Language/Standard-latvian/Grammar/Prepositions-and-their-cases

Standard Latvian Grammar → Adverbs and prepositions → Prepositions and their cases

As a complete beginner in Latvian, prepositions can be quite intimidating. But don't worry, with some practice and guidance, you'll be able to master them in no time!

In this lesson, we'll focus on prepositions and their corresponding cases. Prepositions are words that indicate the relationship between two words or phrases in a sentence, and in Latvian, they require specific cases.

Let's start with some basic Latvian prepositions and their corresponding cases:

Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Negation & Nouns and their declensions.

Prepositions	Case
uz	Accusative
pie	Dative
no	Genitive/Dative
ar	Instrumental

It's important to note that some prepositions can take multiple cases, depending on the meaning of the sentence. Let's take a closer look at each of these prepositions and their corresponding cases.

Uz - Accusative case
The preposition "uz" indicates movement towards an object, a specific point or location. It's equivalent to the English preposition "to" or "towards". It requires the accusative case, which is the case used for direct objects in a sentence.

Examples:

• Es braucu uz Rīgu. (I'm going to Riga.)
• Mēs ejam uz banku. (We're going to the bank.)

Pie - Dative case
The preposition "pie" indicates proximity or location near an object or person. It's equivalent to the English preposition "by" or "near". It requires the dative case, which is the case used for indirect objects or objects of certain prepositions.

Examples:

• Es dzīvoju pie vāveres. (I live by the squirrel.)
• Es gribu iet pie veikala. (I want to go near the store.)

No - Genitive/Dative case
The preposition "no" indicates the starting point or origin of an object or action, or in some cases, the absence of something. It's equivalent to the English preposition "from" or "out of". When indicating the starting point, it requires the genitive case, which shows possession or origin. When indicating the absence of something, it requires the dative case, which is the case used for indirect objects or objects of certain prepositions.

Examples:

• Es nācu no mājas. (I came from home.)
• Es esmu brīvs no darba. (I'm free from work.)

Ar - Instrumental case
The preposition "ar" indicates accompaniment or the means by which something is done. It's equivalent to the English preposition "with" or "by". It requires the instrumental case, which is used to indicate the means by which something is done.

Examples:

• Es braucu ar velosipēdu. (I'm going by bicycle.)
• Es ēdu ar karoti. (I'm eating with a spoon.)

Now that we've covered some common prepositions and their cases, let's practice putting them into sentences!

Exercise: - Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition and case: 1. Es braucu _____ banku. (uz / pie) 2. Es nācu _____ darba. (no / ar) 3. Es dzīvoju _____ vecvecākiem. (pie / ar) 4. Es ēdu _____ karoti. (uz / ar)

Answers: 1. Es braucu pie bankas. (I'm going to the bank.) 2. Es nācu no darba. (I came from work.) 3. Es dzīvoju pie vecvecākiem. (I live with my grandparents.) 4. Es ēdu ar karoti. (I'm eating with a spoon.)

It's important to note that there are many more prepositions in Latvian than the ones we covered in this lesson. Some of them may take different cases depending on the meaning of the sentence. We'll cover more prepositions and cases in future lessons, so stay tuned!

Remember, practice makes perfect when it comes to prepositions and cases in Latvian. Keep practicing and using them in sentences, and you'll start to notice patterns and understand them more easily. Good luck!

Table of Contents - Standard Latvian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Latvian grammar

• Nouns and their declensions
• The verb "to be" and basic sentence structure
• Adjectives and their agreement with nouns

  ---

Daily life and routines

• Greetings and introductions
• Numbers and time
• Family and relationships

  ---

Latvian traditions and customs

• Latvian holidays and celebrations
• Latvian cuisine
• Latvian folklore and crafts

  ---

Verbs and tenses

• Latvian verb conjugation in the present tense
• The past tense and other verb forms

  ---

Going shopping and using public transport

• Buying groceries and household items
• Using public transport

  ---

Latvian geography and landmarks

• Latvian cities and regions
• Latvian nature and national parks

  ---

Adverbs and prepositions

• Adverbs of time and location
• Prepositions and their cases

  ---

Leisure activities and hobbies

• Free time activities and sports
• Music, films and books

  ---

Latvian arts and museums

• Latvian art and architecture
• Latvian museums and exhibitions

  ---

The accusative case and indirect objects

• The accusative case and direct objects
• Indirect objects and the dative case

  ---

Education and employment

• School subjects and degrees
• Jobs and professions

  ---

Latvian history and politics

• Major historical events and figures
• Modern politics and society

  ---

Conditional and subjunctive mood

• The conditional mood and hypothetical situations
• The subjunctive mood and wishes

  ---

Travel and tourism

• Means of transport and directions
• Accommodation and booking

  ---

Latvian culture and identity

• Latvian language and literature
• Latvian music and dance traditions

  ---

The genitive and possessive forms

• The genitive case and possession
• The possessive forms and characteristics

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Health and wellness

• Body parts and basic health issues
• Healthy living and habits

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Latvian sports and outdoor activities

• Popular sports and events
• Nature and outdoor recreation

Other Lessons

• Gender
• 0 to A1 Course
• Indirect objects and the dative case
• Adjectives
• How to Use Be
• Questions
• Nouns and their declensions
• Future Tense
• How to Use Have
• The accusative case and direct objects