po + Accusative: Retrieval
Going to Get Something
After a movement verb, po plus accusative often means going to get something or collect someone.
How It Works
The fetched item or person takes accusative: po mlijeko, po torbu, po sestru. The place where the collection happens can be named separately: Idem u školu po sestru.
Animate masculine accusative uses its usual form: po prijatelja. This is still the same po construction; the different ending comes from the noun’s accusative pattern.
Contrast the locative use in šetati po gradu. Neither the English preposition “for” nor the mere presence of a movement verb is sufficient to choose a Croatian case. Ask whether po names an area of activity or the target of collection.
Examples (3)
- Idem u trgovinu po mlijeko.
I am going to the shop to get milk.
- Doći ću po tebe u osam.
I will come to pick you up at eight.
- Marko je otišao po sestru.
Marko went to collect his sister.
How It Connects
Learn This First
A motion verb with po plus accusative names what will be fetched.
Related Patterns
- po + LocativeAlong Across and by a Criterion
Compare the locative uses of po.
Level 4 - gdje / kamo / kudaLocation Destination and Route
The collection target and the physical destination are different pieces of information.
Level 4 - Preposition + kojiRelative Pronouns with Prepositions
Pronouns after prepositions also show governed case.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice po + Accusative: Retrieval in Bubblegum
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