Verbs With Fixed Prepositions
Čakať na autobus (to wait for the bus), myslieť na teba (to think of you), starať sa o deti (to look after the children) and tešiť sa na leto (to look forward to summer) each need a fixed preposition.
How It Works
Learn the verb, the preposition and the case together. The preposition is part of the verb's meaning, and English often uses a different one or none at all.
na + accusative (see na with the accusative):
- čakať na to wait for: Čakám na autobus.
- myslieť na to think of: Myslím na teba.
- tešiť sa na to look forward to: Teším sa na leto.
- zabudnúť na to forget about, pozerať sa na to look at, spoliehať sa na to rely on
o + accusative: starať sa o (to look after), zaujímať sa o (to be interested in), prosiť o (to ask for), báť sa o (to worry about someone): Bojím sa o teba. (I'm worried about you.)
o + locative (see o with the locative): hovoriť o, rozprávať o (to talk about), snívať o (to dream about), vedieť o (to know about). So the same o takes the accusative in starať sa o deti but the locative in hovoriť o deťoch.
s + instrumental (see s with the instrumental): stretnúť sa s (to meet), rozprávať sa s (to talk with), súhlasiť s (to agree with).
A change of preposition can change the meaning.
- tešiť sa na + accusative: looking forward to something to come. tešiť sa z + genitive: being happy about something you have now: Teším sa z darčeka.
- myslieť na + accusative: to think of someone. myslieť si o + locative: to have an opinion about: Čo si o tom myslíš?
Examples (6)
- Čakám na autobus.
I'm waiting for the bus.
Word by Word: I-wait on bus.
- Stále myslím na teba.
I keep thinking of you.
Word by Word: Still I-think on you.
- Kto sa stará o deti?
Who looks after the children?
Word by Word: Who himself cares about children(acc.)?
Starať sa o takes the accusative: deti, not deťoch.
- Teším sa na leto.
I'm looking forward to summer.
Word by Word: I-rejoice myself on summer.
- Zaujímam sa o históriu.
I'm interested in history.
Word by Word: I-interest myself about history(acc.).
- Včera som sa rozprával s Petrom o škole.
Yesterday I talked with Peter about school.
Word by Word: Yesterday I-was myself talking with Peter(instr.) about school(loc.).
Two fixed prepositions in one sentence: s + instrumental and o + locative.
Common Mistakes
Using the locative after starať sa o.
Starám sa o deťoch.Starám sa o deti.Starať sa o takes the accusative. The locative after o belongs to verbs of speaking, as in hovoriť o deťoch.
Translating English "wait for" word for word.
Čakám pre teba.Čakám na teba.Pre means for the benefit of someone. Waiting for someone is čakať na.
Translating English "interested in" word for word.
Zaujímam sa v histórii.Zaujímam sa o históriu.Zaujímať sa takes o with the accusative.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Verbs With Fixed Prepositions, learn Going Onto and To: na and About, After and Near: o, po and pri. Many fixed verb prepositions take the accusative, like na. Others take the locative, like o.
Related Patterns
- s / so + InstrumentalWith: S and So
Covers the s + instrumental used by stretnúť sa s and súhlasiť s.
Level 1 - báť sa / týkať sa / držať sa + GenitiveVerbs with the Genitive
Verbs that take a bare genitive object instead of a preposition.
Level 3 - pomáhať / ďakovať / rozumieť + DativeVerbs with the Dative
Verbs that take a bare dative object instead of a preposition.
Level 3 - záležať na / závisieť odDepending on
Two more verbs with fixed prepositions.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Verbs With Fixed Prepositions in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Slovak lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
