Czech cases and prepositions
Jdu |
I go |
s Janem |
with Jan |
na pivo |
for beer |
do hospody |
to the pub |
The main Czech prepositions
Some prepositions have two forms: v and ve.
The second (vocalized) form is used for easy pronunciation:
ve Vídni (in Vienna), ve středu (on Wednesday).
do
always with Genitive
jdu do hospody |
I go to the pub |
jdu do školy |
I go to school |
jdu do parku |
I go to the park |
jedu do Prahy |
I'm going to Prague |
jedu do Česka |
I'm going to the Czech Republic |
v(e)
always with Locative
jsem v hospodě |
I am in the pub |
jsem ve škole |
I am at school |
jsem v parku |
I am in the park |
jsem v Praze |
I am in Prague |
jsem v Česku |
I am in the Czech Republic |
An exception are the days of the week and the time (accusative):
v neděli |
on Sunday |
ve středu |
on Wednesday |
v jednu hodinu |
at one o'clock |
na
The preposition na is used very often in Czech. Take a look at the examples:
with Accusative
jedu na týden na dovolenou |
i go on vacation for a week |
prášek na praní |
detergent |
jezdit na kole |
cycling |
with accusative (WHERE?)
jdu na pivo, kávu |
I'm going for beer, coffee |
jdu na metro, vlak |
I'm going to the subway, to the train |
jdu na poštu |
I go to the post office |
jedu na Slovensko |
I'm going to Slovakia |
with Locative (WO?)
jsem na poště |
I am at the post office |
jsem na Slovensku |
I'm in Slovakia |
z(e)
always with Genitive
jsem z USA |
I am from the USA |
jsem z Austrálie |
I'm from Australia |
to je ze skla |
It is made of glass |
bez(e)
always with Genitive
bez mléka |
without milk |
beze mne |
without me |
s(e)
always with Instrumental
mluvím s doktorem |
I'm talking to the doctor |
čaj s rumem |
tea with rum |
káva se šlehačkou |
coffee with whipped cream |
se mnou |
with me |
pro
always with Accusative
to je pro doktora |
this is for the doctor |
k(e)
always with Dative
jdu k doktorovi |
I go to the doctor |
jdu ke Karlovi |
I go to Charles |
u
always with Genitive
jsem u doktora |
I am at the doctor |
od
always with Genitive
od pátku do neděle |
from Friday to Sunday |
to je dárek od Petra |
this is a gift from Petr |
o
with Locative (about)
mluvím o doktorovi |
I'm talking about the doctor |
sometimes with Accusative
o rok starší |
a year older |
před(e)
with Instrumental (Time)
před hodinou |
an hour ago |
před rokem |
a year ago |
with Accusative (Where I go?)
jdu před dům |
I'm going in front of the house |
with Instrumental (Where I am?)
jsem před domem |
I'm in front of the house |
za
with Accusative (Time)
za hodinu |
in an hour |
za rok |
in a year |
with Accusative (for)
děkuji za dárek |
thank you for the gift |
mit Accusative (Where I go?)
jdu za dům |
I go behind the house |
mit Instrumental (Where I am?)
jsem za domem |
I am behind the house |