Dative Pronouns
mi, ti, mu, jej, nám, vám, im: Daj mi to. (Give it to me.) Poviem im pravdu. (I'll tell them the truth.)
How It Works
The forms
- ja → mi (stressed: mne)
- ty → ti (tebe)
- on, ono → mu (jemu)
- ona → jej
- my → nám
- vy → vám
- oni, ony → im
Uses
- receiver: Pošlem ti správu. (I'll send you a message.)
- verbs that take the dative: Pomôžem ti. Ďakujem vám. See Verbs With the Dative.
- the person who feels: Páči sa mi to. Je mi zima. See Liking With páčiť sa and How Someone Feels.
im or ich? im means to them (dative). ich means them as a direct object (accusative): Poviem im to. but Vidím ich.
Order of short words. Among the short pronouns, sa or si comes first, then the dative, then the accusative: Páči sa mi to. Daj mi ho.
Emphasis and prepositions. Use the long form at the start or for contrast: Mne sa to páči. (I, for one, like it.) After a preposition: ku mne, k tebe, k nemu, k nej, k nim. See Long and Short Pronoun Forms.
Examples (6)
- Daj mi to, prosím.
Give it to me, please.
- Páči sa mu to.
He likes it.
Word by Word: Pleases itself to-him it.
- Poviem im pravdu.
I'll tell them the truth.
- Zavolám ti večer.
I'll call you tonight.
- Môžem vám pomôcť?
Can I help you?
vám is polite (or plural). Pomôcť takes the dative.
- Kúpil som jej kvety.
I bought her flowers.
jej is the dative of ona; the flowers are the accusative object.
Common Mistakes
Using the accusative for the receiver.
Daj ma to.Daj mi to.Ma means me as a direct object. The person who receives something needs the dative mi.
Mixing up im and ich.
Poviem ich pravdu.Poviem im pravdu.Ich is accusative (them). The people you tell something to are in the dative: im.
Starting the sentence with mi.
Mi sa to páči.Páči sa mi to.Mi is unstressed and cannot come first. Put it after the verb, or start with the long form: Mne sa to páči.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Dative Pronouns, learn The Dative Case for Recipients and Object Pronouns. Dative pronouns mark recipients. Dative pronoun forms parallel the accusative ones.
Related Patterns
- páčiť sa + DativeLiking with Páčiť Sa
Páči sa mi: the most common use of mi.
Level 2 - Dative + je + AdverbHow Someone Feels
Je mi zima and other feelings.
Level 2 - Long and Short Pronoun Forms
When to say mne, tebe, jemu instead.
Level 3 - pomáhať / ďakovať / rozumieť + DativeVerbs with the Dative
Common verbs that take these pronouns.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Dative Pronouns in Bubblegum
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