Prepositions Governing Accusative (u, na, kroz, za)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the Accusative case after 'u', 'na', 'kroz', and 'za' when describing movement toward a destination or purpose.
- Use 'u' for entering a space: Idem u školu (I am going to school).
- Use 'na' for surfaces or events: Idem na koncert (I am going to a concert).
- Use 'kroz' for passing through: Prolazim kroz park (I am passing through the park).
Accusative Case Changes
| Gender | Nominative | Accusative | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Masculine (Inanimate)
|
stol
|
stol
|
na stol
|
|
Feminine
|
škola
|
školu
|
u školu
|
|
Neuter
|
selo
|
selo
|
u selo
|
|
Masculine (Animate)
|
prijatelj
|
prijatelja
|
za prijatelja
|
Meanings
These prepositions indicate movement toward a destination or a specific purpose in the Accusative case.
Physical Motion
Moving into or onto a location.
“Idem u grad.”
“Stavljam knjigu na stol.”
Purpose/Goal
Doing something for a specific reason.
“Ovo je poklon za tebe.”
“Idem na kavu.”
Reference Table
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Idem u [noun]
|
Idem u školu.
|
|
Negative
|
Ne idem u [noun]
|
Ne idem u školu.
|
|
Question
|
Ideš li u [noun]?
|
Ideš li u školu?
|
|
Purpose
|
Za [noun]
|
Za tebe.
|
|
Motion
|
Kroz [noun]
|
Kroz park.
|
正式程度
Idem u školu. (Daily life)
Idem u školu. (Daily life)
Idem u školu. (Daily life)
Pičim u školu. (Daily life)
Directional Prepositions
Inside
- u into
Surface
- na onto
Passage
- kroz through
按水平分级的例句
Idem u školu.
I am going to school.
Idem na kavu.
I am going for coffee.
Ovo je za tebe.
This is for you.
Prolazim kroz park.
I am passing through the park.
Putujem u Zagreb.
I am traveling to Zagreb.
Idem na posao.
I am going to work.
Trčim kroz šumu.
I am running through the forest.
Kupujem poklon za mamu.
I am buying a gift for mom.
Ulazim u zgradu.
I am entering the building.
Idem na sastanak.
I am going to a meeting.
Gledam kroz prozor.
I am looking through the window.
Borim se za pravdu.
I am fighting for justice.
Sjedam na stolicu.
I am sitting on the chair.
Idem u kino na film.
I am going to the cinema for a film.
Prošetao sam kroz grad.
I walked through the city.
Radim za tvrtku.
I work for a company.
Uronio sam u misli.
I immersed myself in thoughts.
Otišao je na put bez povratka.
He went on a journey of no return.
Probijam se kroz gužvu.
I am pushing through the crowd.
Živim za ovaj trenutak.
I live for this moment.
Ušao je u legendu.
He entered the legend.
Sve je palo na njega.
Everything fell on him.
Gledao je kroz vrijeme.
He looked through time.
Spreman sam za sve.
I am ready for everything.
容易混淆
Both use prepositions like 'u' and 'na'.
Both mean 'to'.
Both imply movement.
常见错误
Idem u škola
Idem u školu
Idem na kino
Idem u kino
Idem u posao
Idem na posao
Kroz park
Kroz park
Idem na grad
Idem u grad
Za tebe
Za tebe
U stol
Na stol
Idem u koncert
Idem na koncert
Za prijatelj
Za prijatelja
Kroz vrata
Kroz vrata
Ušao sam u misao
Ušao sam u misli
Spreman za sve
Spreman za sve
Živim za trenutak
Živim za trenutak
Pao na njega
Pao na njega
句型
Idem u ___.
Idem na ___.
Prolazim kroz ___.
Ovo je za ___.
Real World Usage
Idem na kavu, vidimo se!
Idem u Hrvatsku.
Idem na sastanak.
Ovo je za vas.
Idem na koncert! #zagreb
Radim za vašu tvrtku.
Feminine Rule
Don't mix cases
Animate nouns
Coffee culture
Smart Tips
Always check the last letter.
Use 'na' for concerts, meetings, and coffee.
Add -a to masculine animate nouns.
Think of it as 'through'.
发音
Accusative ending
The -u ending is short and clear.
Statement
Idem u školu ↓
Falling intonation for facts.
记住它
记忆技巧
U-nter (u), N-ext to (na), K-ross (kroz), Z-a (for).
视觉联想
Imagine a ball rolling into a box (u), onto a table (na), through a tunnel (kroz), and being given as a gift (za).
Rhyme
U za školu, na za stol, kroz za park, to nije bol!
Story
Ana goes to school (u školu). She puts her bag on the table (na stol). She walks through the park (kroz park) to buy a gift for her friend (za prijatelja).
Word Web
挑战
Write 5 sentences about where you are going today using these prepositions.
文化笔记
Going for coffee ('na kavu') is a central social ritual in Croatia.
These prepositions are inherited from Proto-Slavic.
对话开场白
Kamo ideš?
Što radiš za vikend?
Zašto učiš hrvatski?
Kroz koji grad putuješ?
日记主题
常见错误
Test Yourself
Idem u ___ (škola).
Idem ___ koncert.
Find and fix the mistake:
Idem u posao.
kavu / na / idem
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Ovo je za ___ (prijatelj).
Prolazim kroz ___ (park).
Idem u školu.
Score: /8
练习题
8 exercisesIdem u ___ (škola).
Idem ___ koncert.
Find and fix the mistake:
Idem u posao.
kavu / na / idem
u / na / kroz / za
Ovo je za ___ (prijatelj).
Prolazim kroz ___ (park).
Idem u školu.
Score: /8
常见问题 (8)
Feminine nouns ending in -a change to -u in the Accusative. Masculine and neuter nouns usually stay the same.
Mostly, but it's used for destinations like 'u grad' (to the city).
Only for specific ones like 'na poštu' (to the post office).
Use the -a ending for animate masculine nouns.
Yes, for movement through spaces like parks or tunnels.
Accusative is for motion (where to?), Locative is for location (where at?).
Forgetting the -u ending for feminine nouns.
No, it's one of the most consistent rules in Croatian.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
in/auf + Akkusativ
German uses different articles.
a/en
Croatian changes noun endings.
à/dans
Croatian uses cases.
ni/e
Particles follow the noun.
ila/fi
Arabic is VSO/SVO.
dao/zai
No case system.