po + Locative

Po with the Locative

Level 2

The preposition po is a versatile word that most commonly means 'after' (time) or 'around/along' (space). It requires the locative case.

How It Works

The preposition po governs the locative case in three primary contexts:

1. Temporal ('After')
This is the most frequent usage. It indicates that something happens after an event or time.

  • po pracy (after work)
  • po obiedzie (after dinner)

2. Spatial ('Around' / 'Along')
Unlike w (in) or na (on), which suggest staying in one spot, po suggests movement spread across a surface or path.

  • spacer po parku (a walk around the park)
  • pływać po jeziorze (to swim around the lake)

3. Distributive ('Each')
Used to say how many items each person gets. Note: This only uses the locative for the number 1 (po jednym) and numbers 5 and above (po pięciu).

Morphology Reminders:
When using the locative singular, remember that hard stems often undergo stem softening (e.g., obiad becomes obiedzie). In the plural, all nouns regardless of gender end 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.

    Here 'po' indicates a temporal sequence (after the workday ends).

  2. Lubimy spacerować po starym mieście.

    We like to stroll around the old town.

    Word by Word: We-like to-stroll around old town.

    In this spatial context, 'po' describes movement within the area of the old town.

  3. Dzieci dostały po jednym jabłku.

    The children each received one apple.

    Word by Word: Children received after one apple.

    This is the distributive use. 'Po' + locative of 'one' (jednym) indicates 'one per person'.

  4. Po lekcjach idziemy do kina.

    After classes, we are going to the cinema.

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

    This shows the plural locative ending '-ach' used with 'po' for a temporal meaning.

  5. Mucha lata po pokoju.

    A fly is flying around the room.

    Word by Word: Fly flies around room.

    The fly is moving across the space of the room, not toward a specific destination.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the locative when you mean 'to fetch' or 'to get'.

    Idę po chlebie.
    Idę po chleb.

    When 'po' means 'to go get something', it takes the accusative case, not the locative. 'Po chlebie' would mean you are walking 'after the bread' (temporally).

  • Forgetting stem mutations in the singular locative.

    Po obiadzie...
    Po obiedzie...

    Many nouns change their stem before the locative '-e' ending. 'Obiad' changes 'd' to 'dz' and 'a' to 'e'.

How It Connects

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po + LocativeLevel 2Po with the Locative

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Learn Locative Case before Po With The Locative.

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