datívus

The datívus, also known as the dative case, is a grammatical case used in many languages to indicate the indirect object of a verb or the recipient of an action. It is one of the traditional grammatical cases found in languages such as Latin, Greek, Sanskrit, and some modern European languages like Hungarian, Russian, and Polish. The dative case often signals possession, direction, or reference to someone or something involved in the action of a verb.

In Latin, for example, the dative case is used to express the indirect object, which typically answers the question "to whom?" or "for whom?" an action is performed. For instance, in the sentence *"Librum amico do"* ("I give the book to the friend"), "amico" (to the friend) is in the dative case, indicating the recipient of the book. The dative can also indicate possession or association, as in *"Cum amico loquor"* ("I speak with the friend"), where "amico" refers to the companion with whom the speaker is conversing.

The dative case is distinct from the accusative, which typically marks the direct object receiving the action. While accusative answers "what?" or "whom?" in terms of the action's target, the dative focuses on the recipient or beneficiary. Some languages, such as Hungarian, use the dative to indicate location or direction, as in *"A könyv az asztalra"* ("The book is on the table"), where "asztalra" (to the table) is in the dative.

In modern grammar, the dative case has declined in prominence in many languages due to the influence of analytic structures and the loss of inflectional morphology. However, it remains a key feature in languages that retain a rich system of grammatical cases. Understanding the dative case is essential for accurate translation and comprehension in languages where it plays a significant role in syntax and semantics.