preto / tak

So and Therefore

Level 3

Bol som chorý, preto som neprišiel. (I was ill, so I didn't come.) Pršalo, tak sme zostali doma. (It was raining, so we stayed at home.)

How It Works

preto: that's why, therefore

Zajtra mám skúšku, preto sa dnes musím učiť. (I have an exam tomorrow, so I have to study today.) With a in front, keep the comma: Autobus meškal, a preto sme prišli neskoro.

tak: so

Tak is more relaxed and very common in speech: Nemala som hlad, tak som nejedla. (I wasn't hungry, so I didn't eat.)

Word order

Preto and tak open their clause, so the short words follow straight after them. See Unstressed Words in Second Position.

Preto pointing to a reason

Preto can also point forward to a reason given by lebo or že: Neprišiel som preto, lebo som bol chorý. (I didn't come because I was ill.) Here the reason follows, so the meaning is because. See Because: lebo and pretože.

Other meanings of tak

Tak also means so, like that (Nerob to tak. Don't do it like that.) and well at the start of a question (Tak čo? Well, what now?). For takže (so, drawing a conclusion) and čiže (that is), see So and That Is. Purpose so that is aby.

Examples (6)

  1. Bol som chorý, preto som neprišiel.

    I was ill, so I didn't come.

    Word by Word: Was I-am ill, therefore I-am not-came.

    Som comes right after preto.

  2. Pršalo, tak sme zostali doma.

    It was raining, so we stayed at home.

    Tak is the more conversational choice.

  3. Autobus meškal, a preto sme prišli neskoro.

    The bus was late, and that's why we arrived late.

    A preto keeps the comma before a.

  4. Nemala som hlad, tak som nejedla.

    I wasn't hungry, so I didn't eat.

    The speaker is a woman.

  5. Zajtra mám skúšku, preto sa dnes musím učiť.

    I have an exam tomorrow, so I have to study today.

    The reflexive sa follows preto directly.

  6. Neprišiel som preto, lebo som bol chorý.

    I didn't come because I was ill.

    Here preto points forward to the reason after lebo.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting som after the verb instead of right after preto.

    Bol som chorý, preto neprišiel som.
    Bol som chorý, preto som neprišiel.

    Som, si, sme, ste and sa go in second position in their clause, straight after preto or tak.

  • Using preto for because. The intended meaning is "I stayed home because it was raining".

    Zostal som doma, preto pršalo.
    Zostal som doma, lebo pršalo.

    Preto introduces a result. The sentence says the rain was caused by your staying home. For a reason, use lebo or pretože.

How It Connects

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

preto / takLevel 3So and Therefore

Learn This First

Before So and Therefore, learn Because: lebo and pretože. preto and tak state the result where lebo states the cause.

Learn Next

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Words in This Pattern