pēc: Going to Fetch

Going to Get Something: Pēc

Level 4

A verb of motion + pēc means "go and get": Es iešu pēc maizes. (I'll go and get some bread.)

How It Works

1. The pattern. A verb of motion + pēc + the thing or person you go to get:

  • iet pēc maizes: to go and get bread
  • braukt pēc bērniem: to go and pick up the children
  • skriet pēc ūdens: to run and get water
  • sūtīt pēc ārsta: to send for the doctor

Choose the verb as in iet and braukt: iet on foot, braukt by vehicle. Prefixed verbs are common: aiziet pēc (go off to get), atnākt pēc (come to collect).

2. The cases. This is the preposition from pēc + genitive. A singular noun is in the genitive: pēc maizes, pēc ārsta. A plural noun is in the dative, as with all prepositions in the plural: pēc bērniem, pēc savām mantām.

3. Fetch or after? Context decides. With a motion verb and something you can pick up, pēc means "to get". Both meanings can be in one sentence: Pēc darba es iešu pēc piena. (After work I'll go and get milk.)

4. Another way to say it. You can also use an infinitive of purpose: Es iešu nopirkt maizi. (I'll go to buy bread.)

Examples (6)

  1. Es iešu pēc maizes.

    I'll go and get some bread.

    Word by Word: I will-go for bread.

  2. Mamma brauc pēc bērniem uz skolu.

    Mum is driving to school to pick up the children.

    Word by Word: Mum drives for children to school.

    Bērniem is dative because it is plural.

  3. Aizej pēc ārsta!

    Go and fetch the doctor!

    Word by Word: Go-off for doctor!

  4. Viņš atnāca pēc savām mantām.

    He came to collect his things.

    Word by Word: He came for his-own things.

  5. Es aizskriešu pēc ūdens.

    I'll run and get some water.

    Word by Word: I will-run-off for water.

  6. Pēc darba es iešu pēc piena.

    After work I'll go and get milk.

    Word by Word: After work I will-go for milk.

    The first pēc means after, and the second means to get.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the accusative after pēc.

    Es iešu pēc maizi.
    Es iešu pēc maizes.

    Pēc takes the genitive in the singular: pēc maizes. The accusative maizi is used with a verb such as nopirkt maizi.

  • Using uz for the thing you go to get.

    Es iešu uz maizi.
    Es iešu pēc maizes.

    Uz names the place you go to, such as uz veikalu (to the shop). The thing you go to get takes pēc.

  • Using the genitive with a plural noun.

    Mamma brauc pēc bērnu.
    Mamma brauc pēc bērniem.

    In the plural, prepositions take the dative, so it is pēc bērniem.

How It Connects

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

pēc: Going to FetchLevel 4Going to Get Something: Pēc

Learn This First

Pēc can mean to fetch.

Words in This Pattern