co do + Genitive

Respect Phrase Co Do

Level 6

The phrase co do is used to specify the exact aspect or dimension being evaluated, such as size, quality, or quantity.

How It Works

The phrase co do is a formal secondary preposition (víceslovná předložka) meaning in terms of, with respect to, or as regards. It is used to isolate a specific dimension, parameter, or metric—such as size, quality, quantity, or appearance—to limit the scope of an evaluation or comparison.

Key Characteristics:

  • Grammar: It strictly requires the following noun phrase to be in the genitive case (2. pád).
  • Register: It is highly formal, journalistic, and literary (knižní). Native speakers frequently use it in news and academic writing, but rarely in spontaneous, casual conversation.
  • Phonology: Because it is a secondary preposition (sekundární předložka), it does not steal the primary word stress from the noun. In the phrase co do rozsahu, the stress remains on the first syllable of rozsahu.
  • Syntax: The words co and do form a single, indivisible grammatical unit, but they must always be written as two separate words (never 'codo'). The word do here does not carry its usual spatial meaning of 'into'.

Common Collocations:

  • co do počtu (in terms of number)
  • co do velikosti (in terms of size)
  • co do rozsahu (in terms of scope or extent)

Crucial Distinction:
Learners often confuse co do with broad topic-markers like pokud jde o or co se týče. While those phrases can introduce entirely new subjects, people, or concrete objects (e.g., 'As for Peter...'), co do is highly restricted to abstract properties and measurements. You cannot use co do to simply change the subject to a person or a physical thing.

Important Exception:
Do not confuse this preposition with the idiom mít co do činění s (to have something to do with). In that phrase, co and do do not form the preposition co do. Instead, co acts as a pronoun (meaning 'something') and uses a completely different grammatical structure.

Examples (4)

  1. Co do počtu obyvatel je to malá země.

    In terms of population, it is a small country.

    Word by Word: What into number of-inhabitants is it small country.

    Isolates the specific metric ('počet obyvatel' in the genitive) being evaluated.

  2. Co do velikosti se mu žádný jiný model nevyrovná.

    In terms of size, no other model can match it.

    Word by Word: What into size itself to-him no other model not-matches.

    Specifies the dimension ('velikost' in the genitive) where the comparison applies.

  3. Co do kvality není rozdíl zásadní.

    In quality, the difference is not fundamental.

    Word by Word: What into quality is-not difference fundamental.

    Limits the scope of the statement strictly to the parameter of quality.

  4. Tento projekt je velmi náročný, co do času i financí.

    This project is very demanding, in terms of both time and finances.

    Word by Word: This project is very demanding, what into time and finances.

    Can be used later in the sentence to clarify the specific dimensions of a claim.

Common Mistakes

  • Semantic overextension (using 'co do' to introduce people or concrete objects).

    Co do mého bratra, ten přijde zítra.
    Pokud jde o mého bratra, ten přijde zítra.

    Because learners memorize that co do translates to 'as to' or 'as for', they mistakenly use it to introduce people or concrete nouns as general topics. Co do is strictly limited to abstract properties, dimensions, or measurements. To introduce a person or concrete object, you must use pokud jde o or co se týče.

How It Connects

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co do + GenitiveLevel 6Respect Phrase Co Do

Learn This First

To learn the respect phrase 'co do', a learner must be comfortable with the genitive case endings for nouns and adjectives. It is also helpful to understand how Czech uses fixed phrases involving the pronoun 'co' to frame a topic or dimension of evaluation.

Words in This Pattern

co do