ar + Instrumental
With: Ar
Ar means with: kafija ar pienu (coffee with milk), ar draugu (with a friend), ar draugiem (with friends), ar autobusu (by bus).
How It Works
Forms. Use a form you already know:
- Singular = accusative: ar draugu, ar brāli, ar māsu, ar mašīnu
- Plural = dative: ar draugiem, ar brāļiem, ar māsām, ar bērniem
- Pronouns: ar mani, ar tevi, ar viņu; in the plural ar mums, ar jums, ar viņiem, ar viņām
Uses.
- Company: Es eju uz kino ar draugu. (I am going to the cinema with a friend.)
- Transport: braukt ar autobusu, ar vilcienu, ar velosipēdu (to go by bus, by train, by bike). On foot is different: iet kājām. See iet and braukt.
- Tools and means: rakstīt ar pildspalvu (to write with a pen), maksāt ar karti (to pay by card)
- Something added or inside: kafija ar pienu (coffee with milk), maize ar sieru (bread with cheese)
- Talking and meeting: runāt ar skolotāju (to talk with the teacher)
Kopā ar stresses being together: Līga dzīvo kopā ar māsu. (Līga lives with her sister.)
The opposite of ar is bez (without), which takes a different case in the singular: ar cukuru but bez cukura.
Examples (6)
- Es dzeru kafiju ar pienu.
I drink coffee with milk.
piens → ar pienu: the singular looks accusative.
- Mēs braucam uz Siguldu ar vilcienu.
We are going to Sigulda by train.
Ar names the means of transport with braukt.
- Vakar es runāju ar vecākiem.
Yesterday I talked with my parents.
vecāki → ar vecākiem: the plural looks dative.
- Vai tu nāc ar mums uz kino?
Are you coming to the cinema with us?
Plural pronouns take the dative form after ar: mums.
- Līga dzīvo kopā ar māsu.
Līga lives with her sister.
Kopā ar stresses being together.
- Vai es varu maksāt ar karti?
Can I pay by card?
Ar also marks the means you use.
Common Mistakes
Using the accusative plural after ar.
Es runāju ar draugus.Es runāju ar draugiem.In the plural, ar takes the dative form: ar draugiem, ar māsām.
Leaving the noun in the nominative.
Kafiju ar piens, lūdzu.Kafiju ar pienu, lūdzu.After ar, a singular noun takes the accusative form: pienu, cukuru, draugu.
Using the accusative form of a plural pronoun.
Vai tu nāc ar mūs?Vai tu nāc ar mums?Plural pronouns follow the plural rule, so they take the dative: ar mums, ar jums.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Ar takes the instrumental.
Related Patterns
- bez + GenitiveWithout: Bez
Bez (without) is the opposite of ar but takes the genitive in the singular.
Level 2 - Plural Nouns After Prepositions
Ar follows the general rule that a plural noun after a preposition is dative.
Level 2 - The Accusative for Objects
A singular noun after ar has the same form as the accusative.
Level 1 - Dative Endings
A plural noun after ar has the same form as the dative.
Level 2 - iet / brauktGoing on Foot or by Vehicle
Braukt ar autobusu uses ar for the vehicle.
Level 2 - The Instrumental Without ar
In a few fixed phrases the same forms appear without ar.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice ar + Instrumental in Bubblegum
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