упркос / насупрот + Dative
Despite and Opposite
Both упркос (despite) and насупрот (contrary to / opposite) strictly require the dative case. They attach directly to noun phrases or pronouns, while finite clauses require the bridge phrase томе што.
How It Works
To become confident with these Level 4 prepositions, pay attention to case government, semantic differences, and clause linkage:
1. Strict Dative Government
Unlike typical secondary prepositions (like због or поред which govern the genitive), упркос and насупрот govern the dative case. Using the genitive (упркос кише) is a widespread non-standard error that normative Serbian strictly proscribes:
• упркос киши (dative) = despite the rain
• насупрот очекивањима (dative) = contrary to expectations
2. Semantic Distinctness
• Упркос marks a concessive relation: an obstacle or contrary force was present, yet the main action occurred anyway (e.g., упркос умору — despite fatigue).
• Насупрот has two functions:
1) Contrast / Antithesis: Juxtaposing two distinct ideas, behaviors, or expectations (e.g., насупрот његовом брату — unlike his brother).
2) Spatial Opposition: Indicating facing orientation or physical counter-position across an axis (e.g., седети насупрот мени — sitting across/facing me). Note: everyday speech often uses преко пута (+ genitive) for physical distance across a street, reserving насупрот for direct face-to-face alignment or formal registers.
3. Connecting to Whole Clauses
Neither preposition can attach directly to a finite verb. To introduce a subordinate clause, use the dative correlative pronoun томе followed by што:
• упркос томе што + verb clause = 'despite the fact that...'
• Alternatively, connect full verbal clauses using conjunctions like иако or мада.
Examples (5)
- Упркос лошем времену, изашли смо у шетњу.
Despite the bad weather, we went out for a walk.
Word by Word: Despite bad weather [dat.], went-out we into walk.
The masculine/neuter adjective and noun phrase 'лошем времену' appears in the dative singular after 'упркос'.
- Насупрот свим очекивањима, наш тим је освојио прво место.
Contrary to all expectations, our team won first place.
Word by Word: Contrary-to all expectations [dat. pl.], our team won first place.
'Очекивањима' is dative plural, showing abstract contrast or antithesis.
- Седела је у ресторану тачно насупрот мени.
She was sitting in the restaurant directly opposite me.
Word by Word: Sat she in restaurant directly opposite me [dat. pronoun].
Spatial use of 'насупрот', requiring the full dative personal pronoun 'мени'.
- Успели су да заврше пројекат упркос томе што су имали мало времена.
They managed to finish the project despite the fact that they had little time.
Word by Word: Managed they to finish project despite that [dat.] that had little time.
When introducing a clausal condition rather than a simple noun, 'упркос томе што' serves as the complex conjunction.
- Насупрот томе, његова сестра никада није волела спорт.
In contrast to that, his sister never liked sports.
Word by Word: Opposite that [dat.], his sister never liked sport.
'Насупрот томе' is a frequent connective phrase meaning 'by contrast' or 'on the other hand'.
Common Mistakes
Using the genitive case instead of the dative after 'упркос' or 'насупрот'.
Упркос јаке кише, отишли смо на посао.Упркос јакој киши, отишли смо на посао.Most secondary prepositions in Serbian govern the genitive, which tempts learners (and some native speakers in colloquial slip-ups) to use the genitive. Standard Serbian normative grammar strictly mandates the dative: 'јакој киши'.
Attaching 'упркос' directly to a verb without 'томе што'.
Упркос били смо уморни, наставили смо пут.Упркос томе што смо били уморни, наставили смо пут.'Упркос' is a preposition, not a conjunction; it cannot govern a finite verb directly. You must insert the correlative dative pronoun 'томе' plus 'што', or simply use the conjunction 'иако'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use the prepositions 'упркос' (despite) and 'насупрот' (opposite / contrary to), you must understand the dative case endings for both singular and plural nouns and pronouns.
- -има / -амаPlural Dative and Locative
Necessary to correctly form plural noun complements governed by prepositions requiring the dative.
Level 2 - Declining This That and Possessives
Essential for inflecting pronouns, demonstratives, and modifying adjectives that frequently occur after 'упркос' and 'насупрот' (e.g., 'упркос томе', 'насупрот свим очекивањима').
Level 3
Related Patterns
- иако + ClauseAlthough
While 'упркос' requires a dative noun phrase (or 'томе што'), 'иако' is the standard conjunction directly introducing a concessive verbal clause ('although').
Level 4 - и поред + GenitiveDespite a Noun Phrase
Another common preposition expressing concession ('despite / notwithstanding'), but unlike 'упркос', 'и поред' governs the genitive case.
Level 4 - мада / премдаFormal and Neutral Concession
Concessive conjunctions that provide a stylistic alternative to 'упркос томе што' when linking two clauses.
Level 5 - мени / теби / њему / њојFull Dative Pronouns
Full dative personal pronouns, which are required when governed by prepositions such as 'насупрот мени' or 'упркос њему'.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice упркос / насупрот + Dative in Bubblegum
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