In Russian, some words that tell us about direction or purpose need a special form called the dative case. This is really useful when we want to say where we are going or who something is for. Let's keep it simple:

Common Words That Use the Dative Case

1. к (to, towards)

   • For example: Я иду к брату.
     (I am going to my brother.)

2. по (along, according to)

   • For example: Мы поговорим по делу.
     (We will talk about the matter.)

3. для (for)

   • For example: Это подарок для тебя.
     (This is a gift for you.)

4. вместо (instead of)

   • For example: Вместо него пришла Мария.
     (Maria came instead of him.)

Important Tips

• The dative case helps us show who is getting something or where someone is going.

• Don't forget to change any descriptive words (like "my" or "your") so they follow the dative case rules too.

Practice using these words with different nouns to improve your skills!