na + Accusative / Locative

Onto or at

Level 2

Na posao names a destination; na poslu names a location. Na takes accusative for the relevant directed goal and locative for the corresponding position.

How It Works

Idem na posao. describes going to work, while Na poslu sam. locates the speaker at work. Posao changes to locative poslu with a stem alternation.

With a physical surface, compare Stavljam knjigu na stol. and Knjiga je na stolu. The first phrase gives the placement goal and the second the resulting location.

The choice between u and na is partly lexical and conventional. An island normally uses na otoku, while a town normally uses u gradu. Do not translate English on or in mechanically, and do not treat every moving verb as proof of an accusative goal.

Examples (4)

  1. Idem na posao.

    I am going to work.

    Na posao is an accusative destination.

  2. Na poslu sam.

    I am at work.

    Na poslu is a locative location.

  3. Stavljam knjigu na stol.

    I am putting the book on the table.

    The table is the goal of placement.

  4. Knjiga je na stolu.

    The book is on the table.

    The table is the book’s location.

How It Connects

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

na + Accusative / LocativeLevel 2Onto or at

Learn This First

Contrast accusative destination with locative location for the same spatial preposition.

Words in This Pattern