Language/Slovak/Grammar/Prepositions

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Slovak → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Prepositions

Welcome to the lesson on prepositions in Slovak! Prepositions are a crucial part of any language as they help connect words, phrases, and clauses, allowing us to express relationships between different elements in a sentence. In Slovak, prepositions play an equally important role, helping us convey meanings related to time, place, direction, and more.

As English speakers learning Slovak, you may find that some prepositions behave differently than in English. This lesson aims to guide you through the intricacies of Slovak prepositions, their forms, and when to use them. We'll explore a variety of examples and practice scenarios to help solidify your understanding.

Lesson Outline:

1. Introduction to Prepositions

2. Types of Prepositions

• Prepositions of Place

• Prepositions of Time

• Prepositions of Direction

3. Prepositions with Cases

4. Examples of Prepositions in Use

5. Practice Exercises

6. Conclusion

Introduction to Prepositions

Prepositions are small words that can have a significant impact on the meaning of a sentence. They often indicate how different elements relate to one another. In Slovak, prepositions can change based on the grammatical case of the nouns they accompany. This may seem complex at first, but with practice, you will find it becomes much easier to navigate!

Types of Prepositions

Understanding the different types of prepositions is essential for mastering their use in Slovak. Let's dive into three main categories: place, time, and direction.

Prepositions of Place

Prepositions of place help us describe where something is located. Here are some common Slovak prepositions of place:

Slovak	Pronunciation	English
na	nah	on, at
v	v	in
pod	pod	under
nad	nahd	above
medzi	medzi	between

For example:

1. Kniha je na stole. (The book is on the table.)

2. Pes je v dome. (The dog is in the house.)

3. Mäso je pod stolom. (The meat is under the table.)

4. Lampa je nad stolom. (The lamp is above the table.)

5. Stolička je medzi dvoma stoličkami. (The chair is between two chairs.)

Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time indicate when something happens. Here are some examples:

Slovak	Pronunciation	English
o	oh	at
v	v	in
do	doh	until, by
po	poh	after
pred	pred	before

Examples include:

1. Stretneme sa o piatej. (We will meet at five o'clock.)

2. Ona sa narodila v júli. (She was born in July.)

3. Musíme to urobiť do zajtra. (We must do it by tomorrow.)

4. Po obede ideme na prechádzku. (We will go for a walk after lunch.)

5. Pred večerou sa umyjem. (I will wash before dinner.)

Prepositions of Direction

Prepositions of direction indicate movement towards a location. Here are some Slovak prepositions of direction:

Slovak	Pronunciation	English
do	doh	to, into
na	nah	to, onto
k	keh	to, towards
z	z	from
zaujímavý	zaujímavý	interesting (added for context)

Examples of direction prepositions:

1. Ideme do školy. (We are going to school.)

2. Hráme na ihrisku. (We are playing on the playground.)

3. Ona ide k lekárovi. (She is going to the doctor.)

4. Prichádzam z mesta. (I am coming from the city.)

5. On sa zaujíma o umenie. (He is interested in art.)

Prepositions with Cases

In Slovak, prepositions are closely tied to grammatical cases. Depending on the preposition, the noun following it will change form. This means that you need to be aware of the case that goes with each preposition. For example, some prepositions require the genitive case, while others require the locative case.

Here is a quick overview of how some prepositions correspond with cases:

Preposition	Required Case	Example
na	accusative/locative	na stôl (on the table) / na stole (on the table)
v	locative	v dome (in the house)
do	genitive	do školy (to school)
k	dative	k lekárovi (to the doctor)
z	genitive	z mesta (from the city)

Familiarizing yourself with these relationships is crucial for constructing correct sentences.

Examples of Prepositions in Use

Now, let's dive into more detailed examples to illustrate the usage of Slovak prepositions in various contexts. This will help you see how they function in everyday conversation.

1. Kde je tvoj mobil?

• Translation: Where is your mobile?

• Usage: The question uses "je" (is) with the preposition "kde" (where) to inquire about location.

2. Bola som v Bratislave.

• Translation: I was in Bratislava.

• Usage: Here, "v" (in) indicates the location of the speaker.

3. Učím sa po práci.

• Translation: I study after work.

• Usage: The preposition "po" (after) shows the timing of the action.

4. Ideme na koncert.

• Translation: We are going to a concert.

• Usage: The preposition "na" (to) expresses the direction of movement.

5. Pohár je pod stolom.

• Translation: The glass is under the table.

• Usage: "Pod" (under) describes the location of the glass.

6. Ona odchádza do zahraničia.

• Translation: She is leaving for abroad.

• Usage: "Do" (to) indicates the direction of movement.

7. Prídeme k tebe.

• Translation: We will come to you.

• Usage: "K" (to) shows the direction towards the listener.

8. Ona sa narodila v Bratislave.

• Translation: She was born in Bratislava.

• Usage: Again, "v" (in) specifies the location of her birth.

9. Ideme na dovolenku.

• Translation: We are going on vacation.

• Usage: This example uses "na" (on) to describe the purpose of the trip.

10. Boli sme pred domom.

• Translation: We were in front of the house.

• Usage: "Pred" (in front of) indicates the location relative to the house.

11. Musím to urobiť do piatku.

• Translation: I must do it by Friday.

• Usage: "Do" (by) indicates a deadline.

12. Ona sa učí po škole.

• Translation: She studies after school.

• Usage: "Po" (after) shows when she studies.

13. Dieťa je medzi rodičmi.

• Translation: The child is between the parents.

• Usage: "Medzi" (between) describes the child's location.

14. Stojím pred zrkadlom.

• Translation: I stand in front of the mirror.

• Usage: "Pred" (in front of) indicates position.

15. On ide z práce.

• Translation: He is coming from work.

• Usage: "Z" (from) shows the origin of movement.

16. Na stole je kniha.

• Translation: There is a book on the table.

• Usage: "Na" (on) specifies where the book is located.

17. Kde je tvoj priateľ?

• Translation: Where is your friend?

• Usage: "Kde" (where) is used to inquire about location.

18. Môžem ísť s tebou?

• Translation: Can I go with you?

• Usage: The preposition "s" (with) indicates companionship.

19. Ona je na ceste do školy.

• Translation: She is on her way to school.

• Usage: "Na" (on) indicates the direction of travel.

20. Sú tam dva stoly.

• Translation: There are two tables over there.

• Usage: "Tam" (there) indicates location.

Practice Exercises

To help reinforce your understanding of Slovak prepositions, let's try some practice exercises. These exercises will allow you to apply what you've learned about prepositions in various contexts.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition from the list: na, v, do, k, z.

1. Idem ___ domov. (I am going home.)

2. Kniha je ___ polici. (The book is on the shelf.)

3. Pracujem ___ kancelárii. (I work in the office.)

4. Ona ide ___ lekárovi. (She is going to the doctor.)

5. Prišiel ___ školy. (He came from school.)

Answers:

1. do

2. na

3. v

4. k

5. z

Exercise 2: Translate the Sentences

Translate the following Slovak sentences into English.

1. V lete ideme na dovolenku.

2. Je pod stolom.

3. Musím to urobiť do pondelka.

4. Kde je tvoj pes?

5. Stojím pred obchodom.

Answers:

1. In summer, we go on vacation.

2. It is under the table.

3. I must do it by Monday.

4. Where is your dog?

5. I am standing in front of the store.

Exercise 3: Choose the Correct Preposition

Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentences.

1. Ona je ___ škola. (in/on)

• a) na

• b) v

2. Ideme ___ hory. (to/into)

• a) do

• b) na

3. Kde je tvoj mobil ___? (at/on)

• a) na

• b) v

4. Musím prísť ___ štyroch. (by/at)

• a) do

• b) o

5. Prišla som ___ práce. (from/to)

• a) z

• b) do

Answers:

1. b) v

2. a) do

3. a) na

4. a) do

5. a) z

Exercise 4: Write Sentences

Using the prepositions provided, write your own sentences.

1. do

2. na

3. pred

4. medzi

5. po

Example Answers:

1. Idem do mesta. (I am going to the city.)

2. Kniha je na stole. (The book is on the table.)

3. Stojím pred domom. (I am standing in front of the house.)

4. Dieťa je medzi rodičmi. (The child is between the parents.)

5. Po večeri ideme na prechádzku. (After dinner, we will go for a walk.)

Exercise 5: Match the Prepositions with the Cases

Match the prepositions to the corresponding cases.

1. na

2. do

3. z

4. k

5. v

Answers:

1. Accusative/Locative

2. Genitive

3. Genitive

4. Dative

5. Locative

Exercise 6: Fill in the Correct Case

Fill in the correct case for the following nouns based on the prepositions provided.

1. Idem ___ (škola) do. (I am going to school.)

2. Kniha je ___ (stôl) na. (The book is on the table.)

3. Prišiel som ___ (obchod) z. (I came from the store.)

4. Ona ide ___ (lekár) k. (She is going to the doctor.)

5. Stojím ___ (park) v. (I am standing in the park.)

Answers:

1. školy (genitive)

2. stole (locative)

3. obchodu (genitive)

4. lekárovi (dative)

5. v parku (locative)

Exercise 7: Create Questions

Create questions using the prepositions given.

1. na (What is on the table?)

2. v (Where is the dog?)

3. do (Where are we going?)

4. k (Who are you going to?)

5. z (Where are you coming from?)

Example Questions:

1. Čo je na stole? (What is on the table?)

2. Kde je pes? (Where is the dog?)

3. Kam ideme? (Where are we going?)

4. K komu ideš? (Who are you going to?)

5. Odkiaľ prichádzaš? (Where are you coming from?)

Exercise 8: Negative Sentences

Rewrite the following sentences in negative form using the prepositions provided.

1. Je v škole. (He is in school.)

2. Ideme do mesta. (We are going to the city.)

3. Kniha je na stole. (The book is on the table.)

4. Ona ide k lekárovi. (She is going to the doctor.)

5. Boli sme pred obchodom. (We were in front of the store.)

Example Negative Sentences:

1. Nie je v škole. (He is not in school.)

2. Neideme do mesta. (We are not going to the city.)

3. Kniha nie je na stole. (The book is not on the table.)

4. Ona nejde k lekárovi. (She is not going to the doctor.)

5. Neboli sme pred obchodom. (We were not in front of the store.)

Exercise 9: Translate the Sentences to Slovak

Translate the following English sentences into Slovak.

1. The cat is under the table.

2. I am going to the park.

3. We will meet at six o'clock.

4. She was born in March.

5. They are coming from the school.

Answers:

1. Mačka je pod stolom.

2. Idem do parku.

3. Stretneme sa o šiestej.

4. Ona sa narodila v marci.

5. Oni prichádzajú zo školy.

Exercise 10: Short Dialogues

Create short dialogues using at least three different prepositions.

Example Dialogue:

A: Kde je tvoj mobil? (Where is your mobile?)

B: Je v taške. (It is in the bag.)

A: Ideme do kaviarne? (Are we going to the café?)

B: Áno, po obede. (Yes, after lunch.)

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing this lesson on Slovak prepositions! You've learned about their importance, various types, and how they relate to grammatical cases. Remember, practice is key to mastering prepositions in any language. Keep using them in your conversations, and soon enough, they will become second nature to you.

Feel free to revisit this lesson whenever you need a refresher. Keep up the great work, and let's move on to the next topic in our journey through the Slovak language!

Table of Contents - Slovak Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Unit 1: Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings
• Introductions
• Nationalities and Languages

  ---

Unit 2: Nouns, Pronouns, and Verbs in the Present Tense

• Nouns and Pronouns
• The Present Tense of Regular Verbs
• The Verbs 'To Be' and 'To Have'
• Basic Sentence Structure

  ---

Unit 3: Slovak Culture and Society

• Slovak History
• Slovak Traditions and Customs
• Slovak Food and Drink

  ---

Unit 4: Daily Activities and Routine

• Daily Routine
• Free Time
• Chores and Errands

  ---

Unit 5: Cases and Prepositions

• The Genitive Case
• The Locative Case
• Prepositions

  ---

Unit 6: Slovak Geography and Nature

• Regions of Slovakia
• Slovak Nature
• Slovak Folk Tales and Legends

  ---

Unit 7: Travel and Transportation

• Transportation
• Travel and Accommodation
• Directions

  ---

Unit 8: Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjectives
• Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs
• The Imperfective and Perfective

  ---

Unit 9: Slovak Art and Music

• Slovak Art
• Slovak Music
• Slovak Film and Literature

  ---

Unit 10: Time and Dates

• Telling Time
• Days of the Week and Months of the Year
• Holidays and Celebrations

Sources

• Slovak prepositions | coLanguage
• Slovak Grammar | LEARN101.ORG

Other Lessons

• Nouns and Pronouns
• Nouns
• Plurals
• The Imperfective and Perfective
• How to Use Be
• How to Use Have
• The Verbs 'To Be' and 'To Have'
• Adjectives
• The Locative Case
• Conditional Mood

◀️ The Locative Case — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Regions of Slovakia ▶️