Prepositions That Take the Accusative

Level 2

Ten prepositions that need the accusative.

How It Works

PrepositionMeaningExample
adtoad forum
antebeforeante cenam
circumaroundcircum villam
interbetweeninter amicos
perthroughper viam
postafterpost cenam
propenearprope forum

Three more are apud (at, near), contra (against) and propter (because of): apud amicum, contra hostem, propter pecuniam.

In and sub take the accusative for movement and the ablative for rest.

Many of these also appear in English words: inter in international, per in perhaps, post in postpone, contra in contrary.

Prope and propter both come from the same root, which is why they look alike.

Examples (5)

  1. Marcus ad forum currit.

    Marcus runs to the forum.

    Ad takes the accusative forum.

  2. Pueri per viam currunt.

    The boys run through the street.

    Per takes the accusative viam.

  3. Villa prope forum est.

    The house is near the forum.

    Prope takes the accusative forum.

  4. Post cenam dormimus.

    After dinner we sleep.

    Post takes the accusative cenam.

  5. Marcus inter amicos est.

    Marcus is among his friends.

    Inter takes the accusative amicos.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the ablative after ad.

    Marcus ad foro currit.
    Marcus ad forum currit.

    Ad takes the accusative: ad forum.

How It Connects

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

Prepositions That Take the AccusativeLevel 2

Learn This First

A preposition takes a case, so the accusative comes first.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

adanteapudcircumcontrainterperpostpropepropter