részeseset

Részeseset, in Hungarian grammar, is the dative case. It marks the indirect object or the recipient/beneficiary of an action. It answers questions such as kinek? to whom, minek? for whom, or számít-e végső haszonként? for whom it is intended. In Hungarian, the részeseset is usually expressed by adding a suffix to the noun stem: -nak or -nek, selected according to vowel harmony (back vowels trigger -nak, front vowels trigger -nek). For example: a tanárnak (to the teacher), Péternek (to Peter), anyának (to mother). With proper nouns and common nouns alike, the suffix follows the same rule.

Pronouns have fixed dative forms: nekem (to me), neked (to you), neki (to him/her/it), nekünk (to us), nektek (to you all), nekik (to them). These forms function independently from the noun’s suffixal marking and are used when the recipient or beneficiary is a pronoun.

Usage and meaning: The részeseset indicates the recipient, beneficiary, or target of an action, often with verbs like adni (to give), mondani (to tell), mutatni (to show), köszönni (to thank), segíteni (to help). The direct object, if present, is typically in the accusative, while the dative provides the recipient. Examples: Adtam a tanárnak egy könyvet. I gave a book to the teacher. Köszönöm neki. I thank him/her. Segítek anyámnak. I help my mother.

The részeseset is a standard element of Hungarian sentence structure, reflecting the language’s case system and its reliance on postposed possessive and directional elements rather than prepositions.