potrebám

Potřebám is the dative plural form of the Czech noun potřeba, which means need, requirement, or necessity. The word refers to something that is required or desired by someone or some group, and it is used to indicate the indirect object of a verb or a prepositional phrase expressing who or what the needs pertain to.

In use, potřebám appears in oblique cases when speaking about meeting, addressing, or considering needs. Common expressions include vyhovět potřebám zákazníků (to meet the needs of customers) or sloužit potřebám občanů (to serve the needs of citizens). The dative plural is formed as potřebám; other plural forms include potřeby (nominative/accusative) and potřebami (instrumental), with potře-ba as the base stem.

Examples:

- Společnost musí vyjít vstříc potřebám klientů.

- Organizace vznikla s cílem sloužit potřebám komunit.

Etymology and related forms: Potřeba derives from a Proto-Slavic root common to several Slavic languages; it is cognate with Polish potrzeba and related forms in other languages. The Czech word has seen various inflected forms across cases, including singular být potřeba, plural potřeby, and oblique forms jako potřebám or potřebami.

Usage notes: Potřebám is primarily a formal, neutral term used in everyday speech and writing to discuss demands, requirements, or necessities of people, groups, or institutions. It is often contrasted with synonyms like nutnost (necessity) or požadavek (demand), which carry slightly different nuance.