23. Variation in Prepositions
23.1 Preposition variation
The prepositions listed below have a special form when preceding certain words.
| Normal Form | auxiliary Form | When preceding the words мне, ўсім, and ўсіх. |
аб |
а́ба |
When preceding the word мне. |
к |
ка |
When preceding the word мной. |
пад |
па́да |
When preceding the word мной. |
над |
на́да |
When preceding the word мной. |
пе́рад |
пе́рада |
When preceding the word мной. |
у |
ва |
When preceding any word beginning with ў. |
у |
ў |
Otherwise, if it follows a word ending in a vowel. |
з |
са |
Preceding any word whose first letter is either ж, з, м, с, or ш, and whose second letter is a consonant. |
23.2 Pronouns following prepositions
a characteristic unique to Belarusian of all the Slavic languages,
the pronouns ён, яно́,
яна́, and
яны́ do not have a
euphonic н appended to them when
following a preposition.
аб ім |
‘about it’ |
да яго́ |
‘to him’ |
з ёй |
‘with her’ |
над і́мі |
‘over them’ |
23.3 Prepositional assimilation
Certain prepositions and particles are assimilated into the words that follow them. They and the words in front of them are pronounced as one word. For purposes of pronunciation, all spelling rules should be applied to the preposition as if it were part of the next word, for example, if the following word begins with a palatized consonant, the ending of the preposition is pronounced palatized. The orthographic spelling does not necessary reflect this assimilation, but it is always reflected in pronunciation.
| Pronounciation | Orthography | |
Уста́ў /зь/ зямлі́. |
Уста́ў з зямлі́. |
‘I got up from the ground.’ |
Як саро́ка /бязь/ дзюَ́бы. |
Як саро́ка без дзюَ́бы. |
‘Like a magpie without a beаk.’ |
23.3 Prepositions with adverbs
Sometimes prepositions can be followed by an adverb, which is not declined.
Які́ прагно́з на сё́ння? |
‘What is the forecast for today?’ |
Нам трэ́ба купі́ць е́жу на за́ўтра. |
‘We need to buy food for tomorrow.’ |