Почему "Мне" и не "Я?"

Hi!

Why is it appropriate to use Мне instead of Я sometimes?

For example, мне нравится....why not я нравится?

Thanks!

Because this depends on a particular verb, in substance, what would be a proper subject (the perfomer of the action) for a particular verb.

Examine these:

Я люблю её (I love her) - Я is the subject that always takes nominative case, люблю is the predicate and a verb, её is the object the predicate takes. An object never takes nominative case but some other (usually accusative)

Мне нравится она - Мне is the object the predicate takes, нравится is the predicate and a verb, она is the subject, the performer of the action.

So the last example sentence could be literally translated as -- She is liked by me.
Of course, the proper translation is - I like her.

Another example:

Мне нужен стул - Мне is the object, нужен is the predicate, but not a verb, стул is the subject.

This one is translated as - I need a chair.

Becuse it's dative, the question should be "Кому?" - Мне.
"Я" - it's nominative. "Кто?" - Я.
You can use "I like" in meaning - Я люблю / Мне нравится.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TeRatroN

Becuse it's dative, the question should be "Кому?" - Мне. ...

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Как уже указывалось раньше, постановка правильного вопроса, к сожалению, может помочь только русскоговорящему школьнику.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by iCake

Мне нужен стул - Мне is the object, нужен is the predicate, but not a verb!, стул is another object.

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Why exactly do you think that it is impersonal? Why стул can't be a subject? OK, "нужен" is not a verb, but why it matters?

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Originally Posted by RusskiySnaiper

For example, мне нравится....why not я нравится?

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You've got many relpies already.
Another simple explanation to you.

The Russian verb "нравиться" is not grammatically equivalent to the English "to like".
Think of it this way: "нравиться" = "to be likeable (to someone)", "to please".

If you say "Мне нравится Джон", that means "John is likeable to me", i.e. "John pleases me" = "I like John".
However, "Я нравлюсь Джону" means "I am likeable to John", i.e. "I please John" = "John likes me".

"я нравится" (as you proposed) is just wrong because "я" is the 1st person singular, while "нравится" is the 3rd person singular.
It should be "я нравлюсь" instead. But the meaning would be as I explained above: "I am likeable", i.e. I please someone, someone likes me.

BTW, your question should sound

Почему "мне", а не "я"?

You only use "и" when you join some things which behave equally. If you want to oppose things, you need "а".

Quote:

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Originally Posted by iCake

Мне нравится она - Мне is the direct object the predicate takes

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BTW, in this case, the direct object is -ся. Мне is an indirect object.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Soft sign

BTW, in this case, the direct object is -ся. Мне is an indirect object.

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Yeah, thanks, corrected

Thanks everyone, for all of your help! To recap,

Nravitsya is NOT "to like," but rather, "to be likeable."

And Mne is dative (to me)?

So Mne nravitsya ona would be "She is likeable to me?"

Thanks again! Please correct if I have this wrong!

You have this right.

Thank you!