Locative After Po

Level 2

Use po + locative for two main things: 1) Temporal sequence (after an event) and 2) Spatial movement (around or across an area).

How It Works

While the preposition po can govern multiple cases, it takes the locative case (miejscownik) when expressing specific meanings related to time, space, and manner.

1. Temporal Meaning ('After')
This is the most common usage for scheduling. It indicates that one event follows another in time.

  • po pracy (after work)
  • po lekcji (after the lesson)

2. Spatial Meaning ('Around' / 'Across')
Unlike w (in) or na (on), which imply a fixed position, po with the locative implies movement over a surface or within an area.

  • Spacerować po parku (To walk around the park)
  • Biegać po trawie (To run across the grass)

3. Manner and Succession ('In order' / 'Inheritance')
This usage describes how something is organized or things inherited from someone.

  • po kolei (in order / one by one)
  • zegarek po dziadku (a watch [inherited] from grandfather)
  • imię po ojcu (a name after [one's] father)

4. Distributive Meaning ('From place to place')
In the plural, it often suggests visiting multiple locations of the same type.

  • Chodzić po sklepach (To go from shop to shop / go shopping)

Morphology Note:
In the singular, masculine and neuter nouns with hard stems often take the -e ending, which triggers stem mutations (e.g., obiad → po obiedzie). However, nouns with soft stems or velar stems (ending in k, g, ch) take the -u ending instead (e.g., po treningu, po meczu), which does not cause these mutations. The plural is simpler, as it almost always ends in -ach.

Examples (5)

  1. Zadzwonię do ciebie po pracy.

    I will call you after work.

    Word by Word: I-will-call to you after work.

    A classic temporal use of 'po' followed by the locative form of 'praca'.

  2. Dzieci biegają po ogrodzie.

    The children are running around the garden.

    Word by Word: Children are-running around garden.

    Here, 'po' indicates movement within the space of the garden.

  3. Po obiedzie idziemy do kina.

    After dinner, we are going to the cinema.

    Word by Word: After dinner we-go to cinema.

    Notice the consonant mutation in 'obiedzie' (from obiad).

  4. Lubię spacerować po mieście.

    I like walking around the city.

    Word by Word: I-like to-walk around city.

    Using 'po' implies wandering or strolling through the city streets.

  5. Oni chodzą po sklepach cały dzień.

    They have been going around the shops all day.

    Word by Word: They walk around shops whole day.

    The plural locative '-ach' shows movement through a series of locations.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the accusative for 'walking around' because there is movement.

    Spaceruję po park.
    Spaceruję po parku.

    Learners often think movement always requires the accusative. However, movement within or across a space with 'po' requires the locative.

  • Using po + accusative when you mean 'after lunch'.

    Different MeaningPo obiad idziemy do domu.
    Po obiedzie idziemy do domu.

    Po obiad idziemy do domu is a good sentence, but it means 'we are going home to get lunch'. To say 'after lunch', use the locative with a stem change (d to dź): po obiedzie.

  • Using po + locative when you mean 'to fetch' something.

    Different MeaningIdę po obiedzie.
    Idę po obiad.

    Idę po obiedzie is a good sentence, but it means 'I am going after lunch'. If you are going to fetch food, use the accusative: Idę po obiad.

How It Connects

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Locative After PoLevel 2

Learn This First

Learn Po With The Locative, Locative Case before Locative After Po.

Words in This Pattern