prie + genitive
By and at with Prie
Prie means by, next to or at, and takes the genitive: prie lango (by the window), prie stalo (at the table).
How It Works
Forming it
- langas → prie lango (by the window)
- stalas → prie stalo (at the table)
- jūra → prie jūros (by the sea)
- teatras → prie teatro (by the theater)
- aš → prie manęs, tu → prie tavęs (next to me, next to you)
Pronouns use their genitive forms. See Personal Pronoun Case Forms.
Typical uses
- Sitting at something to use it: prie stalo, prie kompiuterio.
- Living or resting by water: prie jūros, prie ežero.
- Meeting points: Susitinkame prie teatro. (We are meeting by the theater.)
- Moving up to something: Priėjau prie durų. (I walked up to the door.) The verb prefix pri- often goes with prie.
Prie or pas?
Pas with the accusative means at or to someone's place: pas draugą (at my friend's), pas gydytoją (to the doctor). For a physical location, prie draugo means next to the friend. See At or To Someone's Place.
Prie or ant?
Ant means on top of: ant stalo (on the table), but prie stalo (at the table).
Examples (6)
- Mano stalas stovi prie lango.
My desk is by the window.
Word by Word: My table stands by window.
- Sėdime prie stalo ir valgome.
We are sitting at the table and eating.
Word by Word: We-sit at table and we-eat.
- Laukiu tavęs prie teatro.
I am waiting for you by the theater.
Word by Word: I-wait you by theater.
- Vasarą gyvename prie jūros.
In summer we live by the sea.
Word by Word: Summer we-live by sea.
- Ateik prie manęs.
Come over to me.
Word by Word: Come by me.
With a verb of motion, prie means up to someone. Manęs is the genitive of aš.
- Visą dieną sėdžiu prie kompiuterio.
I sit at the computer all day.
Word by Word: All day I-sit at computer.
Common Mistakes
Using the accusative after prie.
Laukiu prie teatrą.Laukiu prie teatro.Prie always takes the genitive: teatras becomes teatro.
Using the accusative form of a pronoun after prie.
Sėsk prie mane.Sėsk prie manęs.After prie, pronouns take their genitive forms: manęs, tavęs, jo, jos.
Using prie to mean visiting a person, when the intended meaning is going to the doctor's.
Rytoj einu prie gydytojo.Rytoj einu pas gydytoją.Prie gydytojo only means walking up to the doctor. Visiting someone uses pas with the accusative.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Prie selects a genitive landmark for closeness or movement toward it.
Related Patterns
- ant + genitiveOn with Ant
Ant means on top of, while prie means next to.
Level 2 - pas + accusativeAt or to Someone's Place
Pas means at or to someone's place, while prie means physically near.
Level 3 - šalia / netoli + genitiveNext to and Near
Šalia and netoli also describe nearness and also take the genitive.
Level 3 - nuo + genitiveFrom and Since with Nuo
Nuo marks moving away, the opposite of moving up to something with prie.
Level 2 - Personal Pronoun Case Forms
Pronouns after prie use their genitive forms, like prie manęs.
Level 2 - Prefix pri-The Prefix Pri-
Verbs with pri-, like prieiti, often pair with prie.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice prie + genitive in Bubblegum
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