Verbs with prepositions
čekat na, myslet na, starat se o, bát se…
In short
Lots of Czech verbs come with a fixed preposition and case, and it often isn't the one you'd guess: čekat na (wait for), starat se o (look after), zajímat se o (be interested in). Some take a case with no preposition at all: bát se + genitive (be afraid of). Learn each verb together with its partner, like a piece of vocabulary.
- Čekám na tramvaj.I'm waiting for the tram.
- Myslím na tebe.I'm thinking of you.
- Starám se o děti.I look after the children.
- Zajímám se o historii.I'm interested in history.
Full explanation
| Pattern | Verbs |
|---|---|
| na + accusative | čekat na (wait for), myslet na (think of), těšit se na (look forward to), dívat se na (look at, watch), zeptat se na (ask about), zapomenout na (forget), odpovědět na (reply to), hrát na (play an instrument), dávat pozor na (watch out for) |
| o + accusative | starat se o (look after), zajímat se o (be interested in), požádat o (ask for), přijít o (lose) |
| o + locative | mluvit o (talk about), přemýšlet o (think about), vědět o (know about), snít o (dream of) |
| za + accusative | děkovat za (thank for), platit za (pay for), omluvit se za (apologise for) |
| s + instrumental | souhlasit s (agree with), seznámit se s (get to know), hádat se s (argue with) |
| na + locative | záviset na (depend on), záležet na (be up to) |
| genitive, no preposition | bát se (be afraid of), zeptat se (ask someone), všimnout si (notice), vážit si (appreciate) |
| dative, no preposition | věřit (believe, trust), rozumět (understand), pomáhat (help), gratulovat (congratulate) |
- myslet na někoho is "think of someone" (you have them in mind); přemýšlet o něčem is "think something over".
- zeptat se takes the person in the genitive and the thing with na: Zeptám se učitele na cestu.
- hrát fotbal (sport: accusative) but hrát na kytaru (instrument).
English "for" is a trap here: čekat na, požádat o, děkovat za. Three verbs, three different prepositions.