na + Accusative
Going Onto and to: Na
Na takes the accusative when something moves onto a surface or someone goes to an event: Polož knihu na stôl (Put the book on the table), Idem na koncert (I am going to a concert).
How It Works
Where to versus where. Ask whether something is moving. Movement takes the accusative, while a fixed position takes the locative:
- Polož knihu na stôl. Put the book on the table. (movement, accusative stôl)
- Kniha je na stole. The book is on the table. (position, locative stole)
Places and events. Slovak uses na, not do, for events and activities and for many open or public places: na koncert, na výlet, na obed, na dovolenku, na poštu, na stanicu, na trh. Do is used for going inside a building or an enclosed space: do školy, do obchodu. Learn each place together with its preposition.
Purpose and planned time. Na with the accusative can also say what something is for or how long a stay is planned: Na obed budú halušky. (There will be halušky for lunch.) Idem na týždeň do Tatier. (I am going to the Tatras for a week.)
Verbs with na. Some verbs always take na with the accusative, such as čakať na (wait for), myslieť na (think of) and zabudnúť na (forget about). See verbs with fixed prepositions.
The noun takes its ordinary accusative form: stôl → na stôl, pošta → na poštu, výlet → na výlet.
Examples (6)
- Idem na koncert.
I'm going to a concert.
Word by Word: I-go onto concert.
Going to an event takes na with the accusative.
- Polož knihu na stôl.
Put the book on the table.
Word by Word: Put book onto table.
The book moves onto the surface, so stôl is accusative. Compare Kniha je na stole.
- Ideme na výlet.
We're going on a trip.
Word by Word: We-go onto trip.
- Čakám na autobus.
I'm waiting for the bus.
Word by Word: I-wait on bus.
Čakať is one of the verbs that always takes na with the accusative.
- Na obed budú halušky.
There will be halušky for lunch.
Word by Word: For lunch will-be halušky.
Here na with the accusative names a purpose: the food is for lunch.
- Idem na týždeň do Tatier.
I'm going to the Tatras for a week.
Word by Word: I-go for week into Tatras.
Na týždeň gives the planned length of the stay.
Common Mistakes
Using the locative after a verb of motion.
Idem na koncerte.Idem na koncert.Na koncerte means at the concert, a position. After idem, which shows movement, use the accusative koncert.
Using do for an event.
Idem do koncertu.Idem na koncert.Events and activities take na. Do is for going inside a building or enclosed space, as in do obchodu.
Using the nominative instead of the accusative after na.
Idem na pošta.Idem na poštu.Feminine nouns in -a change to -u in the accusative, so pošta becomes poštu.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Going Onto and To: na, learn The Accusative Case for Objects and Where: v and na With the Locative. na for direction takes the accusative. It contrasts with na + locative for location.
Related Patterns
- do + GenitiveGoing into: Do
Do is the preposition for going into enclosed places, while na covers events and many public places.
Level 1 - -uFeminine Accusative in -u
Explains the -u ending in na poštu and na stanicu.
Level 1 - na Slovensku / v ČeskuCountries with Na and V
Applies the same na-plus-accusative direction to Slovakia and some other places.
Level 2 - Verbs With Fixed Prepositions
Covers verbs such as čakať na and myslieť na that always take na.
Level 3 - Months and Seasons
Na jar and na jeseň use na with the accusative for time.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice na + Accusative in Bubblegum
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