#л��чное

[uchimsyavmeste]

к and по prepositions

One of the things we do to learn cases in a foreign language is learn prepositions for each case. Though all the cases except Prepositional can be used without prepositions (вижу знак - see the sign, позво��ить другу - to call a friend, гордиться сыном - to be proud of one’s son), all of them has a group of prepositions than can signal what case should be used in this particular situation. Or vice versa, when you know the case sometimes it can be easier to get what preposition to use.

Dative case has only two of such prepositions - к and по. к/ко can be translated as to or towards, sometimes for. The German equivalent would be zu. We use it when we: 1) approach to something (я иду к метро - I’m going towards metro, which does not mean that I’m going to enter) 2) when we visit or are coming to the place where the other person is (я приду к тебе завтра - I’ll come to you tomorrow/I’ll visit you tomorrow). It’s actually the same function Accusative case has when we say “I go to *a place*, but in Dative case there are always people instead of the place.  Я приду в твой офис - I’ll come to your office, Accusative because office. Я приду к тебе в офис - I’ll come to you to the office. Dative because you. 3) With a group of nouns: интерес к (interest), любовь к (love), отношение к (attitude), ненависть к (hatred), равнодушие к (indifference), склонность к (tendency, predilection, propensity), стремление к (pursuit), жалость к (pity), уважение к (respect).

Мой интерес к разным культурам мотивирует меня изучать иностранные языки - My interest in different cultures motivates me to learn foreign languages. Моя любовь к тебе вдохновляет меня быть лучше - My love for you inspires me to be a better person. Его личное отношение к коллегам не влияет на рабочий процесс - His personal attitude towards his collegues doesn’t influence the working process. Ненависть к чужому и неизвестному называется ксенофобией - Hatred of something foreign and strange is called xenophobia.  В последнее время она проявляет равнодушие к нему. ��на больше его не любит? - Lately she’s been showing indifference to him. Doesn’t she love him anymore? Некоторые люди рождаются со склонностью к полноте - Some people are born with a tendency to corpulence. Неотчуждаемые права каждого человека - это жизнь, свобода и стремление к счастью. - The unalienable rights of every human being are life, liberly and the persuit of happiness. Я испытываю жалость ко всем бездомным животным, от которых отказались хозяева - I feel pity for all the homeless animals that were rejected by their owners. Мы должны проявлять уважение к чужому труду - We should show respect for other people’s work. 

Preposition по can be translated as on, around and is used for: 1) the action that is happening on the surface of something. Иисус мог ходить по воде - Jesus could walk on water. Мы запрещаем коту ходить по обеденному столу - We forbid the cat to walk on the dinner table (ходить на столе with Prepositional is also okay here). 2) some area in which one travels. Летом мы собираемся путешествовать по Европе - In summer we are going to travel in Europe (visit different countries inside Europe). В следующем году у группы будет тур по городам России - Next year the band is touring in Russian cities. But there are lots of collocations that can not be put into a “rule” and they should be learned. Like “скучать по” (miss somebody or something), “погладить по” (to pat on *body parts*), “говорить по телефону” (talk on the phone), “по закону” (according to the law) and so on.