Nouns: Dative Case

01

Vowel Harmony: -a vs. -e

The choice between the -a and -e suffix depends on the last vowel in the noun.

If the last vowel is one of the "back vowels" (a, ı, o, u), add the suffix -a.

• Okula gidiyorum.

  I am going to school.

• Kutuya ne koydun?

  What did you put into the box?

If the last vowel is one of the "front vowels" (e, i, ö, ü), add the suffix -e.

• Eve dönüyorum.

  I am returning home.

• Köye mektup yolladım.

  I sent a letter to the village.

02

Words Ending in a Vowel

If a noun already ends in a vowel, a buffer letter y is inserted before the dative suffix to prevent two vowels from being next to each other.

• Arabaya benzin lazım.

  The car needs gasoline (lit. gasoline is needed to the car).

• Kediye süt verdim.

  I gave milk to the cat.

03

Consonant Mutation

When the dative suffix is added to a noun ending in one of the voiceless consonants p, ç, t, k, the consonant often softens into its voiced counterpart.

• p becomes b: kitap → kitaba (to the book)
• ç becomes c: ağaç → ağaca (to the tree)
• t becomes d: yurt → yurda (to the dormitory)
• k becomes ğ: çocuk → çocuğa (to the child)

• Kitaba bakıyorum.

  I am looking at the book.

• Çocuğa bir elma ver.

  Give an apple to the child.

This rule does not apply to most single-syllable words (e.g., süt → süte) or many loanwords.

04

Other Functions of the Dative Case

Besides direction, the dative case is used to indicate the indirect object (the recipient of an action), purpose, or price. It is also required by certain verbs.

Indirect Object

• Öğretmene bir soru sordum.

  I asked the teacher a question.

• Anneme çiçek aldım.

  I bought flowers for my mother.

Price or Exchange

• Bu kazağı elli liraya aldım.

  I bought this sweater for fifty lira.

With Specific Verbs

Many verbs inherently require their object to be in the dative case. Common examples include bakmak (to look at), inanmak (to believe in), başlamak (to begin/start), and yardım etmek (to help).

• Sana inanıyorum.

  I believe you.

• Derse başlıyoruz.

  We are starting the lesson.

05

Dative with Pronouns

Personal pronouns have irregular forms in the dative case. Note the vowel change in the first and second person singular.

• ben (I) → bana (to me)
• sen (you) → sana (to you)
• o (he/she/it) → ona (to him/her/it)
• biz (we) → bize (to us)
• siz (you, pl./formal) → size (to you)
• onlar (they) → onlara (to them)

• Bana gerçeği söyle.

  Tell me the truth.

• Size bir e-posta gönderdim.

  I sent you an email.

06

The 'n' Buffer with Possessives

When the dative suffix is added to a noun that already has a 3rd person possessive suffix (-(s)ı, -(s)i, -(s)u, -(s)ü), the buffer letter is n, not y.

Compare:

• araba (car) + y + a → arabaya (to the car)
• arabası (his/her car) + n + a → arabasına (to his/her car)

• Arkadaşımın evine gidiyoruz.

  We are going to my friend's house.

• Masanın ayağına vurdum.

  I hit the leg of the table.