The Russian Prepositions (Dative Case)

The dative case is associated with motion towards a goal or destination and that meaning is reflected in the only two dative prepositions in Russian: ┐q(┐})+Dat and ┐~┐}+Dat. The remainder of the forms often thought to be dative prepositions are in fact participles (┐c┐t┐`┐k┐}┐g┐`┐│┐─+Dat), adverbs (┐┌┐}┐k┐t┐`┐┌┐z┐}+Dat), ┐┴┐}┐~┐│┐i┐q┐m+Dat), and idiomatized prepositional phrases such as ┐z┐`┐┴┐┌┐└┐│┐i?┐├+Dat, and the marginally used ┐z┐`┐~┐i┐│┐i┐q┐}┐│+Dat. The fact that these phrases are not true prepositions is born out by the fact that ┐z is not inserted before the 3rd person pronouns, ┐i┐k┐}, ┐i│v, ┐m┐l, when they are used with these pronouns, as it is when they are used with real prepositions, e.g. ┐┴ ┐z│v┐w "in it", ┐├ ┐z┐i│v "she has, at her place", ┐┌ ┐z┐m┐l "from them".

Here is the list of the dative prepositions or preposition-like words and phrases covered on this page.

1. ?┐}+Dat. The most prominent preposition governing the dative case is ┐~┐}+Dat. This preposition has no corresponding preposition in English and so it is the most frustrating of all the Russian prepositions for English-speakers to learn. Cataloging all the prepositions in English with meanings corresponding to ┐~┐}+Dat would only thicken the confusion. The best way to master this preposition is to learn the semantic paths it follows. Here they are.

a. Along, Over, On. The basic physical sense this preposition conveys is that of motion on or along a surface. A related meaning is "around" in the sense of moving physically "about", i.e. covering all or a large portion of a surface.

b. Identical Times & Places. This preposition is also used to indicate several identical places where or times when an activity takes place.

c. The Distributive. A sense related to the latter is the distributive sense, marked by the English postposition apiece or the preposition per. However, keep in mind that the dative case in this function is used only if the noun agreeing with the preposition refers to one object. If the agreeing noun refers to two or more objects, the accusative case is used with the same preposition, ┐~┐}.

d. Against : The Thing Struck. ?┐}+Dat is also used to indicate the object of blows, sometimes translatable as against, sometimes as on, sometimes simply as the direct object.

e. Specializations. ?┐}+Dat is also used to indicate trade and study specializations of various sorts.

f. Accord(ance). This preposition is also used to indicate something with which another object is in accord. In this sense it is usually translated by according to, in accord(ance) with, after, based on or simply on. However it is translated, its meaning in this function is always "in accord with".

g. Reason or Cause. Finally, ┐~┐}+Dat may be used to indicate the cause or reason for something.

2. ?(┐})+Dat. The preposition ┐q(┐})+Dat basically means "towards" or "down/up to". It also has a general meaning of "to" when used with animate nouns, e.g. ?┐▀ ┐m┐g│v┐w ┐q Ив┐`┐z┐├ "We are going to Ivan's". It is the antonym of ┐}┐└+Gen in either sense.

Don't forget that this preposition is also used in time expressions.

3. Despite. The two idiomatized prepositional phrases ┐┴┐}┐~┐│┐i┐q┐m+Dat and ┐z┐`┐~┐i┐│┐i┐q┐}┐│+Dat have similar but distinct meanings. The first means "despite" or "in spite of" while the second has a more intense meaning: "in defiance of". Remember that no '┐z' is inserted before the 3rd person pronouns when they are the object of the remainder of these forms requiring the dative case.

4. Thanks to. The verbal adverb ┐c┐t┐`┐k┐}┐g┐`┐│┐─+Dat is used very much like a preposition exactly where we would say thanks to (so-and-so) and therefore presents no problem for the English-speaker learning Russian.

5. In accord with. ?┐}┐k┐t┐`┐┌┐z┐}+Dat is another adverb which may be in the process of becoming a preposition with one of the meanings of ┐~┐}+Dat, "according to, in accord(ance) with".