запобігати + Dative

Запобігати with Dative

Level 5Sounds Like zapobígati + davalʹnij

In Ukrainian, to prevent something, you don't 'prevent the crisis' (Accusative); you 'prevent TO the crisis' (Dative). Use the pattern: запобігати + Dative case.

How It Works

The government (керування) of the verb запобігати is a common pitfall for learners because it differs from both English and Russian logic.

1. Case Requirement:
You must use the Dative case to answer the question чому? (to what?).

  • Masculine/Neuter: лихо -> лихові/лиху
  • Feminine: помилка -> помилці
  • Plural: хвороби -> хворобам

2. Aspect Usage:
Use the imperfective запобігати for general advice, habits, or ongoing prevention. Use the perfective запобігти when referring to a specific, successful act of stopping a single event.

3. Semantic Nuance:
This verb is specifically for preventing harm. If you use it with the Genitive case (запобігати ласки), it becomes an archaic idiom meaning 'to seek favor.' If you use it with the preposition перед + Instrumental, it means 'to fawn over someone.' Stick to the Dative for the meaning 'to prevent.'

Examples (4)

  1. Запобігти хворобі легше, ніж її лікувати.

    It is easier to prevent a disease than to treat it.

    Word by Word: To prevent [to] disease easier, than it to treat.

    Here, 'хворобі' is the Dative form of 'хвороба'. This is a common medical proverb.

  2. Ми повинні вжити заходів, щоб запобігти аварії.

    We must take measures to prevent the accident.

    Word by Word: We must take measures, so that to prevent [to] accident.

    The perfective 'запобігти' is used here for a specific potential event (the accident).

  3. Ці правила допомагають запобігати помилкам.

    These rules help to prevent mistakes.

    Word by Word: These rules help to prevent [to] mistakes.

    The plural Dative 'помилкам' is used for a general category of prevented items.

  4. Він намагався запобігти конфлікту між колегами.

    He tried to prevent a conflict between colleagues.

    Word by Word: He tried to prevent [to] conflict between colleagues.

    The masculine noun 'конфлікт' takes the Dative ending -у.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Accusative case (direct object) instead of the Dative.

    запобігти кризу
    запобігти кризі

    Learners often translate 'prevent the crisis' literally. In Ukrainian, you must use the Dative 'кризі'.

  • Confusing 'запобігати' (prevent) with 'попереджати' (warn).

    попередити аварію
    запобігти аварії

    'Попередити' means to warn someone or notify in advance. To stop the event itself from happening, use 'запобігти' + Dative.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

запобігати + DativeLevel 5Запобігати with Dative

Learn This First

To learn the pattern 'запобігати + давальний', a learner needs to be familiar with the dative case endings for nouns and the conjugation of regular -ати verbs. This pattern is a specific instance of verb government where the object being prevented is placed in the dative case rather than the accusative.

Words in This Pattern

запобігати