po + instrumental

Under with Po

Level 3

Po + instrumental means under: Katė miega po stalu. (The cat is sleeping under the table.)

How It Works

The instrumental after po

  • stalas → po stalu (under the table)
  • medis → po medžiu (under a tree)
  • lova → po lova (under the bed)
  • tiltas → po tiltu (under the bridge)
  • langai → po langais (under the windows)

Being under and going under

Where something is and where it goes use the same form: Raktai yra po kilimėliu. (The keys are under the doormat.) Padėk raktus po kilimėliu. (Put the keys under the doormat.)

One word, three cases

  • po + instrumental: under: po stalu
  • po + genitive: after: po pamokų (after classes). See After With Po.
  • po + accusative: around, all over, or each: po miestą (around the city). See Around and Each With Po.

Always check the ending. Case and context distinguish meanings such as under and after.

Useful phrases

po žeme (underground), po vandeniu (underwater), po atviru dangumi (in the open air). The opposite, above, is Above With Virš.

Examples (6)

  1. Katė miega po stalu.

    The cat is sleeping under the table.

    Word by Word: Cat sleeps under table-INS.

  2. Vasarą mėgstu skaityti po medžiu.

    In summer I like to read under a tree.

    Word by Word: In-summer (I) like to-read under tree-INS.

  3. Kamuolys nuriedėjo po lova.

    The ball rolled under the bed.

    Word by Word: Ball rolled under bed-INS.

    Movement under something also takes the instrumental.

  4. Raktus palikau po kilimėliu.

    I left the keys under the doormat.

    Word by Word: Keys (I) left under doormat-INS.

  5. Po tiltu teka upė.

    A river flows under the bridge.

    Word by Word: Under bridge-INS flows river.

  6. Koncertas vyks po atviru dangumi.

    The concert will take place in the open air.

    Word by Word: Concert will-take-place under open-INS sky-INS.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the genitive for under.

    Šuo miega po medžio.
    Šuo miega po medžiu.

    Po + genitive means after, so po medžio does not say where the dog is. For under, use the instrumental: po medžiu.

  • Using the instrumental for after.

    Susitiksime po pamokomis.
    Susitiksime po pamokų.

    Po pamokomis would mean under the classes. For after, use the genitive: po pamokų.

How It Connects

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

po + instrumentalLevel 3Under with Po

Learn This First

Po with the instrumental means under, rather than after.

Words in This Pattern