по + Noun
After and Along
по + noun: по ручекот (after lunch), по улицата (along the street), по градот (around the town), по телефон (by phone), по пошта (by mail).
How It Works
After. по ручекот (after lunch), по часовите (after classes), по војната (after the war). In a story, по две години means two years later. Everyday speech also uses после: после ручекот. For in two years from now, use за (see ago and in). To link a whole clause, use откако.
Along and around. Одеше по улицата (He was walking along the street), Шетавме по градот (We walked around the town), патува по светот (travels around the world). Compare низ and преку, which mean through and across.
By. For a way of sending or talking, use a bare noun: по телефон, по пошта. For vehicles, Macedonian uses со instead: со автобус (see means of transport).
To fetch. With verbs of going, по names what you go to get: Одам по леб (I'm going to get bread).
Other set uses. по мене (in my opinion), студентка по медицина (a student of medicine), and по еден (one each, see one each). For the topic of talk (about), use за, not по.
Examples (6)
- Ќе се видиме по ручекот.
We'll see each other after lunch.
For time, по means after and takes a definite noun.
- Шетавме по градот цел ден.
We walked around the town all day.
- Одеше по улицата и пееше.
He was walking along the street and singing.
- Ќе зборуваме по телефон.
We'll talk on the phone.
For a way of talking or sending, the noun has no article.
- Ти го пратив пакетот по пошта.
I sent you the package by mail.
- Одам по леб.
I'm going to get bread.
With a verb of going, по names what you go to fetch.
Common Mistakes
Using по for the topic of a conversation.
Зборувавме по филмот.Зборувавме за филмот.По does not mean about: Зборувавме по филмот would mean We talked after the film. The topic of talking or thinking takes за.
Using на for moving around a place.
Шетавме на градот.Шетавме по градот.Moving along or all around a place takes по.
How It Connects
Learn This First
По + noun follows time prepositions.
Related Patterns
- за + NounFor and About
For the topic of talk (about), use за instead of по.
Level 2 - со автобус / пешкиMeans of Transport
Vehicles take со, while ways of sending take по.
Level 2 - низ / преку / конThrough Across and Toward
Other prepositions of movement through and across a place.
Level 3 - по еденOne Each
По also means each: по еден, one each.
Level 4 - откако / пред даAfter and Before
Откако links a whole clause, where по takes only a noun.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice по + Noun in Bubblegum
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