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Czech grammar · Level A2–B1

Prepositions: v Praze, do Prahy

Each preposition puts the noun into a particular case: Bydlím v Praze (locative), jedu do Prahy (genitive), jdu na poštu (accusative). The choice often differs from English: Děkuji za pomoc (thanks for), myslím na tebe (I’m thinking of you).

QuizContents
Contents
  1. Where? Where to? Where from?
  2. The locative: endings
  3. Verbs with prepositions
  4. Common mistakes
  5. Quiz
  6. FAQ

Where? Where to? Where from?

Prepositions come in threes: v (in) → do (into) → z (out of): v Praze — do Prahy — z Prahy. na (at, locative) → na (to, accusative) → z: na poště — na poštu — z pošty. With people: u (at, genitive) → k (to, dative) → od (from): u lékaře — k lékaři — od lékaře.

Where, where to, where from
Where?Where to?Where from?
v Prazedo Prahyz Prahy
ve školedo školyze školy
na poštěna poštuz pošty
u lékařek lékařiod lékaře
  • Bydlím v Praze, ale zítra jedu do Brna.I live in Prague, but tomorrow I’m going to Brno.
  • Odpoledne jdu k zubaři.This afternoon I’m going to the dentist.

Tip: V is “inside” (v obchodě, v Praze); na is for events, open places and some institutions (na koncertě, na nádraží, na poště, na univerzitě).

The locative: endings

The locative is used only after v, na, o, po, při. Feminines in -a take -e / -ě with a consonant change: Praha → v Praze, kniha → v knize, škola → ve škole, Amerika → v Americe. Masculines and neuters take -u or -e / -ě: o filmu, v parku, ve městě, na stole. Animate masculines take -ovi: o bratrovi, o Petrovi.

  • Pracuji ve škole.I work at a school.
  • Kniha, o které jsem ti říkal, už vyšla.The book I told you about is out now.

Verbs with prepositions

Learn these as a unit: děkovat za (accusative) — Děkuji za pomoc; čekat na — Čekám na autobus; myslet na — Myslím na tebe; mluvit, říkat o (locative) — Mluvíme o filmu; zajímat se o (accusative) — Zajímám se o sport; ptát se na — Ptám se na cestu.

  • Děkuji za pozvání!Thank you for the invitation!
  • Čekám na tebe před kinem.I’m waiting for you in front of the cinema.

Common mistakes

The mistakes people make most often — and the right way.

  • Wrong: Děkuji pro pomoc.

    Right: Děkuji za pomoc.

    Děkovat za + accusative.

  • Wrong: Bydlím v Praha.

    Right: Bydlím v Praze.

    V + locative: Praha → v Praze.

  • Wrong: Jedu v Brno.

    Right: Jedu do Brna.

    To a city: do + genitive.

  • Wrong: Myslím o tobě.

    Right: Myslím na tebe.

    Myslet na + accusative.

Prepositions: v Praze, do Prahy, za

Quiz

10 questions: choose the right option — the explanation appears straight away.

  1. Question 1

    Bydlím _____ Praze.

  2. Question 2

    Děkuji _____ pomoc.

  3. Question 3

    Zítra jedu _____ Brna.

  4. Question 4

    Kniha, _____ jsem ti říkal, už vyšla.

  5. Question 5

    Čekám _____ autobus.

  6. Question 6

    Odpoledne jdu _____ lékaři.

  7. Question 7

    Byl jsem včera _____ lékaře.

  8. Question 8

    Myslím _____ tebe.

  9. Question 9

    Pracuji _____ poště.

  10. Question 10

    Mluvili jsme o _____.

Correct: 0 of 10

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FAQ

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Why v Praze?

After v (where?) the noun goes into the locative, and feminines in -ha, -ka, -ra change their consonant: Praha → v Praze, Ostrava → v Ostravě, kniha → v knize, ruka → v ruce.

V or ve?

Ve goes before words starting with v, f and before consonant clusters: ve škole, ve Vídni, ve středu. Likewise ze, se, ke: ze školy, ke stolu.

Na Ukrajině or v Ukrajině?

Traditionally Czech says na Ukrajině, na Slovensku, but v Ukrajině has become increasingly common, especially in news and official texts. Both are understood.

Other topics

All topics50 most common Czech wordsCzech level test

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