blakus / pretī / apkārt / garām + Dative
Next to, Opposite and Around
Use the dative after blakus (next to), pretī (opposite), apkārt (around) and garām (past): blakus skolai, garām veikalam.
How It Works
1. The four words.
- blakus — next to: Aptieka ir blakus skolai. (The pharmacy is next to the school.)
- pretī — opposite, facing: Pietura ir pretī stacijai. With a verb of motion it means toward, to meet someone: Viņa nāca man pretī. You will also hear pretim with the same meaning.
- apkārt — around: Bērni skrien apkārt mājai.
- garām — past, by: Katru rītu es eju garām veikalam.
2. Before or after. Both orders are correct: blakus man and man blakus, garām mājai and mājai garām. With the dative pronouns the word usually comes second: Apsēdies man blakus! (Sit next to me!)
3. Also plain adverbs. Without a noun they are ordinary adverbs: Veikals ir tepat blakus. (The shop is right next door.) Paskaties apkārt! (Look around!) Autobuss pabrauca garām. (The bus drove past.)
4. Apkārt and ap, pretī and pret. The preposition ap also means around, but it takes the accusative in the singular: ap māju means the same as apkārt mājai. In the same way, pret (against) takes the accusative, while pretī takes the dative.
Examples (6)
- Aptieka ir blakus skolai.
The pharmacy is next to the school.
Word by Word: Pharmacy is next-to school.
Skola → dative skolai.
- Autobusa pietura ir pretī stacijai.
The bus stop is opposite the station.
Stacija → dative stacijai.
- Bērni skrien apkārt mājai.
The children are running around the house.
Māja → dative mājai.
- Katru rītu es eju garām veikalam.
Every morning I walk past the shop.
Veikals → dative veikalam.
- Apsēdies man blakus!
Sit next to me!
With a pronoun, blakus usually comes after it.
- Viņa nāca man pretī.
She came to meet me.
With a verb of motion, pretī means toward someone.
Common Mistakes
Using the genitive, as after pie.
Aptieka ir blakus skolas.Aptieka ir blakus skolai.Pie takes the genitive, but blakus takes the dative: skolai.
Mixing up apkārt and ap.
Bērni skrien apkārt māju.Bērni skrien apkārt mājai.Apkārt takes the dative. The accusative belongs to ap: ap māju.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Some prepositions take the dative.
Related Patterns
- man / tev / viņam / viņaiPronouns for to and for
The dative pronouns in man blakus and man pretī.
Level 1 - caur / gar / ap / pret / starp + AccusativeThrough, Along, Around, Against and Between
Ap and pret are similar prepositions that take the accusative.
Level 3 - pie + GenitiveAt and Near: Pie
Pie also means near, but it takes the genitive.
Level 2 - aiz / zem / virs + GenitiveBehind, Under and Above
More place words for behind, under and above, with the genitive.
Level 2 - līdz + DativeUntil and as Far as: Līdz
Another word that takes the dative: līdz stacijai.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice blakus / pretī / apkārt / garām + Dative in Bubblegum
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