Language/Kazakh/Grammar/Simple-Prepositions

◀️ Entertainment and Nightlife — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Compound Prepositions and Postpositions ▶️

Kazakh → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Simple Prepositions

Welcome to another exciting lesson in our "Complete 0 to A1 Kazakh Course"! Today, we will dive into the fascinating world of simple prepositions in the Kazakh language. Understanding prepositions is crucial for building sentences that are coherent and meaningful. They serve as the glue that holds words together, helping us to describe relationships in time and space.

In this lesson, we will explore the most common prepositions used in Kazakh, their meanings, and how to utilize them in simple phrases. By the end of this lesson, you will feel more confident in your ability to express basic ideas and thoughts in Kazakh!

Why Prepositions Matter

Prepositions are words that link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words in a sentence. They can indicate relationships of time, place, direction, and manner. For instance, when you say "The book is on the table," the preposition "on" connects the book to its location. In Kazakh, prepositions serve a similar function, making them essential for effective communication.

Overview of Simple Prepositions

Kazakh prepositions can be categorized into two main types: prepositions and postpositions. Prepositions precede the noun they modify, while postpositions follow the noun.

Here are a few common simple prepositions in Kazakh:

• мен (men) - with

• үшін (üshin) - for

• арасында (arasında) - between

• алдына (aldına) - in front of

• артында (artında) - behind

• жоғары (joghary) - above

• астында (astında) - under

• жанында (janında) - next to

• ішінде (ishinde) - inside

• сыртында (syrtında) - outside

Now, let’s look at some detailed examples to illustrate how these prepositions are used in sentences.

Common Simple Prepositions in Kazakh

Preposition Tables

We will examine each preposition along with its pronunciation and English translation in the following tables.

Kazakh	Pronunciation	English
мен	men	with
үшін	üshin	for
арасында	arasında	between
алдына	aldına	in front of
артында	artında	behind
жоғары	joghary	above
астында	astında	under
жанында	janında	next to
ішінде	ishinde	inside
сыртында	syrtında	outside

Using Simple Prepositions in Sentences

Now that we have our prepositions, let’s see how they can be used in simple sentences.

1. мен (men) - with

• Мен досыммен киноға барамын.

• (Men dosymen kinoga baramyn.)

• I am going to the cinema with my friend.

2. үшін (üshin) - for

• Бұл сыйлық сені үшін.

• (Bul siylyq seni üshin.)

• This gift is for you.

3. арасында (arasında) - between

• Ол кітаптар арасында жатыр.

• (Ol kitaplar arasında jatyr.)

• It is lying between the books.

4. алдына (aldına) - in front of

• Мысық алдына отыр.

• (Mysyq aldına otyr.)

• The cat is sitting in front of (me).

5. артында (artında) - behind

• Кітап артында жасырынып тұр.

• (Kitap artında jasyrynyp tur.)

• The book is hiding behind.

6. жоғары (joghary) - above

• Күн жоғары жарқырайды.

• (Kün joghary zharqyraydy.)

• The sun shines above.

7. астында (astında) - under

• Ит үстелдің астында жатыр.

• (It üstel'diñ astında jatyr.)

• The dog is under the table.

8. жанында (janında) - next to

• Менің үйім кітапхананың жанында.

• (Meniñ üyim kitapkhanañyñ janında.)

• My house is next to the library.

9. ішінде (ishinde) - inside

• Ол сөмкемнің ішінде.

• (Ol sömkemniñ ishinde.)

• It is inside my bag.

10. сыртында (syrtında) - outside

• Балалар сыртында ойнап жатыр.

• (Balalar syrtında oinap jatyr.)

• The children are playing outside.

Practice Exercises

Now that you have learned about simple prepositions, it’s time to put your knowledge to the test! Here are some exercises to help you practice what you have learned.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct preposition from the list: мен, үшін, арасында, алдына, артында, жоғары, астында, жанында, ішінде, сыртында.

1. Кітап ___ үстелдің.

2. Мен ___ досыммен бардым.

3. Бала ___ ойыншық жатыр.

4. Сурет ___ қабырғада.

5. Мысық ___ терезенің алдында отыр.

Exercise 2: Create Sentences

Using the prepositions from Exercise 1, create your own sentences. Use each preposition at least once.

Exercise 3: Translation Practice

Translate the following sentences into Kazakh:

1. The cat is next to the chair.

2. This gift is for my mother.

3. The dog is inside the house.

4. The sun is above the mountains.

5. The children are playing outside the park.

Exercise 4: Matching

Match the prepositions with their meanings:

1. мен

2. үшін

3. арасында

4. жоғары

5. астында

a. under

b. for

c. with

d. above

e. between

Exercise 5: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct preposition to fill in the blank:

He is sitting ___ the table. (a. үстінде, b. астында, c. артында)

Exercise Solutions

Now let’s go through the solutions for the exercises:

Exercise 1 Solutions

1. Кітап астында үстелдің.

2. Мен мен досыммен бардым.

3. Бала арасында ойыншық жатыр.

4. Сурет жоғары қабырғада.

5. Мысық алдына терезенің алдында отыр.

Exercise 2 Solutions

(Students should create their own sentences using the prepositions.)

Exercise 3 Solutions

1. Мысық орындықтың жанында жатыр.

2. Бұл сыйлық анам үшін.

3. Ит үйдің ішінде жатыр.

4. Күн таулардың жоғары.

5. Балалар саябақтың сыртында ойнап жатыр.

Exercise 4 Solutions

1. c (мен - with)

2. b (үшін - for)

3. e (арасында - between)

4. d (жоғары - above)

5. a (астында - under)

Exercise 5 Solutions

Correct answer: a. үстінде (on).

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing this lesson on simple prepositions in Kazakh! Understanding how to use prepositions will significantly enhance your ability to construct sentences and express your thoughts clearly. Keep practicing, and don’t hesitate to revisit this lesson whenever you need a refresher. In our next lesson, we’ll build on what you’ve learned by exploring compound prepositions and postpositions. Happy learning!

Table of Contents - Kazakh Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Kazakh Pronunciation

• Consonants
• Vowels
• Stress and Intonation

  ---

Greetings and Basic Expressions

• Meeting and Greeting
• Expressions for Asking Questions
• Numbers and Counting

  ---

Kazakh Cases

• Nominative Case
• Accusative Case
• Genitive Case
• Dative Case
• Locative Case
• Instrumental Case

  ---

Food and Drink

• Basic Food Vocabulary
• Restaurant Phrases
• Cooking Verbs

  ---

Verbs

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense
• Imperative Mood

  ---

Traditions and Customs

• Wedding Celebrations
• Festivals and Holidays
• Music and Dance
• Cuisine and Culinary Art

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Basic Family Vocabulary
• Romantic Relationships
• Friendship and Socializing

  ---

Adjectives

• Attributive and Predicative Adjectives
• Comparative and Superlative Degrees
• Possessive Adjectives

  ---

Traveling and Directions

• Transportation Vocabulary
• Asking for and Giving Directions
• Accommodation and Lodging

  ---

Pronouns

• Personal Pronouns
• Demonstrative Pronouns

  ---

Shopping and Consumerism

• Basic Shopping Vocabulary
• Sizes and Measurements
• Money and Payments

  ---

Art and Literature

• Famous Writers and Poets
• Folk Tales and Legends
• Visual Arts and Crafts

  ---

Adverbs

• General Adverbs
• Temporal Adverbs
• Modal Adverbs

  ---

Health and Medical Emergencies

• Basic Medical Vocabulary
• Expressions for Medical Emergencies

  ---

Sports and Recreation

• Popular Sports in Kazakhstan
• Traditional Games and Pastimes
• Entertainment and Nightlife

  ---

Prepositions and Postpositions

• Simple Prepositions
• Compound Prepositions and Postpositions

  ---

Nature and Environment

• Basic Nature Vocabulary
• Weather Expressions
• Ecology and Conservation Terms

Other Lessons

• General Adverbs
• Instrumental Case
• Temporal Adverbs
• Pronouns
• Compound Prepositions and Postpositions
• Present Tense
• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Adjectives
• Vowels

◀️ Entertainment and Nightlife — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Compound Prepositions and Postpositions ▶️