przeciw + Dative

Przeciw with the Dative

Level 3

Use przeciw or przeciwko to express opposition, resistance, or medical prevention. Both forms are synonymous and always take the dative case.

How It Works

The preposition przeciw and its more common variant przeciwko are used to indicate 'against' in several contexts:

  • Conflict and Competition: Used in sports, law, or war (e.g., 'Team A against Team B').
  • Abstract Opposition: Expressing a stance against an idea, law, or person (e.g., 'voting against').
  • Protection and Remedies: Used in medical contexts for vaccines or medicines (e.g., 'medicine against a cough').

Important Distinction:
In English, 'against' can mean physical contact (e.g., 'leaning against a wall'). In Polish, przeciwko is never used for this. For physical contact, use o + accusative (e.g., oprzeć się o ścianę).

Przeciw vs. Przeciwko:
These two forms are interchangeable. Przeciwko is more frequent in modern speech, while przeciw is slightly more formal or literary. The choice does not change the meaning or the case required.

Examples (4)

  1. Głosowaliśmy przeciwko temu projektowi.

    We voted against this project.

    Word by Word: We-voted against this project (dative).

    The noun 'projekt' and the demonstrative 'ten' are both in the dative case after 'przeciwko'.

  2. To jest skuteczny lek przeciw grypie.

    This is an effective medicine against the flu.

    Word by Word: This is effective medicine against flu (dative).

    In medical contexts, 'przeciw' is used to indicate what the medicine treats.

  3. Oni grają przeciwko naszej drużynie.

    They are playing against our team.

    Word by Word: They play against our team (dative).

    Used here for competition. 'Nasza drużyna' changes to the dative 'naszej drużynie'.

  4. Nie mam nic przeciwko tobie.

    I have nothing against you.

    Word by Word: Not I-have nothing against you (dative).

    Personal pronouns also must be in the dative case. 'Tobie' is the dative form of 'ty'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the genitive case instead of the dative.

    Jestem przeciwko tego planu.
    Jestem przeciwko temu planowi.

    Many Polish prepositions take the genitive, but 'przeciwko' is a strict dative-governing preposition.

  • Using 'przeciwko' for physical leaning.

    On stoi przeciwko ścianie.
    On stoi przy ścianie / opiera się o ścianę.

    Use 'przeciwko' only for opposition or resistance, not for physical proximity or leaning.

  • Changing the case to genitive in negative sentences.

    Nie mam nic przeciwko twojego brata.
    Nie mam nic przeciwko twojemu bratu.

    While objects of verbs often change to genitive when negated, the case required by a preposition remains 'frozen' and does not change.

How It Connects

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przeciw + DativeLevel 3Przeciw with the Dative

Learn This First

Learn Dative Case before Przeciw With The Dative.

Words in This Pattern

przeciwprzeciwko