Level A1
Dative case – the third case
There are four cases in Icelandic. The third case in the declension table is the dative case (þágufall, abbreviated as þgf.).[a] It usually implies that the word has something or is being given something.
The helper word you use to force a word into the dative case is „frá“ (“from”).
Things that cause the third case
The following prepositions always cause the dative case:
- frá (from)
- hjá (by)
- úr (out of)
- handa (for)
- á móti (against)
And these prepositions can either cause the accusative case (the second case) or the dative case (the third case) depending on context (click here to see the difference):
- á (on)
- eftir (after)
- fyrir (standing in the way of; in their opinion)
- í (in)
- með (with)
- undir (underneath)
- við (to someone)
- yfir (above)
Verbs that cause the dative case include:
- að svara (to respond)
- að kynnast (to get to know someone)
- að hjálpa (to help)