pre + Accusative

For: Pre

Level 2

Pre + accusative means for someone or something: darček pre mamu (a present for mom), To je pre teba (That is for you).

How It Works

Form. Pre is always followed by the accusative: mama → pre mamu, brat → pre brata, dieťa → pre dieťa.

Pronouns. Use the accusative pronouns: pre mňa, pre teba, pre neho / preňho, pre ňu, pre nás, pre vás, pre nich. The joined form preňho is explained in contracted pronoun forms.

Main uses.

  • Benefit: Pracujem pre veľkú firmu. (I work for a big company.)
  • Point of view: Pre mňa je to ťažké. (For me it is hard.)
  • Cause: Nepricestoval pre chorobu. (He did not come because of illness.) You will often hear kvôli chorobe in speech, but the standard dictionary recommends pre for a cause and keeps kvôli for doing something for someone’s sake or for a purpose.

Where Slovak does not use pre. Thanks take za: Ďakujem za pomoc. The purpose of an object usually takes na: pohár na víno (a wine glass).

Examples (6)

  1. Tento darček je pre mamu.

    This present is for mom.

    Word by Word: This present is for mom.

    Mama becomes mamu in the accusative.

  2. To je pre teba.

    That's for you.

    Word by Word: That is for you.

  3. Kúpila som lieky pre deti.

    I bought medicine for the children.

    Word by Word: I-bought medicines for children.

    A female speaker uses kúpila; deti is accusative plural.

  4. Pracujem pre veľkú firmu.

    I work for a big company.

    Word by Word: I-work for big company.

    The adjective agrees in the accusative too: veľkú firmu.

  5. Pre mňa je to ťažké.

    For me, it's hard.

    Word by Word: For me is it hard.

    Pre can give the point of view of a person.

  6. Nepricestoval pre chorobu.

    He didn't come because of illness.

    Word by Word: Not-he-arrived for illness.

    Pre gives the cause. Kvôli chorobe is common in speech, but the dictionary recommends pre here.

Common Mistakes

  • Using pre to thank someone for something.

    Ďakujem pre pomoc.
    Ďakujem za pomoc.

    Thanks for something take za with the accusative, not pre.

  • Using a dative form after pre.

    To je pre tebe.
    To je pre teba.

    Pre always takes the accusative. Tebe is the dative form; the accusative is teba.

  • Using pre for what an object is meant to hold.

    Kúpil som pohár pre víno.
    Kúpil som pohár na víno.

    The standard way to give the purpose of an object is na with the accusative: pohár na víno, kefa na šaty.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

pre + AccusativeLevel 2For: Pre

Learn This First

Before For: pre, learn The Accusative Case for Objects. pre takes the accusative.

Words in This Pattern