per + accusative
Through, Across and During with Per
Per takes the accusative. In space it means through or across: per parką, per gatvę. In time it means during or within: per atostogas, per valandą.
How It Works
Through and across
- Ėjome per parką. (We walked through the park.)
- Pereik per gatvę. (Cross the street.)
- per upę (across the river)
Verbs with the prefix per-, like pereiti, often pair with per. See The Prefix Per-.
During and within
- per atostogas (during the holidays), per pertrauką (during the break)
- per valandą (within an hour): Padariau tai per valandą. (I did it in an hour.)
Per valandą or valandą?
The plain accusative says how long something lasts: Laukiau valandą. (I waited for an hour.) Per says how long it took to finish: Padariau per valandą. (I did it in an hour.) See Accusative of Time.
How often
kartą per savaitę (once a week), tris kartus per dieną (three times a day).
By way of
Per can name the channel something comes through: per radiją (on the radio).
Not the same as per before an adjective
Before an adjective or adverb, per is a separate word meaning too: per brangu (too expensive). See Very, Too and Quite.
Examples (6)
- Ėjome per parką.
We walked through the park.
Word by Word: We-walked through park.
- Atsargiai pereik per gatvę.
Cross the street carefully.
Word by Word: Carefully cross across street.
- Per atostogas buvome prie jūros.
During the holidays we were at the seaside.
Word by Word: During holidays we-were by sea.
- Tą darbą padariau per valandą.
I did that job in an hour.
Word by Word: That work I-did within hour.
Per valandą says how long it took to finish.
- Vaistus geriu tris kartus per dieną.
I take the medicine three times a day.
Word by Word: Medicine I-drink three times per day.
- Naujienas išgirdau per radiją.
I heard the news on the radio.
Word by Word: News I-heard through radio.
Common Mistakes
Using the genitive after per.
Ėjome per parko.Ėjome per parką.Per always takes the accusative: parkas becomes parką.
Using per to say how long something lasted, when the intended meaning is for an hour.
Laukiau tavęs per valandą.Laukiau tavęs valandą.For completion, per valandą means within an hour. How long an action lasted uses the plain accusative: valandą.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Per selects the accusative for a route, interval or rate.
Related Patterns
- Accusative of Time
The plain accusative says how long; per + accusative says within what time.
Level 2 - pro + accusativePast and Through with Pro
Pro also means through or past, especially through an opening.
Level 4 - Prefix per-The Prefix Per-
Verbs with per-, like pereiti, often pair with per.
Level 3 - labai / per / gana + adjectiveVery, Too and Quite
Per before an adjective is a different word, meaning too.
Level 2 - po + genitiveAfter with Po
Po savaitės means after a week; per savaitę means within a week.
Level 2 - prieš + accusativeBefore, Ago and in Front of
Another time preposition that takes the accusative.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice per + accusative in Bubblegum
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