem tam przez dwa lata.

    In Polish, 'for' in the sense of duration is expressed with 'przez' + Accusative, not 'dla'.

  • Using 'dla' when you mean 'wait for someone'.

    Different MeaningCzekam dla ciebie.
    Czekam na ciebie.

    Czekam dla ciebie is grammatical but means 'I am waiting for your sake' (to benefit you). To say you wait for someone to arrive, 'czekać' takes na + accusative: Czekam na ciebie.

  • Using 'dla' for exchange or payment.

    Dziękuję dla kawy.
    Dziękuję za kawę.

    When thanking someone for something or paying for something, use 'za' + Accusative.

How It Connects

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dla + GenitiveLevel 2Dla with the Genitive

Learn This First

Learn Genitive Case before Dla With The Genitive.

Words in This Pattern