Prepositions Governing Genitive & Accusative in Serbian
Prepositions with Genitive and Accusative (Predlozi uz genitiv i akuzativ)
Genitive prepositions express origin, source, absence, and proximity (od, do, iz, bez, kod), while Accusative prepositions express destination and purpose (u, na, za, kroz).
In Serbian syntax, prepositions (Predlozi) govern specific grammatical cases depending on the spatial, directional, or temporal relationship conveyed:
1. Primary Prepositions Governing the Genitive (2. padež): - od (from, away from): pismo od prijatelja (letter from a friend), od ponedeljka (from Monday) - do (to, until): od Beograda do Novog Sada, do pet sati (until five o'clock) - iz (out of, from inside): dolazim iz Srbije (I come from Serbia) - bez (without): kafa bez šećera (coffee without sugar) - kod (at the place of, by): bio sam kod lekara (I was at the doctor's) - pre / posle (before / after): pre ispita (before the exam), posle posla (after work) - zbog / radi (because of / for the sake of): zbog kiše (because of rain).
2. Primary Prepositions Governing the Accusative (4. padež): - u / na + Accusative (Directional Motion / Kuda?): Idem u grad* (I am going into town), Stavi knjigu na sto (Put the book onto the table). - za (for, intended for): poklon za sestru (a present for my sister) - kroz (through): šetamo kroz park (we walk through the park) - među, pod, nad, pred + Accusative (Directional movement under/above/in front): bacio je loptu pod sto* (he threw the ball under the table).
Crucial Spatial Contrast: Prepositions u and na govern Accusative for direction (Idem u školu = motion) but Locative for static location (Učim u školi = static).
Examples
Putujemo od Beograda do Novog Sada novim brzim vozom za manje od pola sata.
We are traveling from Belgrade to Novi Sad by the new high-speed train in less than half an hour.
Studenti su ušli u veliku univerzitetsku aulu i seli na svoja mesta.
The students entered the large university auditorium and sat in their seats.
Kupio sam ovaj prelepi poklon za svog najboljeg prijatelja iz detinjstva.
I bought this wonderful gift for my best friend from childhood.
Šetali smo polako kroz prelepi park pored reke Save pre početka sastanka.
We walked slowly through the beautiful park by the Sava River before the meeting started.
Related terms
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