už + accusative
For and in Exchange for with Už
Už with the accusative means for: Ačiū už pagalbą (Thanks for the help), Sumokėjau už bilietą (I paid for the ticket), Balsavau už ją (I voted for her).
How It Works
Four common uses
- Thanks and apologies: Ačiū už pagalbą. Dėkoju už dovaną. Atsiprašau už vėlavimą. (Sorry for being late.)
- Payment and exchange: mokėti už bilietą (pay for a ticket), nusipirkti už dešimt eurų (buy for ten euros).
- Support: balsuoti už (vote for), Aš už! (I am for it!).
- Instead of: Padarysiu tai už tave. (I will do it for you, in your place.)
Who and what
The person you thank is in the dative, and the reason follows už in the accusative: Ačiū jums už kvietimą. (Thank you for the invitation.) See Thanking and Verbs That Take the Dative.
A set reply
After ačiū, people often answer Nėra už ką, which means "don't mention it" (there is nothing to thank me for).
Pronouns after už
mane, tave, jį, ją, mus, jus, juos, jas: Ar balsavai už ją? See Personal Pronoun Case Forms.
Do not mix it up
With the genitive, už means behind: už namo (behind the house). See Behind With Už. With a comparative, už means than: see Than: Negu, Nei and Už.
Examples (6)
- Ačiū už pagalbą!
Thanks for the help!
Word by Word: Thanks for help!
- Dėkoju jums už dovaną.
Thank you for the present.
Word by Word: I-thank you for present.
The person thanked, jums, is in the dative. The reason, dovaną, is in the accusative after už.
- Sumokėjau už bilietą dešimt eurų.
I paid ten euros for the ticket.
Word by Word: I-paid for ticket ten euros.
- Ar balsavai už ją?
Did you vote for her?
Word by Word: Q you-voted for her?
- Atsiprašau už vėlavimą.
Sorry for being late.
Word by Word: I-apologise for lateness.
- – Ačiū! – Nėra už ką.
"Thanks!" "Don't mention it."
Word by Word: – Thanks! – There-is-not for what.
Nėra už ką is the usual friendly reply to ačiū.
Common Mistakes
Putting the reason in the genitive.
Ačiū už pagalbos.Ačiū už pagalbą.In the meaning for, už takes the accusative: pagalbą. Už with the genitive means behind.
Using už with the person you are thanking.
Ačiū už tave!Ačiū tau!Ačiū už tave means thanks for you, as in being glad someone exists. To say thank you, put the person in the dative: Ačiū tau.
Using the genitive of a pronoun after už.
Balsavau už jos.Balsavau už ją.For support, už takes the accusative pronoun: ją, jį, juos, jas.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Už selects the accusative for a reason, exchange or support.
Related Patterns
- ačiūThanking
Thanking starts with ačiū, and už + accusative names what you are grateful for.
Level 1 - už + genitiveBehind with Už
The same preposition with the genitive means behind, as in už namo.
Level 3 - Comparison: negu / nei / užThan: Negu, Nei and Už
Už also means than after a comparative, as in vyresnis už mane.
Level 3 - Accusative Direct Object
Už uses the same accusative endings as a direct object.
Level 1 - padėti / dėkoti / skambinti + dativeVerbs That Take the Dative
Dėkoti takes the person in the dative and the reason with už: dėkoju jums už dovaną.
Level 2 - prieš + accusativeBefore, Ago and in Front of
Another preposition that takes the accusative.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice už + accusative in Bubblegum
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