A2 Prepositions 1 min read 쉬움

Expressing Direction 'Towards' with Dative

학습 완료로 표시
연습하기

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use the preposition 'k' or 'ka' followed by the Dative case to express movement towards a person or specific entity.

  • Use 'k' before consonants: 'Idem k liječniku' (I am going to the doctor).
  • Use 'ka' before words starting with 'k' or 'g' for easier pronunciation: 'Idem ka kući'.
  • Always use the Dative case for the noun following 'k/ka'.
Subject + Verb + k/ka + [Noun in Dative]

Meanings

The preposition 'k' (or 'ka') indicates movement in the direction of a person, institution, or sometimes a place.

1

Movement towards a person

Heading to visit or approach someone.

“Idem k baki.”

“Trčim k treneru.”

2

Movement towards an institution

Heading to a professional or public entity.

“Idem k liječniku.”

“Idem k zubaru.”

Dative Case Endings (Singular)

Gender Nominative Dative Ending Example
Masculine prijatelj -u prijatelju
Feminine baka -i baki
Neuter dijete -etu djetetu
Pronoun ja meni k meni
Pronoun ti tebi k tebi
Pronoun on njemu k njemu

Reference Table

Reference table for Expressing Direction 'Towards' with Dative
Form Structure Example
Affirmative Subj + k + Dative Idem k baki.
Negative Subj + ne + k + Dative Ne idem k baki.
Question Kome + Verb? Kome ideš?
Pronoun k + Pronoun(Dat) Idem k tebi.
Special ka + k/g Idem ka kući.

격식 수준 스펙트럼

격식체
Idem k liječniku.

Idem k liječniku. (Medical visit)

중립
Idem k doktoru.

Idem k doktoru. (Medical visit)

비격식체
Idem kod doktora.

Idem kod doktora. (Medical visit)

속어
Idem kod doka.

Idem kod doka. (Medical visit)

When to use K

K / KA

People

  • prijatelj friend
  • baka grandma

Professionals

  • liječnik doctor
  • zubar dentist
무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

수준별 예문

1

Idem k baki.

I am going to grandma.

2

Dolazim k tebi.

I am coming to you.

3

Idem k liječniku.

I am going to the doctor.

4

Trčim k treneru.

I am running to the coach.

1

On ide k prijatelju.

He is going to his friend.

2

Idemo k profesoru.

We are going to the professor.

3

Ne idem k zubaru.

I am not going to the dentist.

4

Zašto ideš k njoj?

Why are you going to her?

1

Svaki dan idem k susjedu.

Every day I go to the neighbor.

2

Ka kući idem kasno.

I am going home late.

3

Ona trči k vratima.

She is running towards the door.

4

Idem k direktoru na razgovor.

I am going to the director for an interview.

1

Krenuo sam k njemu, ali sam zaboravio ključeve.

I started towards him, but I forgot the keys.

2

Svi su krenuli k izlazu.

Everyone started towards the exit.

3

Nije htio ići k nikome.

He didn't want to go to anyone.

4

Kome ideš?

Who are you going to?

1

Kretanje k cilju zahtijeva fokus.

Movement towards the goal requires focus.

2

Okrenuo se k njoj s osmijehom.

He turned towards her with a smile.

3

Svi pogledi su bili usmjereni k pozornici.

All eyes were directed towards the stage.

4

Krenuli su k sjeveru.

They headed towards the north.

1

Krenuvši k nepoznatom, osjetio je strah.

Heading towards the unknown, he felt fear.

2

Sve vodi k istom zaključku.

Everything leads to the same conclusion.

3

Krenite k izlazu u slučaju opasnosti.

Proceed towards the exit in case of danger.

4

Nagnuo se k njoj da joj nešto šapne.

He leaned towards her to whisper something.

혼동하기 쉬운

Expressing Direction 'Towards' with Dative 대 K vs Kod

Learners mix 'k' (towards) and 'kod' (at/with).

Expressing Direction 'Towards' with Dative 대 K vs U

Learners use 'u' for people.

Expressing Direction 'Towards' with Dative 대 Dative vs Accusative

Learners use wrong case after 'k'.

자주 하는 실수

✗

Idem u baki.

✓

Idem k baki.

Use 'k' for people, not 'u'.
✗

Idem k baka.

✓

Idem k baki.

Must use Dative case.
✗

Idem ka baki.

✓

Idem k baki.

Only use 'ka' before 'k' or 'g'.
✗

Idem u prijatelja.

✓

Idem k prijatelju.

Wrong preposition and wrong case.
✗

Idem k škola.

✓

Idem u školu.

School is a place, use 'u'.
✗

Idem ka liječniku.

✓

Idem k liječniku.

Only use 'ka' before 'k/g'.
✗

Idem k ja.

✓

Idem k meni.

Must use Dative pronoun.
✗

Krenuo sam u njemu.

✓

Krenuo sam k njemu.

Direction towards person.
✗

Svi su išli u izlazu.

✓

Svi su išli k izlazu.

Direction towards exit.
✗

Kome ideš? - Idem u Marka.

✓

Idem k Marku.

Dative case needed.
✗

Sve vodi u istom zaključku.

✓

Sve vodi k istom zaključku.

Abstract direction.
✗

Nagnuo se u njoj.

✓

Nagnuo se k njoj.

Directional movement.
✗

Krenuli su u sjeveru.

✓

Krenuli su k sjeveru.

Directional movement.

문장 패턴

Idem k ___.

___ ideš k njemu?

On ide k ___ jer ima problem.

Svi su krenuli k ___.

Real World Usage

Texting a friend constant

Dolazim k tebi za 5 min.

Doctor's office very common

Idem k liječniku na pregled.

School/University common

Idem k profesoru po ocjenu.

Social media occasional

Krenuo sam k ekipi!

Travel common

Krenuli smo k centru grada.

Emergency occasional

Trčite k izlazu!

무료 가입하고 모든 예문 보기
💡

Check the case

Always double-check that your noun is in the Dative case.
⚠️

Don't use 'u'

Never use 'u' for people. It sounds like you are putting them in a box.
🎯

Use 'ka'

If you struggle to say 'k k...', just use 'ka'.
💬

Casual speech

In very casual speech, 'kod' is often used instead of 'k'.

Smart Tips

Remember that 'k' is a 'Dative-loving' preposition.

Idem k prijatelja. → Idem k prijatelju.

Use 'ka' to keep your speech smooth.

Idem k kući. → Idem ka kući.

Stop and think: 'Is this a person?' If yes, use 'k'.

Idem u doktora. → Idem k doktoru.

Use 'u' or 'na' instead of 'k'.

Idem k školu. → Idem u školu.

발음

ka kući / ka gradu

K vs Ka

Use 'ka' before words starting with 'k' or 'g' to avoid stuttering.

Falling

Idem k baki ↓

Statement of fact.

암기하기

기억법

K is for Kin. Use K when you are going to your kin (people).

시각적 연상

Imagine walking towards a person you love. The letter 'K' looks like a person standing with arms open, welcoming you.

Rhyme

If it's a person, use a K, to show them you are on your way.

Story

Marko is going to see his friend. He says 'Idem k prijatelju'. He then goes to the doctor, 'Idem k liječniku'. He finally goes home, but wait, 'kući' starts with 'k', so he says 'Idem ka kući'.

Word Web

prijateljbakaliječnikzubarprofesortrener

챌린지

Write 5 sentences about people you visit regularly using 'k'.

문화 노트

Using 'k' is very specific to people. In casual speech, many people use 'kod' + Genitive instead, which is technically different but very common.

The preposition 'k' comes from Proto-Slavic *kъ, meaning 'towards'.

대화 시작하기

“

Kome ideš danas?

“

Ideš li k liječniku?

“

Kada ideš k profesoru?

“

Kome se obraćaš kad imaš problem?

일기 주제

Write about your daily routine and who you visit.
Describe a time you went to see a professional.
Write a short story about someone heading towards a destination.
Discuss the importance of visiting family.
Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct form.

Idem ___ (prijatelj).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: k prijatelju
Dative case is required.
Choose the correct sentence. 객관식

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Idem k baki.
K + Dative.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Idem u liječniku.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Idem k liječniku.
Use K for people.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

k / idem / baki

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Idem k baki.
Standard word order.
Choose the correct preposition. 객관식

Idem ___ kući.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ka
Ka before K.
Fill in the blank.

Kome ideš? Idem k ___ (profesor).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: profesoru
Dative singular.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Svi su krenuli u izlazu.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Svi su krenuli k izlazu.
K + Dative.
Choose the correct pronoun. 객관식

Idem k ___ (you).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tebi
Dative pronoun.

Score: /8

연습 문제

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct form.

Idem ___ (prijatelj).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: k prijatelju
Dative case is required.
Choose the correct sentence. 객관식

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Idem k baki.
K + Dative.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Idem u liječniku.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Idem k liječniku.
Use K for people.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

k / idem / baki

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Idem k baki.
Standard word order.
Choose the correct preposition. 객관식

Idem ___ kući.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ka
Ka before K.
Fill in the blank.

Kome ideš? Idem k ___ (profesor).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: profesoru
Dative singular.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Svi su krenuli u izlazu.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Svi su krenuli k izlazu.
K + Dative.
Choose the correct pronoun. 객관식

Idem k ___ (you).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tebi
Dative pronoun.

Score: /8

자주 묻는 질문 (8)

Yes, in casual speech 'kod' + Genitive is very common for visiting people, but 'k' + Dative is the standard directional form.

It is a phonetic variant used before words starting with 'k' or 'g' to make pronunciation easier.

Mostly yes, but it can be used for institutions like 'k liječniku' or 'k sudu'.

Always the Dative case.

No, for cities use 'u'.

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in all registers.

Use 'k meni'.

No, 'k' is fixed, but the noun following it changes based on its case.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

무료 가입하고 연습하기

In Other Languages

German high

zu

German uses 'zu' for places too, whereas Croatian distinguishes.

French partial

vers / chez

Croatian uses 'k' for both.

Spanish moderate

a

Croatian uses different prepositions for people and places.

Japanese low

e

Japanese does not use cases like Croatian.

Arabic low

ila

Arabic is a Semitic language with different grammar structures.

Chinese low

wǎng

Chinese is an isolating language, no cases.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Prepositions Governing Dative (k, prema, unatoč)
Next
Dative with Impersonal Constructions (e.g., Hladno mi je)

Related Grammar Rules

B2

Prepositions Governing Dative and Locative (e.g., pri, k)
A1

Prepositions with Genitive (Origin & Separation)
A2

Using Locative to Express 'About' or 'On'
A2

Expressing 'By Means of' (Čime?)
B1

Prepositions Expressing Concession (unatoč, usprkos)
Was this helpful?

댓글 (0)

로그인하여 댓글 달기
아직 댓글이 없습니다. 첫 번째로 생각을 공유하세요!