Breakdown of Dzieci składają dziadkowi życzenia.
dziecko
the child
dziadek
the grandpa
życzenie
the wish
składać
to give (wishes)
Questions & Answers about Dzieci składają dziadkowi życzenia.
Why is it dziadkowi and not dziadek?
Dziadek is the basic dictionary form (nominative), used mainly for the subject of the sentence.
In this sentence, dziadkowi is not the subject; it is the person to whom the wishes are given.
Polish marks this “to someone” role with the dative case.
Dziadek (nominative) → dziadkowi (dative, singular, masculine).
So you use dziadkowi because he is the indirect object: to the grandfather.
What grammatical case is dziadkowi, and in what other situations is it used?