do + Genitive

Genitive After Do

Level 2

Use do + genitive to say you are going into a place (like a city or building) or doing something until a certain time.

How It Works

The preposition do is one of the most frequent words in Czech. It always takes the genitive case and has several main uses:

1. Movement or placing INTO a space
Use do when you are traveling or moving into an enclosed space, a building, a city, or a country. This also applies when putting or placing an object into an enclosed space. If you use do to get there, you will usually use v (in) once you arrive, and z / ze (out of) when leaving, which is the exact directional opposite and also takes the genitive case. (Note: A few specific countries, regions, and islands take na instead, such as na Slovensko, na Moravu, or na Kubu.)

  • Jedu do Prahy. (I am going to Prague.)
  • Jdu do obchodu. (I am going into the store.)
  • Dám si věci do tašky. (I will put my things into the bag.)

2. Time limit (UNTIL), Deadlines (BY), and Ranges (FROM... TO)
In time expressions, do means until or up to a certain point. Crucially for English speakers, do is also the direct translation for the deadline preposition by (e.g., do pátku - by Friday, do zítřka - by tomorrow). It is also highly common in the pairing od ... do (from ... to) to express ranges in both time and space.

  • Pracuju do pěti. (I work until five.)
  • Musím to udělat do pátku. (I have to do it by Friday.)

3. Figurative movement or change of state
You will also see do used for abstract changes, such as translating a text into another language (e.g., přeložit do češtiny).

4. Physical impact and starting an activity
Czech uses do with verbs of physical impact (like kicking, biting, or crashing) and when starting an activity.

  • Kopl do míče. (He kicked the ball.)
  • Narazil do auta. (He crashed into a car.)
  • Dali jsme se do práce. (We got to work.)

Important Distinctions:
English speakers often translate "to" as do in every situation, but Czech is more specific:

  • Never use do for people when expressing a destination! If you are going "to the doctor", you must use k (toward). (Note: do can be used with people in other contexts, like zamilovat se do - to fall in love with).
  • For open spaces, surfaces, events (like a concert), or institutions (like the post office), use na instead.

Examples (5)

  1. Jedu do Prahy.

    I am going to Prague.

    Word by Word: I-go into Prague.

    Used for directional movement into a city. 'Praha' changes to the genitive 'Prahy'.

  2. Ráno jdu do práce, ale nejdřív se stavím do obchodu.

    In the morning I go to work, but first I'll pop into the shop.

    Word by Word: Morning I-go into work, but first myself I-stop into shop.

    Shows movement into enclosed spaces or institutions (work, shop).

  3. Děti chodí do školy od září do června.

    Children go to school from September to June.

    Word by Word: Children go into school from September until June.

    Demonstrates both the spatial use (into school) and the temporal use (until June), as well as the common 'od ... do' (from ... to) pairing.

  4. Musím to udělat do pátku.

    I have to do it by Friday.

    Word by Word: I-must it to-do until Friday.

    Temporal use meaning 'until' or 'by' a certain time.

  5. Přeložil tu knihu z angličtiny do češtiny.

    He translated the book from English into Czech.

    Word by Word: He-translated that book from English into Czech.

    Demonstrates figurative movement or change of state, such as translating into a language.

Common Mistakes

  • The 'Human Destination' Error

    Jdu do doktora.
    Jdu k doktorovi.

    You cannot go 'into' a person. When going to visit a person or a professional, you must use the preposition 'k' (toward) with the dative case.

  • The Nominative Default

    Jedu do Praha.
    Jedu do Prahy.

    The preposition 'do' strictly requires the genitive case. Leaving the noun in its dictionary (nominative) form sounds very unnatural in Czech.

How It Connects

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do + GenitiveLevel 2Genitive After Do

Learn This First

To use 'do' with the genitive, learners need to understand the concept of direction (kam) versus location, be familiar with verbs of motion like 'jít', and have a basic grasp of genitive case endings.

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