Parts of speech and inflexion / Grammar

Prepositions express relationships between words.

They are classified as follows:

Prepositions are uninflected words (they are not declined, conjugated, or compared).

v (vo)^? + L

z (zo)^? + G

do + G

k (ku)^? + D

s (so)^? + I

pri + L

na + L

nad + I

pod + I

pred + I

za + I

oproti + D

Slovak prepositions are associated with different cases. One preposition can be associated with two or three cases.

`Zuzka` `položila` `knihu` `na` `stôl`.	`na` + A (direction)
`Kniha` `leží` `na` `stole`.	`na` + L (location)

You must distinguish between::

`Ide` `do` `školy`.	`KAM` (WHERE, WHENCE - in what direction)
`Je` `v` `škole`.	`KDE` (WHERE - in what place)
`Ide` `zo` `školy`.	`ODKIAĽ` (FROM WHERE)

The first sentence expresses the DIRECTION of movement. We've used the prepositional phrase do + G. More examples:

`na` + A	`na` `vlakovú` `stanicu`
`k` + D	`k` `domu`

The second sentence expresses a LOCATION of a person or object. We've used the prepositional phrase v + L. More examples:

`na` + L	`na` `vlakovej` `stanici`
`pri` + L	`pri` `dome`

The third sentence expresses the DIRECTION of movement FROM a location. We've used the prepositional phrase z + G. More examples:

`z` + G	`z` `vlakovej` `stanice`
`z` + G	`z` `domu`

`Kde` - `kam` (Where - to where)

Na akej škole študuješ? = Kde študuješ? (WHERE - in what place)

`na` + L	`na` `strednej`, `základnej` `škole`, `na` `univerzite`, `na` `gymnáziu`
`v` + L	`v` `meste`, `v` `Bratislave`, `v` `Nitre`

Na akú školu chodíš? = Kam chodíš do školy? (WHERE, WHENCE - in what direction)

`na` + A	`na` `strednú` `školu`, `na` `univerzitu`, `na` `gymnázium`
`do` + G	`do` `škôlky`, `do` `školy`, `do` `Nitry`, `do` `Bratislavy`, `do` `Trnavy`

`Kde` `si`?	`Kam` `ideš`?
`Som` `v`... + L `Som` `v` `banke`. I'm at the bank.	`Idem` `do`... + G `Idem` `do` `banky`. I go to the bank.
`Som` `na`... + L `Som` `na` `pošte`. I'm at the post office.	`Idem` `na`... + A `Idem` `na` `poštu`. I go to the post office.