Adjectives With Prepositions
Some adjectives come with their own preposition: hrdý na syna (proud of his son), zvedavý na výsledky (curious about the results), spokojný s prácou (satisfied with the work).
How It Works
Learn the adjective with its partner. In English you are proud of, interested in and in love with. Slovak uses different prepositions, and each one fixes the case of the next word, exactly as with verbs with fixed prepositions.
Common pairs:
- na + accusative: hrdý na (proud of), zvedavý na (curious about), pripravený na (ready for), zvyknutý na (used to), nahnevaný na (angry with), bohatý na (rich in), vhodný na (suitable for a purpose)
- s / so + instrumental: spokojný s (satisfied with), nespokojný s (unhappy with)
- za + accusative: zodpovedný za (responsible for), vďačný za (grateful for)
- do + genitive: zaľúbený do (in love with)
- od + genitive: závislý od (dependent on)
- v + locative: dobrý v (good at): dobrá v matematike
Watch the case after na. With these adjectives na means "toward" something, so it takes the accusative: hrdý na syna, not the locative na synovi.
Some take a plain case. A few adjectives need no preposition at all: plný vody (full of water, genitive), schopný všetkého (capable of anything, genitive), podobný otcovi (similar to his father, dative). With podobný you will also hear podobný na otca.
Purpose uses na. For "suitable for doing something", Standard Slovak prefers vhodný na: hrniec vhodný na varenie. Pre is used for the people something suits: film vhodný pre deti.
Examples (6)
- Otec je hrdý na syna.
The father is proud of his son.
Word by Word: Father is proud on son.
Hrdý na takes the accusative: syna.
- Som zvedavá na výsledky skúšky.
I am curious about the exam results.
Word by Word: I-am curious on results of-exam.
- Šéf je spokojný s mojou prácou.
The boss is satisfied with my work.
Word by Word: Boss is satisfied with my work(instr.).
- Už rok je zaľúbený do susedy.
He has been in love with the neighbor for a year.
Word by Word: Already year is in-love into neighbor(gen.).
- Rodičia sú zodpovední za bezpečnosť detí.
Parents are responsible for the safety of children.
Word by Word: Parents are responsible for safety of-children.
- Tento hrniec je vhodný na polievku.
This pot is good for soup.
Word by Word: This pot is suitable on soup.
Na shows the purpose.
Common Mistakes
Using the locative after na.
Je hrdá na svojej dcére.Je hrdá na svoju dcéru.With hrdý, zvedavý and pripravený, na takes the accusative: na svoju dcéru. The locative is for places: na stole.
Translating English "in love with" word for word.
Je zaľúbený s Janou.Je zaľúbený do Jany.Slovak falls in love "into" someone: zaľúbiť sa do niekoho, zaľúbený do Jany (genitive).
Using pre for a purpose.
Tento nôž je vhodný pre krájanie chleba.Tento nôž je vhodný na krájanie chleba.For "suitable for doing something", Standard Slovak uses vhodný na. Keep pre for people: vhodný pre deti.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Adjectives With Prepositions, learn Verbs With Fixed Prepositions and Hard Adjectives Like pekný. Adjectives can have fixed prepositions, like verbs. The adjectives follow pekný and cudzí.
Related Patterns
- na + AccusativeGoing Onto and to: Na
Most of these adjectives use na with the accusative, as in hrdý na syna.
Level 2 - s / so + InstrumentalWith: S and So
Spokojný s and nespokojný s take the instrumental after s.
Level 1 - za + AccusativeIn, For and Thanks for: Za
Zodpovedný za and vďačný za take the accusative after za.
Level 2 - záležať na / závisieť odDepending on
The adjective závislý od keeps the same od + genitive as the verb závisieť od.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
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