Language/Slovenian/Grammar/Adverbs-and-prepositions

Slovenian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Adverbs and Prepositions

Welcome to this exciting lesson on adverbs and prepositions in Slovenian! As you continue your journey to mastering the Slovenian language, understanding these two parts of speech is essential. Adverbs and prepositions add depth and clarity to your sentences, allowing you to express actions, locations, and more with precision.

In this lesson, we will cover the following topics:

• What are Adverbs?

• Types of Adverbs

• Common Adverbs in Slovenian

• What are Prepositions?

• Common Prepositions in Slovenian

• Idiomatic Expressions Involving Adverbs and Prepositions

• Practice Exercises

By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid grasp of how to use adverbs and prepositions in Slovenian, which will help you in everyday conversations and writing.

What are Adverbs?

Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They provide additional information about how, when, where, or to what extent an action is performed. In Slovenian, adverbs often end in -o and are quite flexible in their placement within a sentence.

Types of Adverbs

There are several types of adverbs in Slovenian:

1. Adverbs of Manner - Describe how an action is performed.

2. Adverbs of Time - Indicate when an action occurs.

3. Adverbs of Place - Specify the location of an action.

4. Adverbs of Frequency - Indicate how often an action occurs.

5. Adverbs of Degree - Describe the intensity or degree of an action or quality.

Common Adverbs in Slovenian

Let's take a look at some common adverbs in Slovenian, illustrated in the following table:

Slovenian	Pronunciation	English
hitro	ˈxi.tɾo	quickly
dobro	ˈdo.bɾo	well
jutri	ˈju.tɾi	tomorrow
tam	tam	there
pogosto	poˈɡos.to	often
zelo	ˈze.lo	very
vedno	ˈʋe.dno	always
nikoli	ˈni.ko.li	never
blizu	ˈbli.zu	near
počasi	poˈtʃa.si	slowly

What are Prepositions?

Prepositions are words that link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words in a sentence. They usually indicate relationships in terms of time, place, direction, cause, manner, and instrumentality. In Slovenian, prepositions can often be combined with nouns to form compound words.

Common Prepositions in Slovenian

Here are some common Slovenian prepositions along with their meanings:

Slovenian	Pronunciation	English
na	na	on, at
pod	pɔd	under
nad	nad	above
z	z	with
brez	bɾɛz	without
v	ʋ	in
za	za	for, behind
pred	pɾɛd	in front of
med	mɛd	between
do	dɔ	to, until

Idiomatic Expressions Involving Adverbs and Prepositions

Idiomatic expressions are phrases that have a figurative meaning different from the literal meaning of the individual words. Here are some common Slovenian idiomatic expressions involving adverbs and prepositions:

1. Biti na vrhu sveta – To be on top of the world (to be very happy).

2. Imeti srečo – To have luck (to be lucky).

3. Gledati skozi prste – To turn a blind eye (to ignore something).

4. Biti v zadregi – To be in a dilemma (to feel awkward).

5. Biti odvisen od – To be dependent on.

These idiomatic expressions are frequently used in conversations and can greatly enhance your comprehension and speaking skills in Slovenian.

Practice Exercises

Now that you have learned about adverbs and prepositions, it's time to put your knowledge to the test! Below are some exercises designed to reinforce what you've learned.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct adverb from the list: hitro, dobro, blizu, vedno.

1. Ona teče ________. (She runs _______.)

2. Mi govorimo ________ o tem. (We talk ________ about it.)

3. Knjiga je ________ na mizi. (The book is ________ on the table.)

4. On pride ________ na večerjo. (He comes ________ for dinner.)

Exercise 2: Match the Prepositions

Match the Slovenian prepositions to their English meanings:

1. na

2. z

3. pod

4. brez

5. do

a. without

b. at/on

c. under

d. for/to

e. with

Exercise 3: Translate the Sentences

Translate the following sentences into Slovenian using the correct adverb or preposition:

1. She always eats breakfast.

2. The cat is under the table.

3. We will meet tomorrow.

4. I like to walk slowly.

Exercise 4: Identify the Adverb

Read the following sentences and identify the adverb used:

1. On dela hitro. (He works quickly.)

2. Mi gremo jutri. (We are going tomorrow.)

3. Ona je tam. (She is there.)

4. Ti si zelo prijazen. (You are very kind.)

Exercise 5: Create Sentences

Create sentences using the following adverbs:

1. pogosto

2. nikoli

3. tam

4. zelo

Answers and Explanations

Answers to Exercise 1

1. hitro (She runs quickly.)

2. dobro (We talk well about it.)

3. blizu (The book is near on the table.)

4. vedno (He always comes for dinner.)

Answers to Exercise 2

1. na - b. at/on

2. z - e. with

3. pod - c. under

4. brez - a. without

5. do - d. for/to

Answers to Exercise 3

1. Ona vedno je zajtrk.

2. Mačka je pod mizo.

3. Srečamo se jutri.

4. Rad hodim počasi.

Answers to Exercise 4

1. hitro

2. jutri

3. tam

4. zelo

Answers to Exercise 5

(Answers will vary; here are examples.)

1. Pogosto igramo nogomet. (We often play soccer.)

2. Nikoli ne gledam televizije. (I never watch TV.)

3. Tam je moja knjiga. (My book is there.)

4. Zelo rad pečem. (I really enjoy baking.)

Congratulations! You have successfully navigated through the essentials of adverbs and prepositions in Slovenian. As you continue your studies, remember to practice these elements in your conversations and writing. They will serve as the foundation for more complex structures as you progress toward the A1 level.

Table of Contents - Slovenian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Singular and Plural Nouns
• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time
• Days of the Week

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Eating Out

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
• Adverbs

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Prepositions
• Conjunctions

  ---

Hobbies and Free Time

• Common Hobbies
• Talking about Free Time

  ---

Slovenian Customs and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Traditional Food and Drink

Other Lessons

• Conjugation of verbs in the present tense
• Word order and sentence structure
• Pronouns and their use
• How to Use Be
• Questions
• Nouns, articles and gender
• Conditional Mood
• Adjectives
• Future Tense
• Gender