Verb-Preposition Collocations in Czech

Overview

Verb-preposition collocations (slovesné vazby) are fixed combinations of a verb, preposition, and specific case that cannot be predicted from their individual components. At the CEFR B2 level, knowing these collocations is essential for accurate, natural Czech expression.

Unlike English phrasal verbs where the particle changes the meaning (look up, look after, look into), Czech verb collocations involve prepositions that require specific cases. Myslet na + accusative (think about), mluvit o + locative (talk about), and záležet na + locative (depend on) must be learned as fixed units.

These collocations often differ from English preposition choices, making them a common source of interference errors.

How It Works

Common Verb + Preposition + Case Combinations

Czech	Preposition + Case	English
myslet na + acc.	na + 4.	think about
mluvit o + loc.	o + 6.	talk about
záležet na + loc.	na + 6.	depend on
těšit se na + acc.	na + 4.	look forward to
ptát se na + acc.	na + 4.	ask about
odpovědět na + acc.	na + 4.	answer (a question)
zajímat se o + acc.	o + 4.	be interested in
starat se o + acc.	o + 4.	take care of
bát se + gen.	— + 2.	be afraid of
smát se + dat.	— + 3.	laugh at
závidět + dat.	— + 3.	envy (someone)
děkovat za + acc.	za + 4.	thank for

Verbs with Multiple Prepositions

Some verbs change meaning with different prepositions:

• mluvit o + loc. — talk about (Mluvíme o tom.)
• mluvit s + inst. — talk with (Mluvím s ním.)
• starat se o + acc. — take care of (Stará se o děti.)
• zajímat se o + acc. — be interested in (Zajímám se o historii.)

Examples in Context

Czech	English	Note
Myslím na tebe.	I'm thinking of you.	na + acc.
Mluvíme o tom.	We're talking about it.	o + loc.
Záleží na tobě.	It depends on you.	na + loc.
Těšíme se na prázdniny.	We look forward to vacation.	na + acc.
Ptám se na cestu.	I'm asking about the way.	na + acc.
Zajímám se o umění.	I'm interested in art.	o + acc.
Stará se o rodiče.	She takes care of her parents.	o + acc.
Bojím se tmy.	I'm afraid of the dark.	gen. (no prep.)
Děkuji za pomoc.	Thank you for help.	za + acc.
Směje se mi.	He's laughing at me.	dat. (no prep.)

Common Mistakes

Using English preposition logic

• Wrong: Myslím o tobě. (English "think about")
• Right: Myslím na tebe.
• Why: Czech "think" takes na + accusative, not o + locative.

Wrong case after correct preposition

• Wrong: Mluvím o ty.
• Right: Mluvím o tobě.
• Why: O in this construction requires the locative case.

Confusing verbs with similar prepositions

• Wrong: Záležím na tobě. (I depend on you — wrong form)
• Right: Záleží na tobě. (It depends on you.)
• Why: Záležet is typically used impersonally (záleží), not with a personal subject.

Usage Notes

Verb collocations must be memorized as units — dictionary entries for Czech verbs typically list their government (vazba). Some collocations vary between formal and informal registers. Learning these systematically, grouped by preposition, is more efficient than learning them verb by verb.

Verbs with Genitive (No Preposition)

Some Czech verbs govern the genitive case directly, without a preposition:

Verb	Case	Example	Translation
bát se	gen.	bát se tmy	be afraid of the dark
ptát se	gen. (or na+acc.)	ptát se cesty	ask for directions
všimnout si	gen.	všimnout si chyby	notice a mistake
účastnit se	gen.	účastnit se soutěže	participate in a competition
zbavit se	gen.	zbavit se problému	get rid of a problem

These are distinct from verb-preposition collocations but follow the same principle: the verb dictates the case of its complement, and this must be memorized as part of the verb's grammar.

Practice Tips

• Create a "collocation journal" organized by preposition: all na + acc. verbs together, all o + loc. together.
• When learning a new verb, always learn its preposition and required case as an inseparable unit.
• Translate English sentences containing "think about," "talk about," "look forward to" into Czech to practice the different prepositions.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Reflexive Verbs — builds the foundation for verb-preposition collocations