pomagać + Dative

Pomagać with the Dative

Level 2

In Polish, you don't help 'someone' (accusative); you give help 'to someone' (dative). Use the dative case for the recipient of the assistance.

How It Works

In English, 'help' takes a direct object ('I help him'). In Polish, 'help' is treated as an action directed toward a recipient, requiring the dative case.

1. Choosing the Verb Form
Use pomagać for ongoing or repeated help (imperfective aspect) and pomóc for a single, completed act of help (perfective aspect). Note that pomóc is irregular and undergoes stem changes (e.g., pomogę, pomógł).

2. Dative Endings
When using these verbs, you must change the noun or pronoun:

  • Masculine nouns: usually end in -owi (e.g., sąsiadowi, Markowi). A few common nouns like brat take -u (bratu). Masculine nouns ending in -a (like kolega) follow feminine patterns (koledze).
  • Feminine nouns: usually end in -e or -i/-y (e.g., mamie, siostrze).
  • Neuter nouns: usually end in -u (e.g., dziecku).
  • Plural nouns: almost all genders take -om (e.g., rodzicom, dzieciom).
  • Pronouns: Use short forms like mi (me), ci (you), or mu (him). Note: These short forms cannot start a sentence (e.g., say Pomógł mi, not Mi pomógł).

3. Adding the Task
If you want to say what you are helping with, use the preposition w followed by the locative case (e.g., pomagam w pracy) or a simple infinitive verb (e.g., pomógł mi pisać).

Examples (5)

  1. Pomagam mamie w kuchni.

    I am helping mom in the kitchen.

    Word by Word: I-help mom (dative) in kitchen.

    'Mamie' is the dative form of 'mama'. The task 'in the kitchen' uses 'w' + locative.

  2. Czy możesz mi pomóc?

    Can you help me?

    Word by Word: Whether you-can to-me (dative) to-help?

    'Mi' is the short dative form of 'ja' (I/me).

  3. Lekarz pomógł pacjentowi.

    The doctor helped the patient.

    Word by Word: Doctor helped patient (dative).

    'Pacjentowi' uses the standard masculine dative ending '-owi'.

  4. Oni pomagają dzieciom.

    They are helping the children.

    Word by Word: They help children (dative plural).

    'Dzieciom' is the dative plural form of 'dziecko'.

  5. Pomożesz nam jutro?

    Will you help us tomorrow?

    Word by Word: Will-you-help us (dative) tomorrow?

    'Nam' is the dative form of 'my' (we/us).

Common Mistakes

  • Using the accusative case (direct object) instead of the dative.

    Pomagam mamę.
    Pomagam mamie.

    English speakers often use the accusative because 'help' takes a direct object in English. In Polish, you must use the dative 'mamie'.

  • Adding the preposition 'do' (to) to indicate the recipient.

    Pomagam do brata.
    Pomagam bratu.

    While 'to' is implied by the dative case, you should not actually use the word 'do'. The case ending '-u' or '-owi' does all the work.

  • Confusing 'pomagać' with 'wspomagać'.

    Wspomagam bratu.
    Wspomagam brata.

    The verb 'wspomagać' (to support/subsidize) actually takes the accusative case, unlike the standard 'pomagać'.

How It Connects

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pomagać + DativeLevel 2Pomagać with the Dative

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Words in This Pattern

pomagać