pored, kraj, pokraj

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Level 3

Next to something: pored, kraj, pokraj.

How It Works

When something stands next to something else, you can use one of three words. All of them take the genitive.

  • pored škole (next to the school)
  • kraj rijeke (by the river)
  • pokraj mosta (beside the bridge)

The genitive ends in -a for masculine and neuter singular nouns and in -e for feminine nouns in -a.

Kraj also has a second meaning, the end: kraj filma is the end of the film. The sentence usually makes clear which one you mean: kraj Une is by the Una, and kraj filma is the end of a film.

Pored has another use, in the sense of besides: pored posla uči njemački (besides work, she studies German).

Compare uz (along, up against), which a later entry covers.

Examples (4)

  1. Sjedimo pored rijeke.

    We are sitting next to the river.

    Rijeke is the genitive of rijeka.

  2. Kuća je kraj Une.

    The house is by the Una.

    Une is the genitive of Una.

  3. Parkiram pokraj mosta.

    I park beside the bridge.

    Mosta is the genitive of most.

  4. Pored posla Selma uči njemački.

    Besides work, Selma studies German.

    Pored can also mean besides.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the nominative.

    Sjedimo pored rijeka.
    Sjedimo pored rijeke.

    All three words take the genitive.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

pored, kraj, pokrajLevel 3Next to

Learn This First

These prepositions take the genitive.

Words in This Pattern

poredkrajpokraj