Language/Lithuanian/Grammar/Common-Prepositions

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Lithuanian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Common Prepositions

In the beautiful and intricate world of the Lithuanian language, prepositions play a vital role. They act as bridges that connect nouns, pronouns, and phrases to other words in a sentence, helping to clarify relationships related to location, time, and other contexts. For English speakers, understanding how to use prepositions correctly is essential for achieving fluency and ensuring clear communication. In this lesson, we will explore the most common Lithuanian prepositions, their meanings, and how to use them effectively in sentences.

The structure of our lesson will be as follows:

1. Introduction to Prepositions

2. Common Prepositions in Lithuanian

• Prepositions of Location

• Prepositions of Time

• Other Common Prepositions

3. Examples of Prepositions in Sentences

4. Exercises to Practice Prepositions

5. Summary and Key Takeaways

Now, let’s dive into the fascinating world of Lithuanian prepositions!

Introduction to Prepositions

Prepositions are words that link nouns or pronouns to other words in a sentence. They are crucial for expressing relationships in space and time. In Lithuanian, just like in English, prepositions can change the meaning of a sentence significantly, so it's important to use them correctly. By mastering prepositions, you will be able to describe where things are, when events happen, and how different elements relate to each other in your speech and writing.

Common Prepositions in Lithuanian

In this section, we will cover the most common Lithuanian prepositions, starting with those related to location, followed by time, and then additional useful prepositions.

Prepositions of Location

Lithuanian has a rich set of prepositions that describe where something is located. Here are some of the most common prepositions of location:

Lithuanian	Pronunciation	English
ant	ant	on
po	po	under
prie	priɛ	near
už	uʒ	behind
prieš	priɛʃ	in front of
vidury	viduˈri	in the middle of
virš	virʃ	above
tarp	tɑrp	between

Prepositions of Time

Time is another area where prepositions are essential. Here are some common prepositions used to express time:

Lithuanian	Pronunciation	English
prieš	priɛʃ	before
po	po	after
per	pɛr	during
iki	iki	until
nuo	nuo	from
apie	apɪɛ	about
per	pɛr	at (for time)

Other Common Prepositions

Besides location and time, there are several other prepositions that are commonly used in various contexts:

Lithuanian	Pronunciation	English
su	su	with
be	bɛ	without
dėl	dɛl	for (reason)
pagal	pɑɡɑl	according to
prieš	priɛʃ	against
tarp	tɑrp	among
apie	apɪɛ	about

Examples of Prepositions in Sentences

Now that we have a good understanding of common Lithuanian prepositions, let’s see how they can be used in sentences. Here are some examples to illustrate their usage:

Lithuanian	Pronunciation	English
Aš esu ant stalo.	aʃ ɛsu ant ˈstalo	I am on the table.
Knyga yra po lova.	ˈknyɡa ˈiːra po ˈlova	The book is under the bed.
Jis gyvena prie upės.	jɪs ɡɪˈvɛnɑ priɛ ˈuːpɛs	He lives near the river.
Katė slepiasi už durų.	ˈkatɛ sˈlɛpɪɑsɪ uʒ ˈduːrʊ	The cat is hiding behind the door.
Mes sėdime prie stalo.	mɛs ˈsɛdɪmɛ priɛ ˈstalo	We are sitting at the table.
Vakar aš buvau vidury miško.	ˈvakar aʃ ˈbuvau viˈdurɪ ˈmiʃko	Yesterday I was in the middle of the forest.
Knyga yra virš stalo.	ˈknyɡa ˈiːra virʃ ˈstalo	The book is above the table.
Vaikai žaidžia tarp medžių.	vaɪˈkai ˈʒɛɪdʒɪɑ tɑrp ˈmɛdʒʊ	The children are playing between the trees.
Aš ateisiu po pietų.	aʃ aˈteɪsʲu po pʲɛˈtu	I will come after lunch.
Susitiksime iki penktadienio.	suˈsitɪksɪmɛ iki pɛnktɑˈdiɛniɔ	We will meet until Friday.

Exercises to Practice Prepositions

Now it’s time to put your knowledge into practice! Here are some exercises to help you reinforce what you’ve learned about Lithuanian prepositions.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Translate the following sentences using the correct preposition from the list: ant, po, prie, virš, tarp.

1. Knyga yra ____ stalo. (The book is on the table.)

2. Katė slepiasi ____ lova. (The cat is under the bed.)

3. Mes sėdime ____ durų. (We are sitting near the door.)

4. Karpis yra ____ žuvų. (The carp is among the fish.)

5. Baterija yra ____ stalo. (The battery is above the table.)

Solutions:

1. ant

2. po

3. prie

4. tarp

5. virš

Exercise 2: Match the Prepositions

Match the Lithuanian prepositions with their English meanings.

| Lithuanian | English |

|-------------|---------|

| a) su | 1) without |

| b) be | 2) with |

| c) iki | 3) until |

| d) prieš | 4) against |

Solutions:

a-2, b-1, c-3, d-4

Exercise 3: Sentence Creation

Create sentences using the following prepositions: apie, dėl, per. Provide both the Lithuanian sentence and its English translation.

Solutions: (Students' answers may vary)

1. Apie ką tu kalbi? (What are you talking about?)

2. Aš esu čia dėl tavęs. (I am here for you.)

3. Mes einame per parką. (We are walking through the park.)

Exercise 4: True or False

Determine whether the following sentences are true or false based on your knowledge of prepositions.

1. "Ant" means "under." (False)

2. "Prie" indicates proximity. (True)

3. "Per" is used for time only. (False)

4. "Už" means "in front of." (False)

Solutions:

1. False

2. True

3. False

4. False

Exercise 5: Translate the Sentences

Translate the following sentences into Lithuanian using the appropriate prepositions:

1. The cat is on the table.

2. I will go to the store.

3. The dog is in front of the house.

4. They are playing in the park.

Solutions:

1. Katė yra ant stalo.

2. Aš eisiu į parduotuvę.

3. Šuo yra prieš namą.

4. Jie žaidžia parke.

Summary and Key Takeaways

In this lesson, we have explored the world of Lithuanian prepositions, focusing on their meanings and how they can be used in various contexts. Here are some key takeaways:

• Prepositions are essential for expressing relationships in space and time.

• Common prepositions include those related to location (e.g., ant, po, prie) and time (e.g., iki, po, per).

• Practice using prepositions in sentences to enhance your understanding and fluency.

As you continue your journey in learning Lithuanian, remember that mastering prepositions will greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively. Keep practicing, and soon you will feel more confident in your use of this beautiful language!

Table of Contents - Lithuanian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Lithuanian

• Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Basic Sentence Structure

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Common Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Noun Gender and Declension
• Personal Pronouns

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods
• Dining Out

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Describing People and Things
• Comparatives and Superlatives

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Common Prepositions
• Connecting Ideas

  ---

Shopping and Services

• Shopping Vocabulary
• Banking and Postal Services

  ---

Lithuanian Traditions and Customs

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Traditional Cuisine

Sources

• Lithuanian grammar - Wikipedia
• Lithuanian Prepositions
• Lithuanian Grammar | LEARN101.ORG

Other Lessons

• Personal Pronouns
• Comparatives and Superlatives
• Adjectives
• Connecting Ideas
• Multipurpose Words and Suffixes
• Noun Gender and Declension
• Describing People and Things
• Present Tense Verbs
• Word Order
• Nominative and Accusative Cases

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