Where exactly?
To say where something is in relation to something else, Polish uses a preposition plus a case. The case depends on the preposition, and it is worth learning them in three groups.
obok + Genitive
next to (+ Genitive) obok
| The bank is next to the post office. | Bank jest obok poczty. |
| I live next to the park. | Mieszkam obok parku. |
przy + Locative
by, at, next to (+ Locative) przy
| The table stands by the window. | Stół stoi przy oknie. |
| Grandmother is sitting at the table. | Babcia siedzi przy stole. |
przed, za, pod, nad + Instrumental
Four prepositions take the Instrumental — the -em / -ą endings you know from z:
| meaning | example | |
|---|---|---|
| in front of (+ Instrumental) | przed | in front of | przed domem |
| za | behind | za bankiem |
| under (+ Instrumental) | pod | under | pod stołem |
| above, over; by (a body of water) (+ Instrumental) | nad | above, over | nad stołem |
| The car is standing in front of the house. | Samochód stoi przed domem. |
| The cat is sleeping under the table. | Kot śpi pod stołem. |
| The shop is behind the bank. | Sklep jest za bankiem. |
Nad also means by a body of water — nad morzem (at the seaside), nad rzeką (by the river):
| We are at the seaside. | Jesteśmy nad morzem. |
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