Dative Case -e/-a

The Dative Case

The dative case expresses 'to' or 'for' (direction/destination). It's formed by adding -e/-a following e-type vowel harmony.

Front vowels → -e

Back vowels → -a

ev-e

to home

ev + e

okul-a

to school

okul + a

İstanbul'a gidiyorum

I'm going to Istanbul

Istanbul + a + going

The dative is commonly used with motion verbs like gitmek (to go), gelmek (to come), and verbs of giving.

Sana bir şey vereceğim

I will give you something

sana = to you (dative)

Markete gidiyorum

I'm going to the market

market + e

Words ending in specific voiceless consonants (ç, k, p, t) soften before vowel suffixes:

k → ğ

p → b

t → d

ç → c

Note: Other voiceless consonants (f, h, s, ş) do NOT undergo softening.

sokak → sokağa

to the street

k → ğ before -a

kitap → kitaba

to the book

p → b before -a

case

Answer: parka

park has 'a' (back) → parka (to the park)

translation

Answer: şehire

şehir + e = şehire

fill in-blank

Answer: ya

Ankara ends in 'a', buffer 'y' + a = Ankara'ya