Plural Nouns After Prepositions
A singular noun after a preposition can be genitive or accusative, but a plural noun takes the dative: no mājas → no mājām, ar draugu → ar draugiem, uz galda → uz galdiem.
How It Works
In the singular each preposition takes its own case: the genitive (no, pie, bez, pēc, pirms, aiz, zem, virs, and uz meaning on) or the accusative (par, pa, caur, gar, ap, pret, and uz meaning to; ar takes a form that looks the same). Līdz takes the dative in both numbers. In the plural the difference disappears, and they take the dative:
- no drauga → no draugiem (from friends)
- pie ārsta → pie ārstiem (at the doctors')
- bez problēmas → bez problēmām (without problems)
- ar bērnu → ar bērniem (with the children)
- par filmu → par filmām (about films)
- uz Rīgu → uz Cēsīm (to Cēsis)
Uz shows this clearly: uz galda (on the table) and uz galdu (onto the table) both become uz galdiem in the plural. The context tells you which is meant.
Watch for plural-only nouns, because they look plural but mean one thing: pēc brokastīm (after breakfast), pirms pusdienām (before lunch), bez brillēm (without glasses). Plural town names work the same way: uz Cēsīm, no Talsiem. See nouns used only in the plural.
Numbers. Numbers such as two, five and ten need a plural noun, so it is dative too: pēc divām stundām (in two hours), pirms diviem gadiem (two years ago).
Exceptions. Dēļ and labad come after their noun and keep the genitive in the plural: bērnu dēļ (because of the children). See dēļ. After bez some texts keep an older genitive plural, as in bez bēdu (without worries), but the dative is the usual choice.
Examples (6)
- Svētdien es biju pie vecākiem.
On Sunday I was at my parents'.
Pie takes the genitive in the singular, but vecāki is plural, so it is dative: vecākiem.
- Mēs braucam uz Cēsīm.
We are going to Cēsis.
Uz Rīgu is accusative, but the plural name Cēsis becomes dative: Cēsīm.
- Viss notika bez problēmām.
Everything went without problems.
bez problēmas → bez problēmām.
- Pēc pusdienām mēs ejam uz parku.
After lunch we are going to the park.
Pusdienas exists only in the plural, so it is dative after pēc.
- Es saņēmu ziņu no kolēģiem.
I got a message from my colleagues.
no kolēģa → no kolēģiem.
- Viņa strādā ar bērniem.
She works with children.
ar bērnu → ar bērniem.
Common Mistakes
Using the genitive plural after pie.
Es biju pie vecāku.Es biju pie vecākiem.Pie takes the genitive in the singular (pie ārsta), but a plural noun after it is dative: pie vecākiem.
Using the accusative plural after uz.
Mēs braucam uz Cēsis.Mēs braucam uz Cēsīm.Cēsis is a plural name, so after uz it takes the dative: Cēsīm.
Using the genitive plural after no.
Es saņēmu dāvanas no draugu.Es saņēmu dāvanas no draugiem.No takes the genitive only in the singular (no drauga). In the plural it is no draugiem.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Most prepositions take the dative in the plural; dēļ and labad keep the genitive, and older genitive forms also occur after bez.
Related Patterns
- pie + GenitiveAt and Near: Pie
Pie takes the genitive in the singular but the dative in the plural.
Level 2 - bez + GenitiveWithout: Bez
Bez problēmām shows the plural dative after bez.
Level 2 - uz + Genitive (Location)On: Uz with the Genitive
Uz galda and uz galdu both become uz galdiem in the plural.
Level 2 - Genitive + dēļBecause of: Dēļ
Dēļ is the exception and keeps the genitive in the plural.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
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