vietoj + genitive
Instead of with Vietoj
vietoj / vietoje + genitive = instead of: Vietoj kavos išgėriau arbatos. (Instead of coffee, I drank some tea.)
How It Works
1. Replacing a thing.
- Vietoj kavos išgėriau arbatos. (Instead of coffee, I drank some tea.)
- Į pyragą vietoje cukraus dėk medaus. (Put honey in the cake instead of sugar.)
- Šiandien vietoj pamokos žiūrėsime filmą. (Today we will watch a film instead of having a lesson.)
2. Replacing a person. Pronouns take their genitive forms, such as manęs, tavęs, jo and jos: Vietoj manęs į susirinkimą eis Jonas. (Jonas will go to the meeting instead of me.)
3. Vietoj or vietoje. Both forms are correct and mean the same. Vietoj is shorter and very common in everyday speech.
4. In someone's place. After a possessive word, vietoje is simply the noun vieta (place): Tavo vietoje aš sutikčiau. (If I were you, I would agree.) Here you use tavo, not tavęs.
5. Vietoj to. On its own, vietoj to means instead: Norėjau skaityti, bet vietoj to užmigau. (I wanted to read, but I fell asleep instead.) Do not follow vietoj to, kad with an infinitive. To say instead of doing something, use užuot: Užuot dirbęs, jis miegojo. (Instead of working, he slept.)
Examples (6)
- Vietoj kavos išgėriau arbatos.
Instead of coffee, I drank some tea.
Word by Word: Instead coffee(GEN) I-drank tea(GEN).
- Vietoj manęs į susirinkimą eis Jonas.
Jonas will go to the meeting instead of me.
Word by Word: Instead me(GEN) to meeting will-go Jonas.
- Į pyragą vietoje cukraus dėk medaus.
Put honey in the cake instead of sugar.
Word by Word: Into cake instead sugar(GEN) put honey(GEN).
- Šiandien vietoj pamokos žiūrėsime filmą.
Today we will watch a film instead of having a lesson.
Word by Word: Today instead lesson(GEN) we-will-watch film.
- Norėjau skaityti, bet vietoj to užmigau.
I wanted to read, but I fell asleep instead.
Word by Word: I-wanted to-read, but instead that(GEN) I-fell-asleep.
- Tavo vietoje aš sutikčiau.
If I were you, I would agree.
Word by Word: Your place(LOC) I would-agree.
Here vietoje is the noun vieta (place), so it takes the possessive tavo.
Common Mistakes
Using the accusative after vietoj.
Vietoj kavą išgėriau arbatos.Vietoj kavos išgėriau arbatos.Vietoj always takes the genitive: kavos, not kavą.
Using vietoj to, kad with an infinitive.
Vietoj to, kad dirbti, jis miegojo.Užuot dirbęs, jis miegojo.Vietoj to, kad with an infinitive is a translated pattern. To say instead of doing something, use užuot with a participle.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Vietoj selects a genitive person or thing that is replaced.
Related Patterns
- užuotInstead of with Užuot
Užuot says instead of doing something, with a participle or gerund.
Level 5 - išskyrus + accusativeExcept with Išskyrus
Išskyrus leaves something out, while vietoj puts something else in its place.
Level 5 - be + genitiveWithout with Be
Be also takes the genitive and means without.
Level 2 - Personal Pronoun Case Forms
Vietoj manęs and vietoj tavęs use the genitive forms of personal pronouns.
Level 2 - dėl + genitiveBecause of and for the Sake of with Dėl
Dėl is another common word that takes the genitive.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice vietoj + genitive in Bubblegum
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