How to Use Prepositions and Their Cases in Ukrainian

Introduction to Ukrainian Prepositions and Cases

In Ukrainian, prepositions are words that link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a sentence. Unlike English, Ukrainian prepositions often require the noun that follows to be in a specific grammatical case. Understanding which case to use with each preposition is essential for correct sentence construction.

What Are Grammatical Cases in Ukrainian?

Ukrainian has seven grammatical cases: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative, Instrumental, Locative, and Vocative. Each case changes the ending of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives to express their role in the sentence. Prepositions govern which case the following noun must take.

Common Ukrainian Prepositions and Their Required Cases

Here are some frequently used Ukrainian prepositions along with the cases they require:

• з (with) - Instrumental case
• до (to, towards) - Genitive case
• в/у (in, at) - Accusative or Locative case depending on motion or location
• на (on, at) - Accusative or Locative case depending on motion or location
• під (under) - Accusative or Instrumental case depending on motion or location
• без (without) - Genitive case
• для (for) - Genitive case
• про (about) - Accusative case

Using Prepositions with the Accusative and Locative Cases

Some prepositions, like в and на, can take either the Accusative or Locative case depending on whether the sentence implies motion or location. For example, в школу (to school) uses the Accusative case indicating motion, while в школі (at school) uses the Locative case indicating location.

Examples of Prepositions with Cases

Tips for English Speakers Learning Ukrainian Prepositions and Cases

• Memorize common prepositions along with the cases they require.
• Practice by reading and listening to Ukrainian sentences to see prepositions in context.
• Pay attention to whether the preposition implies motion or location, as this affects case choice.
• Use flashcards to reinforce case endings after prepositions.