prieš + accusative
Before, Ago and in Front of
Prieš takes the accusative: prieš pamokas (before classes), prieš savaitę (a week ago), prieš namą (in front of the house).
How It Works
Forming it
- pamokos → prieš pamokas (before classes)
- valgis → prieš valgį (before a meal)
- savaitė → prieš savaitę (a week ago)
- dvi dienos → prieš dvi dienas (two days ago)
- namas → prieš namą (in front of the house)
Before an event
Prieš valgį nusiplauk rankas. (Wash your hands before eating.)
Ago
English puts ago after the time; Lithuanian puts prieš before it: prieš savaitę (a week ago), prieš dvi valandas (two hours ago).
In front of
Prieš namą auga medis. (A tree grows in front of the house.) For opposite, across from, Lithuanian also has priešais. See Opposite With Priešais.
Against
Esu prieš šį planą. (I am against this plan.) Plaukti prieš srovę means to swim against the current.
Before a whole clause
Prieš goes with a noun. Before a clause with a verb, use prieš tai, kai. See Before With Prieš Tai, Kai.
Prieš is the opposite of po with the genitive: prieš pamokas (before classes), po pamokų (after classes). See After With Po.
Examples (6)
- Prieš pamokas geriu kavą.
Before classes I drink coffee.
Word by Word: Before classes I-drink coffee.
- Atvažiavau į Vilnių prieš savaitę.
I came to Vilnius a week ago.
Word by Word: I-arrived to Vilnius before week.
Before a length of time, prieš means ago.
- Prieš namą auga didelis medis.
A big tree grows in front of the house.
Word by Word: In-front-of house grows big tree.
- Prieš valgį nusiplauk rankas.
Wash your hands before eating.
Word by Word: Before meal wash hands.
- Ji stovi prieš veidrodį.
She is standing in front of the mirror.
Word by Word: She stands in-front-of mirror.
- Aš esu prieš šį planą.
I am against this plan.
Word by Word: I am against this plan.
Common Mistakes
Using the genitive after prieš, as with po.
Atvažiavau prieš savaitės.Atvažiavau prieš savaitę.Prieš takes the accusative: savaitė becomes savaitę. The genitive belongs to po: po savaitės.
Using prieš directly before a clause with a verb.
Prieš aš išeinu, išjungiu šviesą.Prieš tai, kai išeinu, išjungiu šviesą.Prieš is a preposition and needs a noun. Before a whole clause, use prieš tai, kai.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Prieš selects an accusative event, interval or landmark.
Related Patterns
- po + genitiveAfter with Po
Po with the genitive means after, the opposite of prieš.
Level 2 - prieš tai, kaiBefore with Prieš Tai, Kai
The way to say before in front of a whole clause.
Level 4 - priešais + accusativeOpposite with Priešais
Priešais means opposite, close to prieš in the sense of in front of.
Level 5 - per + accusativeThrough, Across and During with Per
Another time preposition that takes the accusative.
Level 2 - Accusative of Time
Prieš savaitę uses the same accusative forms as time expressions like savaitę.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice prieš + accusative in Bubblegum
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