The Dative Case for Adjectives
When you describe a noun in the Dative case—for instance, when stating exactly who is receiving care or help—the adjectives describing that person must also be in the Dative case. We use two main adjective endings in the Dative singular: -emu and -ej.
Masculine and Neuter Adjectives: "-emu"
Adjectives modifying masculine and neuter nouns in the Dative case take the ending -emu. This also applies to the demonstrative pronoun ten (this), which becomes temu.
Notice how the adjectives in these sentences end in -emu to match the masculine receivers of the action:
| I am helping this sick patient. | Pomagam temu choremu pacjentowi. |
| The nurse gives water to the weak man. | Pielęgniarka daje wodę słabemu mężczyźnie. |
| The doctor gives the examination result to the young patient. | Lekarz daje wynik badania młodemu pacjentowi. |
Feminine Adjectives: "-ej"
For feminine nouns, the rule is even simpler. All adjectives describing a feminine noun in the Dative case take the ending -ej. Similarly, the feminine demonstrative pronoun ta (this) becomes tej.
| This new nurse in the hospital is helping the older patient. | Ta nowa pielęgniarka w szpitalu pomaga starszej pacjentce. |
| We feel sorry for this sick girl. | My współczujemy tej chorej dziewczynie. |
Common Dative Verbs in Healthcare
You will use these adjective endings with verbs that require the Dative case, such as pomagać (to help), dawać (to give), and dziękować (to thank). In this lesson, we also practice using them with new verbs related to patient care and support: współczuć (to sympathize with), życzyć (to wish), and przypominać (to remind).
| I feel very sorry for this weak patient. | Bardzo współczuję temu słabemu pacjentowi. |
| We wish health to this young patient. | Życzymy zdrowia tej młodej pacjentce. |
| I remind this older gentleman about the pill. | Przypominam o tabletce temu starszemu panu. |
| I thank this nice nurse for the care. | Dziękuję tej sympatycznej pielęgniarce za opiekę. |