uz + Genitive (Location)
On: Uz with the Genitive
Uz + genitive means on: Grāmata ir uz galda. (The book is on the table.) Uz + accusative means onto or to: Es lieku grāmatu uz galdu. (I am putting the book onto the table.)
How It Works
On a surface. With the genitive, uz says where something is: on top of it or on its surface.
- Grāmata ir uz galda. (The book is on the table.)
- Kaķis guļ uz dīvāna. (The cat is lying on the sofa.)
- Uz sienas ir liela karte. (There is a big map on the wall.)
- Bērni spēlējas uz ielas. (The children are playing in the street.)
Onto or to. With the accusative, uz shows movement: Es lieku grāmatu uz galdu. (I am putting the book onto the table.) It is the same uz as in uz Rīgu (to Riga). With verbs of putting you will also hear the genitive, which names where the thing ends up: Es noliku grāmatu uz galda. (I put the book on the table.)
On or in? Uz + genitive is for surfaces. For inside something, use the locative with no preposition:
- uz skapja (on top of the wardrobe), skapī (in the wardrobe)
- uz ledusskapja (on top of the fridge), ledusskapī (in the fridge)
Addresses and towns also use the locative: Es dzīvoju Brīvības ielā. (I live on Brīvības Street.) Uz ielas means out on the street itself.
Plural. Both meanings take the dative in the plural: Grāmatas ir uz plauktiem. (The books are on the shelves.) The context shows whether it means on or onto.
Examples (6)
- Grāmata ir uz galda.
The book is on the table.
galds → uz galda: genitive singular for where something is.
- Kaķis guļ uz dīvāna.
The cat is lying on the sofa.
dīvāns → uz dīvāna.
- Uz sienas ir liela karte.
There is a big map on the wall.
The place can come first in a sentence that says what is there.
- Es lieku grāmatu uz galdu.
I am putting the book onto the table.
Movement onto a surface uses the accusative: uz galdu.
- Bērni spēlējas uz ielas.
The children are playing in the street.
Uz ielas means out on the street itself.
- Grāmatas ir uz plauktiem.
The books are on the shelves.
In the plural, uz takes the dative: plauktiem.
Common Mistakes
Using the accusative for where something already is.
Grāmata ir uz galdu.Grāmata ir uz galda.When something is already lying or standing somewhere, uz takes the genitive. Uz galdu means onto the table.
Using uz with the genitive to mean inside.
Piens ir uz ledusskapja.Piens ir ledusskapī.Uz ledusskapja means on top of the fridge. For inside, use the locative with no preposition: ledusskapī.
Using uz with a street name in an address.
Es dzīvoju uz Brīvības ielas.Es dzīvoju Brīvības ielā.Addresses use the locative: Brīvības ielā. Uz ielas means out on the street itself.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Uz for location takes the genitive in the singular and the dative in the plural.
Related Patterns
- Locative -ā, -ī, -ē, -ūThe Locative for in and at
For inside something, Latvian uses the locative, not uz.
Level 1 - aiz / zem / virs + GenitiveBehind, Under and Above
Behind, under and above also take the genitive in the singular.
Level 2 - Plural Nouns After Prepositions
In the plural, both uses of uz take the dative: uz galdiem.
Level 2 - pie + GenitiveAt and Near: Pie
Pie galda means at the table, while uz galda means on it.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice uz + Genitive (Location) in Bubblegum
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