Prefix per-

The Prefix Per-

Level 3

Per- means across, through, as in pereiti gatvę (to cross the street); all the way through, as in perskaityti knygą (to read a book to the end); or again, differently, as in perrašyti (to rewrite).

How It Works

1. Across and through

pereiti (to cross on foot), pervažiuoti (to drive across), perplaukti (to swim across): Perplaukėme ežerą. (We swam across the lake.) See Through, Across and During With Per.

2. All the way through

perskaityti (to read through), peržiūrėti (to look through, to review): Peržiūrėk, ar nėra klaidų. (Look it through for mistakes.) See Ongoing Versus Completed Actions.

3. Again or differently

perrašyti (to rewrite), perdaryti (to redo), pergalvoti (to think over again), persirengti (to change clothes), persikelti (to move house).

4. Too much

pervargti (to get overtired), persivalgyti (to overeat).

Spelling

Nothing merges: before a root that starts with r, write both letters: per + rašyti = perrašyti, per + rinkti = perrinkti (to re-elect).

In the present tense

A completion verb can describe a repeated whole event in the present: Jis kasdien perskaito laikraštį. (Every day he reads the newspaper through.) For reading in progress, use Dabar skaitau. But other per- verbs can describe an ongoing action: Dabar perrašau tekstą. (I am rewriting the text now.) See Prefixed Verbs in the Present.

Examples (6)

  1. Pereikime gatvę per perėją.

    Let's cross the street at the crossing.

    Word by Word: Let's-cross street through crossing.

    Pereiti takes gatvę directly; per perėją uses the preposition per.

  2. Vakar perskaičiau visą knygą.

    Yesterday I read the whole book.

    Word by Word: Yesterday (I) read-through whole book.

  3. Mokytoja liepė perrašyti rašinį.

    The teacher told us to rewrite the essay.

    Word by Word: Teacher told to-rewrite essay.

    per + rašyti keeps both r letters.

  4. Kitą mėnesį persikelsime į Kauną.

    Next month we are moving to Kaunas.

    Word by Word: Next month (we) will-move into Kaunas.

    -si- sits right after per-.

  5. Palauk, tik persirengsiu.

    Wait, I'll just change my clothes.

    Word by Word: Wait, just (I) will-change-clothes.

  6. Vasarą perplaukėme ežerą.

    In summer we swam across the lake.

    Word by Word: In-summer (we) swam-across lake.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing only one r in per- + r verbs.

    Reikia perašyti laišką.
    Reikia perrašyti laišką.

    The prefix per- and the root rašyti each keep their r, so the word has rr.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Prefix per-Level 3The Prefix Per-

Learn This First

Per- can describe crossing, repetition or carrying an action through.