Breakdown of Hodamo uz rijeku.
rijeka
river
hodati
to walk (move on foot)
uz
along, besides / with (accompanying)
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Questions & Answers about Hodamo uz rijeku.
Why is rijeku in the accusative case if it describes where we are walking?
Because the preposition uz dictates the case here, requiring the accusative when it means "along" or "alongside." Even though the river is a physical location, you don't use the locative case because the specific preposition you choose always overrides general location rules.
What is the exact difference between uz rijeku and pored rijeke?
Uz rijeku (using the accusative case) strongly implies physical alignment or following a path, which is why it translates perfectly to "along the river." On the other hand, pored rijeke (which takes the genitive case) simply means "next to the river" or "by the river," and doesn't necessarily mean you are following its course.
The lesson mentions uz can also mean "addition." Does that apply to this sentence?
Not in this specific sentence. Here, uz is strictly used for physical alignment in space. When used for addition, it means "along with" or "besides" an event or object (for example, drinking wine uz večeru — along with dinner). Luckily, both the "alignment" and "addition" meanings use the accusative case!
Could we say Idemo uz rijeku instead of Hodamo uz rijeku?
Yes, but the meaning shifts slightly. Hodamo focuses specifically on the physical action of walking on foot. Idemo simply means "we are going," so idemo uz rijeku could mean you are driving, cycling, or even sailing along the river.