"Dir"

Hi, The introduction lesson says that "dir" means "to you." As dir is a dative word, can it also mean "from you"?

[quo]*Quote from * adoggie Hi, The introduction lesson says that "dir" means "to you." As dir is a dative word, can it also mean "from you"?[/quo] i see what you're trying to say but dir is only dative if an action is being performed for the person you would refer to as dir. the translation of dir as "to you" gets a little lost in english because we really don't use anything like it. it would be like saying "referring to you", which would never be used when addressing or talking about a person in english, but i believe it would be used in situations more suitable to the english equivalent of "yourself". if you notice in your lessons any time the words "dir " or "mir" are used you can easily substitute the english words yourself and myself respectively for the "to you" and "to me" translations. for example a common phrase: Wie geht’s dir how goes it to you the english word for word translation is a bit awkward and the phrase is more generally translated as "How are you" instead. although less common it wouldn't be as awkward to here something more like how are you, yourself doing. i don't believe "to you" is meant as action such as i gave a letter to you but more as a referral. as you get further in your lessons you'll her nik translate dir and mir using both ways "to you/to me and yourself/myself." hope it helps