SLOVAK GRAMMAR

1- SLOVAK ALPHABET

A a -> "ah" as in father

Á á -> long "ah"

Ä ä (like the "a" in cat, rare; often similar to "e" in modern speech)

B b -> b

C c -> (makes the ts sound)

Č č -> (makes the ch sound)

D d -> d

Ď ď -> (makes a patalized D sound [Rise your tongue to the roof of your mouth and pronounce D])

Dz dz -> (makes the dz sound)

Dž dž -> (makes the j sound)

E e -> (makes the eh sound)

É é -> (long e)

F f -> (makes the f sound)

G g -> (hard g as in go)

H h -> (voiced h but it is a bit stronger than English)

Ch ch -> (Makes the ch sound but it is a little bit heavy [not a lot])

I i -> (makes the ee sound)

Í í -> (makes a long ee sound)

J j -> (makes the y sound)

K k -> k

L l -> l

Ĺ ĺ -> (long l)

Ľ ľ -> (makes a patalized L sound [Rise your tongue to the roof of your mouth and pronounce L])

M m -> m

N n -> n

Ň ň -> ()

O o -> (short o)

Ó ó -> (long o)

Ô ô -> ("wo" or a diphthong like "uo")

P p -> p

Q q -> Q (only in foreign words)

R r -> (rolled/trilled r) (Place the tip of your tongue just behind your upper front teeth [The same place where you make the T sound and the D sound], relax your tongue [don't push hard on it] and pronounce the letter R when you are doing that)

Ŕ ŕ -> (long rolled r)

S s -> s as in see

Š š -> (makes the sh sound)

T t -> t

Ť ť -> (makes a patalized T sound [Rise your tongue to the roof of your mouth and pronounce T])

U u -> oo as in boot

Ú ú -> (long oo)

V v -> v

W w -> W (only in foreign words)

X x -> ks

Y y -> pronounced the same as i

Ý ý -> long version of y (same sound as í)

Z z -> (makes the z sound)

Ž ž -> (makes the zsh sound) in measure

2- WORD ORDER

1 Basic S + V Ja spím. Ja spím. I sleep.

2 Direct object S + V + DO Ja čítam knihu. Ja čítam knihu. I read the book.

3 Indirect object S + V + IO + DO Ja mu dávam knihu. Ja mu dávam knihu. I give him the book.

4 Beneficiary S + V + DO + pre + Beneficiary Ja kupujem knihu pre neho. Ja kupujem knihu pre neho. I buy a book for him.

5 IO pronoun S + IO + V + DO Ja mu dávam knihu. Ja mu dávam knihu. I give him the book.

6 Adjective S + byť + Adj Kniha je veľká. Kniha je veľká. The book is big.

7 Adverb S + V + Adv On číta rýchlo. On číta rýchlo. He reads quickly.

8 Direct object + adverb S + V + DO + Adv Ja čítam knihu rýchlo. Ja čítam knihu rýchlo. I read the book quickly.

9 Time adverb S + V + Time Ja pracujem dnes. Ja pracujem dnes. I work today.

10 Place adverb S + V + Place On býva tam. On býva tam. He lives there.

11 Location phrase S + byť + Location Kniha je na stole. Kniha je na stole. The book is on the table.

12 DO + location S + V + DO + Location Položil som knihu na stôl. Položil som knihu na stôl. I put the book on the table.

13 Determiner + noun Dem + N Táto kniha je nová. Táto kniha je nová. This book is new.

14 Determiner + adjective + noun Dem + Adj + N Táto veľká kniha je nová. Táto veľká kniha je nová. This big book is new.

15 Numeral + noun Num + N Dve knihy sú nové. Dve knihy sú nové. Two books are new.

16 Conjunction Clause + Conj + Clause Ja čítam a on píše. Ja čítam a on píše. I read and he writes.

17 Conjunction + objects S + V + DO + Conj + S + V + DO Ja čítam knihu a on píše list. Ja čítam knihu a on píše list. I read the book and he writes a letter.

18 Present passive S + byť + passive participle Kniha je čítaná. Kniha je čítaná. The book is being read.

19 Passive + agent S + byť + passive participle + od + Agent Kniha je čítaná ním. Kniha je čítaná ním. The book is being read by him.

20 Passive + IO S + byť + passive participle + IO Kniha je mu dávaná. Kniha je mu dávaná. The book is being given to him.

21 Passive + IO + agent S + byť + passive participle + IO + od + Agent Kniha je mu dávaná ním. Kniha je mu dávaná ním. The book is being given to him by him.

22 Passive + adverb S + byť + passive participle + Time Kniha je dnes čítaná. Kniha je dnes čítaná. The book is being read today.

23 Passive + location S + byť + passive participle + Location Kniha je kladená na stôl. Kniha je kladená na stôl. The book is being put on the table.

24 Passive + agent + adverb S + Time + byť + passive participle + Agent Kniha je dnes čítaná ním. Kniha je dnes čítaná ním. The book is being read by him today.

25 Passive + agent + IO + adverb S + Time + byť + IO + passive participle + Agent Kniha je dnes mu dávaná učiteľom. Kniha je dnes mu dávaná učiteľom. The book is being given to him by the teacher today.

26 Perfect passive S + byť/zostať + passive participle Kniha bola prečítaná. Kniha bola prečítaná. The book has been read / was read.

27 Perfect passive + agent S + byť/zostať + passive participle + Agent Kniha bola prečítaná ním. Kniha bola prečítaná ním. The book has been read by him.

28 Future passive S + byť + passive participle Kniha bude čítaná. Kniha bude čítaná. The book will be read.

29 Future passive + agent S + byť + passive participle + Agent Kniha bude čítaná ním. Kniha bude čítaná ním. The book will be read by him.

30 Modal passive S + modal + byť + passive participle Kniha musí byť prečítaná. Kniha musí byť prečítaná. The book must be read.

31 Negative S + ne- + V + DO Ja nečítam knihu. Ja nečítam knihu. I do not read the book.

32 Negative passive S + ne + byť + passive participle + Agent Kniha nie je čítaná ním. Kniha nie je čítaná ním. The book is not being read by him.

33 Yes/no question S + V + DO? Čítaš knihu? Čítaš knihu? Do you read the book?

34 Passive question S + byť + passive participle? Je kniha čítaná? Je kniha čítaná? Is the book being read?

35 Agent question Kto + V + DO? Kto číta knihu? Kto číta knihu? Who is reading the book?

36 IO question Komu + V + DO? Komu dávaš knihu? Komu dávaš knihu? To whom do you give the book?

37 Imperative V + DO Čítaj knihu! Čítaj knihu! Read the book!

38 Imperative + IO V + IO + DO Daj mu knihu! Daj mu knihu! Give him the book!

39 Passive imperative nech + passive verb Nech je kniha prečítaná! Nech je kniha prečítaná! Let the book be read!

40 Verbal noun V + -nie / -tie / -enie etc. čítanie čítanie reading

41 Verbal noun + DO verbal noun + DO čítanie knihy čítanie knihy reading the book

42 Infinitive infinitive čítať čítať to read

43 Purpose S + V + aby + V Jem, aby som sa hral. Jem, aby som sa hral. I eat in order to play.

44 Relative clause N + ktorý/ktorá/ktoré + clause Kniha, ktorú čítam, je zaujímavá. Kniha, ktorú čítam, je zaujímavá. The book that I am reading is interesting.

45 Passive relative N + ktorý/ktorá/ktoré + byť + passive participle Kniha, ktorá bola ním prečítaná, je zaujímavá. Kniha, ktorá bola ním prečítaná, je zaujímavá. The book that was read by him is interesting.

46 Conditional ak + present, future + V Ak mám čas, budem čítať knihu. Ak mám čas, budem čítať knihu. If I have time, I will read a book.

47 Conditional + passive ak + passive, future + V Ak bude kniha prečítaná, naučí sa. Ak bude kniha prečítaná, naučí sa. If the book is read, he will learn.

48 Reported speech S + V + že + clause On hovorí, že číta knihu. On hovorí, že číta knihu. He says that he is reading a book.

49 Reported question S + V + či + clause On sa pýta, či čítam knihu. On sa pýta, či čítam knihu. He asks if I am reading the book.

50 Reported command/request S + V + DO/IO + aby + V On ma prosí, aby som prečítal knihu. On ma prosí, aby som prečítal knihu. He asks me to read the book.

INDIRECT OBJECT:

Basic indirect object S + V + IO + DO Ja dávam učiteľovi knihu. I give the teacher the book.

IO pronoun S + IO + V + DO Ja mu dávam knihu. I give him the book.

IO question Komu? + V + DO? Komu dávaš knihu? To whom do you give the book?

Thing as IO Čomu? + V? Čomu veríš? What do you believe in?

Dative noun Noun → Dative Dávam žene knihu. I give the woman the book.

Dative plural Noun → Dative plural Dávam študentom knihy. I give the students books.

Short IO pronoun mi, ti, mu, jej, nám, vám, im Dávam mu knihu. I give him the book.

Full IO pronoun mne, tebe, jemu... Dám ju jemu. I'll give it to him.

Beneficiary pre + Accusative Kupujem knihu pre Petra. I buy a book for Peter.

IO vs beneficiary Dative vs pre + Acc. Dávam Petrovi knihu. / Kupujem knihu pre Petra. I give Peter the book. / I buy a book for Peter.

GENITIVE:

Possession N + Gen. dom brata brother's house

"of" N + Gen. názov mesta name of the city

Negation V + Gen. nemám času I don't have time

Quantity quantity + Gen. veľa vody a lot of water

Numbers 5+ number + Gen. plural päť kníh five books

Without bez + Gen. bez cukru without sugar

From z/zo + Gen. z domu from the house

From someone od + Gen. od Petra from Peter

Until/to do + Gen. do večera until evening

Around okolo + Gen. okolo domu around the house

Instead of namiesto + Gen. namiesto mňa instead of me

Pronoun Genitive pronoun bez neho without him

INDEPENDENT:

English Masculine Feminine Neuter Plural

mine môj moja moje moji / moje

yours tvoj tvoja tvoje tvoji / tvoje

his jeho jeho jeho jeho

hers jej jej jej jej

ours náš naša naše naši / naše

yours váš vaša vaše vaši / vaše

theirs ich ich ich ich

Tento dom je môj. This house is mine.

Táto kniha je moja. This book is mine.

WAS GOING TO:

to past chcieť + infinitive Chcel som ísť. I was going to go.

was planning to past plánovať + infinitive Plánoval som ísť. I was planning to go.

was about to past chystať sa + infinitive Chystal som sa ísť. I was about to go.

was going to, but didn't past chcieť + infinitive + ale... Chcel som ísť, ale nemal som čas. I was going to go, but I didn't have time.

I was going to go Chcel som ísť. Chcel som ísť.

You were going to go Chcel si ísť. Chcel si ísť.

He was going to go Chcel ísť. Chcel ísť.

She was going to go Chcela ísť. Chcela ísť.

We were going to go Chceli sme ísť. Chceli sme ísť.

You were going to go Chceli ste ísť. Chceli ste ísť.

They were going to go Chceli ísť. Chceli ísť.

I was planning to go Plánoval som ísť.

You were planning to go Plánoval si ísť.

He was planning to go Plánoval ísť.

She was planning to go Plánovala ísť.

We were planning to go Plánovali sme ísť.

You were planning to go Plánovali ste ísť.

They were planning to go Plánovali ísť.

2- NOUNS

NOUN CASES:

Quick Introduction: A case is something marks the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other elements in a sentence

Nominative/Subject is the noun/pronoun that does the action (Example: I eat the apple, "I" is the nomative)

Accusative/Direct Object is the noun/pronoun that the action is done to (Example: I eat the apple, "apple" is accusative/direct object)

Dative/Indirect Object is the noun/pronoun that recieves the action (Example: I read the boy a story, boy is dative/indirect object)

Genitive is the noun/pronoun that has a possession, but the topic is the possession itself (Example: The boy's toy. "boy's" is genitive)

Locative is the location

Intrumental is the noun/pronoun that makes something happen, It is a part of ablative. (Example: I write with a pen. "pen" is instrumental")

MALE ANIMATE:

Nominative: chlap / chlapi (plural)

Genitive: chlapa / chlapov (plural)

Dative: chlapovi / chlapom (plural)

Accusative: chlapa / chlapov (plural)

Locative: chlapovi / chlapoch (plural)

Instrumental: chlapom / chlapmi (plural)

.

Nominative: hrdina / hrdinovia (plural)

Genitive: hrdinu / hrdinov (plural)

Dative: hrdinovi / hrdinom (plural)

Accusative: hrdinu / hrdinov (plural)

Locative: hrdinovi / hrdinoch (plural)

Instrumental: hrdinom / hrdinami (plural)

.

Nominative: predseda / predsedovia (plural)

Genitive: predsedu / predsedov (plural)

Dative: predsedovi / predsedom (plural)

Accusative: predsedu / predsedov (plural)

Locative: predsedovi / predsedoch (plural)

Instrumental: predsedom / predsedami (plural)

.

Nominative: priateľ / priatelia (plural)

Genitive: priateľa / priateľov (plural)

Dative priateľovi / priateľom (plural)

Accusative: priateľa / priateľov (plural)

Locative: priateľovi / priateľoch (plural)

Instrumental: priateľom / priateľmi (plural)

.

MALE ANIMATE (IRREGULAR):

Nominative: otec / otcovia (plural)

Genitive: otca / otcov (plural)

Dative: otcovi / otcom (plural)

Accusative: otca / otcov (plural)

Locative: otcovi / otcoch (plural)

Instrumental: otcom / otcami (plural)

MALE INANIMATE (A NOUN THAT DESCRIBES A THING BUT IS CONSIDER MASCULINE):

Nominative: dub / duby (plural)

Genitive: duba / dubov (plural)

Dative: dubu / dubom (plural)

Accusative: dub / duby (plural)

Locative: dube / duboch (plural)

Instrumental: dubom / dubmi (plural)

.

Nominative: stroj / stroje (plural)

Genitive: stroja / strojov (plural)

Dative: stroju / strojom (plural)

Accusative: stroj / stroje (plural)

Locative: stroji / strojoch (plural)

Instrumental: strojom / strojmi (plural)

FEMALE:

Nominative: žena / ženy (plural)

Genitive: ženy / žien (plural)

Dative: žene / ženám (plural)

Accusative: ženu / ženy (plural)

Locative: žene / ženách (plural)

Instrumental: ženou / ženami (plural)

.

Nominative: ulica / ulice (plural)

Genitive: ulice / ulíc (plural)

Dative: ulici / uliciam (plural)

Accusative: ulicu / ulice (plural)

Locative: ulici / uliciach (plural)

Instrumental: ulicou / ulicami (plural)

.

Nominative: dlaň / dlane (plural)

Genitive: dlane / dlaní (plural)

Dative: dlani / dlaniam (plural)

Accusative: dlaň / dlane (plural)

Locative: dlani / dlaniach (plural)

Instrumental: dlaňou / dlaňami (plural)

.

Nominative: kosť / kosti (plural)

Genitive: kosti / kostí (plural)

Dative: kosti / kostiam (plural)

Accusative: kosť / kosti (plural)

Locative: kosti / kostiach (plural)

Instrumental: kosťou / kosťami (plural)

.

Nominative: idea / idey

Genitive: idey / ideí

Dative: idei / ideám

Accusative: ideu / idey

Locative: idei / ideách

Instrumental: ideou / ideami

IRREGULAR FEMALE:

Nominative: pani

Genitive: panej

Dative: pani

Accusative: pani

Locative: pani

Instrumental: paňou

NEUTER:

Nominative: mesto / mestá (plural)

Genitive: mesta / miest (plural)

Dative: mestu / mestám (plural)

Accusative: mesto / mestá (plural)

Locative: meste / mestách (plural)

Instrumental: mestom / mestami (plural)

.

Nominative: srdce / srdcia (plural)

Genitive: srdca / sŕdc (plural)

Dative: srdcu / srdciam (plural)

Accusative: srdce / srdcia (plural)

Locative: srdci / srdciach (plural)

Instrumental: srdcom / srdciami (plural)

.

Nominative: vysvedčenie / vysvedčenia (plural)

Genitive: vysvedčenia / vysvedčení (plural)

Dative: vysvedčeniu / vysvedčeniam (plural)

Accusative: vysvedčenie / vysvedčenia (plural)

Locative: vysvedčení / vysvedčeniach (plural)

Instrumental: vysvedčením / vysvedčeniami (plural)

.

Nominative: dievča / dievčatá (plural)

Genitive: dievčaťa / dievčat (plural)

Dative: dievčaťu / dievčatám (plural)

Accusative: dievča / dievčatá (plural)

Locative: dievčati / dievčatách (plural)

Instrumental: dievčaťom / dievčatami (plural)

IRREGULAR NEUTER:

Nominative dieťa

Genitive dieťaťa

Dative dieťaťu

Accusative dieťa

Locative dieťati

Instrumental dieťaťom

.

Nominative oko

Genitive oka

Dative oku

Accusative oko

Locative oku

Instrumental okom

.

Nominative ucho

Genitive ucha

Dative uchu

Accusative ucho

Locative uchu

Instrumental uchom

3- ADJECTIVES

Case Masculine Feminine Neuter

Nominative pekný pekná pekné

Genitive pekného peknej pekného

Dative peknému peknej peknému

Accusative pekný/pekného* peknú pekné

Locative peknom peknej peknom

Instrumental pekným peknou pekným

pekný muž beautiful man

pekná žena beautiful woman

pekné mesto beautiful city

pekní muži beautiful men

pekné ženy beautiful women

PLURAL ENDINGS:

Masculine animate -í pekní muži

Masculine inanimate -é pekné domy

Feminine -é pekné ženy

Neuter -é pekné mestá

Attributive adjective Adjective + Noun pekný dom beautiful house a beautiful house

veľká kniha big book a big book

nové auto new car a new car

Predicate adjective Subject + byť (to be) + Adjective Dom je pekný. House is beautiful. The house is beautiful.

Kniha je veľká. Book is big. The book is big.

Auto je nové. Car is new. The car is new.

TO BE VERB:

1. Infinitive

Slovak English

byť to be

2. Present Tense

Pronoun Slovak English

ja som I am

ty si you are (singular)

on je he is

ona je she is

ono je it is

my sme we are

vy ste you are (plural/formal)

oni/ony sú they are

Examples

Som študent.

I am a student.

Si unavený.

You are tired.

Je lekár.

He is a doctor.

Sme doma.

We are at home.

Ste pripravení.

You are ready.

Sú šťastní.

They are happy.

3. Negative Present

Add nie before the present form.

Positive Negative English

som nie som I am not

si nie si you are not

je nie je he/she/it is not

sme nie sme we are not

ste nie ste you are not

sú nie sú they are not

Examples

Nie som unavený.

I am not tired.

Nie je doma.

He is not at home.

Nie sú pripravení.

They are not ready.

4. Questions

Invert the normal statement into a question using intonation (word order often stays the same).

Statement Question

Si doma. Si doma?

Je pripravený. Je pripravený?

Ste učitelia. Ste učitelia?

Examples

Si študent?

Are you a student?

Je to pravda?

Is it true?

Sú doma?

Are they at home?

5. Past Tense

The past tense uses the past participle.

Masculine speaker

Pronoun Slovak English

ja bol som I was

ty bol si you were

on bol he was

my boli sme we were

vy boli ste you were

oni boli they were

Feminine speaker

Pronoun Slovak English

ja bola som I was

ty bola si you were

ona bola she was

my boli sme we were

vy boli ste you were

ony boli they were

Neuter

Pronoun Slovak

ono bolo

Examples

Bol som doma.

I was at home. (male)

Bola som doma.

I was at home. (female)

Bolo to zaujímavé.

It was interesting.

6. Future Tense

Pronoun Slovak English

ja budem I will be

ty budeš you will be

on/ona/ono bude he/she/it will be

my budeme we will be

vy budete you will be

oni budú they will be

Examples

Budem doma.

I will be at home.

Budeme pripravení.

We will be ready.

Budú šťastní.

They will be happy.

7. Negative Future

Add ne- to the future forms.

Positive Negative

budem nebudem

budeš nebudeš

bude nebude

budeme nebudeme

budete nebudete

budú nebudú

Examples

Nebudem doma.

I will not be home.

Nebudú pripravení.

They will not be ready.

8. Conditional

Formation:

past participle + by

Masculine speaker

Pronoun Slovak English

ja bol by som I would be

ty bol by si you would be

on bol by he would be

my boli by sme we would be

vy boli by ste you would be

oni boli by they would be

Feminine speaker

Pronoun Slovak English

ja bola by som I would be

ty bola by si you would be

ona bola by she would be

Examples

Bol by som šťastný.

I would be happy. (male)

Bola by som šťastná.

I would be happy. (female)

9. Imperative

Person Slovak English

ty buď be!

my buďme let's be!

vy buďte be! (plural/formal)

Negative

Positive Negative

buď nebuď

buďme nebuďme

buďte nebuďte

Examples:

Buď opatrný!

Be careful!

Buďte ticho!

Be quiet!

Nebuď smutný!

Don't be sad!

4- PRONOUNS

1. Personal Pronouns

Ja (I)

Case Slovak English

N ja I

G mňa / ma* of me / me

D mne / mi* to me

A mňa / ma* me

V ja O I (same as nominative; rarely used)

L mne about me / on me

I mnou with me

* Short forms (ma, mi) are unstressed and very common.

Examples

Ja čítam. – I am reading.

Vidíš ma? – Do you see me?

Dal mi knihu. – He gave me a book.

Hovorí o mne. – He is talking about me.

Ide so mnou. – He is going with me.

Ty (You, singular)

Case Slovak English

N ty you

G teba / ťa* of you

D tebe / ti* to you

A teba / ťa* you

V ty O you

L tebe about you

I tebou with you

Examples

Poznám ťa. – I know you.

Dám ti knihu. – I'll give you a book.

Hovorím o tebe. – I'm talking about you.

Idem s tebou. – I'm going with you.

On (He)

Case Slovak English

N on he

G jeho / ho him

D jemu / mu to him

A jeho / ho him

V on O he

L ňom about him

I ním with him

Ona (She)

Case Slovak English

N ona she

G jej her

D jej to her

A ju her

V ona O she

L nej about her

I ňou with her

Ono (It)

Case Slovak English

N ono it

G jeho it

D jemu / mu to it

A ho it

V ono O it

L ňom about it

I ním with it

My (We)

Case Slovak English

N my we

G nás us

D nám to us

A nás us

V my O we

L nás about us

I nami with us

Vy (You plural/formal)

Case Slovak English

N vy you

G vás you

D vám to you

A vás you

V vy O you

L vás about you

I vami with you

Oni / Ony (They)

Case Slovak English

N oni / ony they

G ich them

D im to them

A ich them

V oni / ony O they

L nich about them

I nimi with them

2. Reflexive Pronoun (Sa / Seba)

There is no nominative form because it refers back to the subject.

Case Slovak English

N — —

G seba / sa oneself

D sebe / si to oneself

A seba / sa oneself

V — —

L sebe about oneself

I sebou with oneself

Examples

Umývam sa. – I wash myself.

Kúpil si darček. – He bought himself a gift.

Je spokojný so sebou. – He is satisfied with himself.

3. Possessive Pronouns

These behave like adjectives, so they agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

Slovak English

môj my

tvoj your

jeho his

jej her

náš our

váš your (plural/formal)

ich their

Examples

môj dom – my house

moja kniha – my book

moje auto – my car

These pronouns decline like adjectives.

4. Demonstrative Pronouns

Slovak English

tento this

tamten that (over there)

ten that / the

taký such

Examples

tento dom – this house

tamta žena – that woman

ten muž – that man

These also decline like adjectives.

7. Indefinite Pronouns

Slovak English

niekto someone

niečo something

niektorý some

každý everyone / every

všetko everything

všetci everyone (people)

hocikto anyone

čokoľvek anything

Examples:

Niekto klopal. – Someone knocked.

Niečo sa stalo. – Something happened.

8. Negative Pronouns

Slovak English

nikto nobody

nič nothing

nijaký no, none

nikde nowhere

nikdy never

Examples:

Nikto neprišiel. – Nobody came.

Nič nevidím. – I see nothing.

5- VERB TENSES

PRESENT:

robím I do / I am doing

robíš You do / are doing

robí He/She/It does

robíme We do

robíte You (pl./formal) do

robia They do

PAST:

robil som I did

robila som I did (Female)

robil si You did

robila si You did (Female)

robil He did

robila She did

robili sme We did

robili ste You did (pl./formal)

robili They did

FUTURE:

budem robiť I will do

budeš robiť You will do

bude robiť He will do / She will do / It will do

budeme robiť We will do

budete robiť You will do (plural)

budú robiť They will do

PERFECTIVE (TO DESCRIBE AN ACTION THAT IS COMPLETE):

Napísal som list.

Napísal som list predtým.

These simply must be memorized

6- PASSIVE TENSES:

ja som napísaný I am written

ty si napísaný You are written

on je napísaný He is written

my sme napísaní We are written

vy ste napísaní You (pl./formal) are written

oni sú napísaní They (masc. animate) are written

FEMALE:

ja som napísaná I am written

ty si napísaná You are written

ona je napísaná She is written

my sme napísané We are written

vy ste napísané You are written

ony sú napísané They are written

ono je napísané It is written

ony (neuter nouns) sú napísané They are written

ja bol som napísaný I was written

ty bol si napísaný You were written

on bol napísaný He was written

my boli sme napísaní We were written

vy boli ste napísaní You were written

oni boli napísaní They were written

ja bola som napísaná I was written

ty bola si napísaná You were written

ona bola napísaná She was written

my boli sme napísané We were written

vy boli ste napísané You were written

ony boli napísané They were written

ono bolo napísané It was written

ony (neuter nouns) boli napísané They were written

ja budem napísaný I will be written

ty budeš napísaný You will be written

on bude napísaný He will be written

my budeme napísaní We will be written

vy budete napísaní You will be written

oni budú napísaní They will be written

ja budem napísaná I will be written

ty budeš napísaná You will be written

ona bude napísaná She will be written

my budeme napísané We will be written

vy budete napísané You will be written

ony budú napísané They will be written

ono bude napísané It will be written

ony (neuter nouns) budú napísané They will be written

Nech je napísaný! Let it be written! (masculine)

Nech je napísaná! Let it be written! (feminine)

Nech je napísané! Let it be written! (neuter)

Nech sú napísaní! Let them be written! (masculine animate plural)

Nech sú napísané! Let them be written! (other plurals)

7- NEGATION

We add the prefix ne-

11- QUESTIONS:

YES/NO QUESTIONS:

There are two ways to form a yes/no question:

1- Verb + subject + rest of sentence?

2- Subject + verb + rest? (with rising intonation)

QUESTION WORDS:

kto who

koho whom

komu to whom

s kým with whom

čo what

ktorý which

aký what kind

čí whose

kde where

kam where to

odkiaľ where from

kedy when

prečo why

ako how

koľko how much/how many

ako často how often

ako dlho how long

ako ďaleko how far

Who are you? Kto si? kto = who + si = are

Who is he? Kto je on? kto = who + je = is + on = he

What is this? Čo je toto? čo = what + je = is + toto = this

What do you want? Čo chceš? čo = what + chceš = you want

Where are you? Kde si? kde = where + si = are

Where do you live? Kde bývaš? kde = where + bývaš = you live

When are you coming? Kedy prídeš? kedy = when + prídeš = you will come

Why are you here? Prečo si tu? prečo = why + si = are + tu = here

How are you? Ako sa máš? ako = how + sa máš = are you

How do you know? Ako to vieš? ako = how + to = it + vieš = you know

Koľko vody chceš? How much water do you want?

12- ADVERBS:

Slovak Transliteration English

dobre dobre well

zle zle badly

dobre dobre well

správne správne correctly

nesprávne nesprávne incorrectly

rýchlo rýchlo quickly

pomaly pomaly slowly

opatrne opatrne carefully

neopatrne neopatrne carelessly

ľahko ľahko easily

ťažko ťažko with difficulty

jednoducho jednoducho simply

zložito zložito complicatedly

jasne jasne clearly

nejasne nejasne unclearly

presne presne exactly / precisely

približne približne approximately

úplne úplne completely

čiastočne čiastočne partially

dôkladne dôkladne thoroughly

dôrazne dôrazne emphatically

potichu potichu quietly

nahlas nahlas loudly / aloud

tajne tajne secretly

verejne verejne publicly

osobne osobne personally

samostatne samostatne independently

spoločne spoločne together

oddelene oddelene separately

náhodne náhodne randomly / accidentally

úmyselne úmyselne intentionally

náhle náhle suddenly

postupne postupne gradually

okamžite okamžite immediately

priamo priamo directly

nepriamo nepriamo indirectly

približne približne roughly

zvlášť zvlášť separately / especially

najmä najmä especially / mainly

takto takto like this / this way

tak tak so / thus / this way

inak inak otherwise / differently

spolu spolu together

nasilu nasilu forcibly

zadarmo zadarmo for free

načierno načierno illegally / unofficially

načisto načisto completely / thoroughly

naslepo naslepo blindly

naspamäť naspamäť by heart

naraz naraz at once / simultaneously

dokopy dokopy together / altogether

spätne spätne retrospectively / back

osobitne osobitne separately / particularly

2. Adverbs of time — Kedy? “When?”

Slovak Transliteration English

teraz teraz now

dnes dnes today

včera včera yesterday

zajtra zajtra tomorrow

predvčerom predvčerom the day before yesterday

pozajtra pozajtra the day after tomorrow

ráno ráno in the morning

dopoludnia dopoludnia in the morning / before noon

naobed naobed at noon / for lunch

popoludní popoludní in the afternoon

večer večer in the evening

v noci v noci at night

dnes večer dnes večer tonight

dnes ráno dnes ráno this morning

vtedy vtedy then / at that time

potom potom then / afterwards

predtým predtým before / previously

predtýmto predtýmto before this

neskôr neskôr later

skôr skôr earlier / sooner

najprv najprv first

zatiaľ zatiaľ meanwhile / so far

medzitým medzitým meanwhile

súčasne súčasne simultaneously

zároveň zároveň at the same time

odvtedy odvtedy since then

doteraz doteraz until now / so far

doteraz doteraz up to now

už už already

ešte ešte still / yet

práve práve just / right now

práve teraz práve teraz right now

nedávno nedávno recently

dávno dávno long ago

kedysi kedysi once / formerly

inokedy inokedy another time

niekedy niekedy sometimes / sometime

vždy vždy always

nikdy nikdy never

často často often

zriedka zriedka rarely

málokedy málokedy seldom

občas občas occasionally

pravidelne pravidelne regularly

denne denne daily

týždenne týždenne weekly

mesačne mesačne monthly

ročne ročne annually

večne večne forever

navždy navždy forever

dočasne dočasne temporarily

natrvalo natrvalo permanently

čoskoro čoskoro soon

ihneď ihneď immediately

okamžite okamžite immediately

onedlho onedlho shortly / soon

napokon napokon finally / eventually

konečne konečne finally

medzitým medzitým in the meantime

3. Frequency adverbs

Slovak Transliteration English

vždy vždy always

nikdy nikdy never

často často often

zriedka zriedka rarely

málokedy málokedy seldom

občas občas sometimes / occasionally

niekedy niekedy sometimes

pravidelne pravidelne regularly

nepravidelne nepravidelne irregularly

denne denne daily

týždenne týždenne weekly

mesačne mesačne monthly

ročne ročne yearly

každodenne každodenne every day / daily

opakovane opakovane repeatedly

znovu znovu again

znova znova again

opäť opäť again

raz raz once

dvakrát dvakrát twice

trikrát trikrát three times

viackrát viackrát several times

málokedy málokedy rarely

často často frequently

4. Adverbs of place — Kde? “Where?”

Slovak Transliteration English

tu tu here

tam tam there

všade všade everywhere

nikde nikde nowhere

niekde niekde somewhere

inde inde elsewhere

doma doma at home

vonku vonku outside

vnútri vnútri inside

dnu dnu inside / in

von von out

hore hore up / above

dole dole down / below

vpredu vpredu in front

vzadu vzadu behind / at the back

vľavo vľavo on the left

vpravo vpravo on the right

blízko blízko nearby / close

ďaleko ďaleko far

okolo okolo around

navôkol navôkol around

nablízku nablízku nearby

ďaleko odtiaľ ďaleko odtiaľ far from there

odtiaľ odtiaľ from there

odtiaľto odtiaľto from here

odtiaľto odtiaľto from here

odtiaľ odtiaľ from there

kam kam where to

sem sem here / to here

tamto tamto over there

kade kade which way / where through

tadiaľ tadiaľ that way

tadeto tadeto this way

kadiaľ kadiaľ which way / through where

nikam nikam nowhere / to nowhere

niekam niekam somewhere / to somewhere

inam inam elsewhere / to another place

dolu dolu down

nahor nahor upward

nadol nadol downward

dopredu dopredu forward

dozadu dozadu backward

naspäť naspäť back

späť späť back

preč preč away

bližšie bližšie closer

ďalej ďalej farther / further

5. Directional adverbs

These answer Kam? — Where to?

Slovak Transliteration English

sem sem here / to here

tam tam there / to there

hore hore upward

dole dole downward

nahor nahor upward

nadol nadol downward

dopredu dopredu forward

dozadu dozadu backward

dovnútra dovnútra inside / inward

von von out

preč preč away

naspäť naspäť back

späť späť back

ďalej ďalej farther / onward

bližšie bližšie closer

domov domov homeward / home

tamto tamto over there

sem-tam sem-tam here and there

tadiaľ tadiaľ that way

tadeto tadeto this way

inam inam elsewhere

niekam niekam somewhere

nikam nikam nowhere

6. Adverbs of degree / intensity

Slovak Transliteration English

veľmi veľmi very

mimoriadne mimoriadne extremely

nesmierne nesmierne immensely

nesmierne nesmierne immensely

príliš príliš too

dosť dosť enough / quite

celkom celkom quite / fairly / completely

úplne úplne completely

celkom celkom quite

takmer takmer almost

skoro skoro almost

sotva sotva barely / hardly

ledva ledva barely

nanajvýš nanajvýš at most

najmenej najmenej at least / least

aspoň aspoň at least

viac viac more

menej menej less

najviac najviac most

najmenej najmenej least

oveľa oveľa much / far

trochu trochu a little

trocha trocha a little

málo málo little

značne značne considerably

značne značne considerably

výrazne výrazne significantly

značne značne considerably

úplne úplne entirely

čiastočne čiastočne partly

prevažne prevažne predominantly

najmä najmä especially

predovšetkým predovšetkým above all / especially

obzvlášť obzvlášť especially

vôbec vôbec at all

práve práve exactly / just

skutočne skutočne really

naozaj naozaj really

skôr skôr rather

veľmi veľmi very

7. Comparative adverbs

Slovak Transliteration English

viac viac more

menej menej less

lepšie lepšie better

horšie horšie worse

rýchlejšie rýchlejšie faster

pomalšie pomalšie more slowly

skôr skôr sooner / earlier

neskôr neskôr later

bližšie bližšie closer

ďalej ďalej farther / further

vyššie vyššie higher

nižšie nižšie lower

viac-menej viac-menej more or less

8. Superlative adverbs

Slovak Transliteration English

najlepšie najlepšie best

najhoršie najhoršie worst

najviac najviac most

najmenej najmenej least

najrýchlejšie najrýchlejšie fastest

najpomalšie najpomalšie slowest

najskôr najskôr earliest / first

najneskôr najneskôr latest

najbližšie najbližšie closest

najďalej najďalej farthest

najvyššie najvyššie highest

najnižšie najnižšie lowest

9. Affirmative adverbs

Slovak Transliteration English

áno áno yes

iste iste certainly

určite určite definitely

rozhodne rozhodne definitely

samozrejme samozrejme of course

prirodzene prirodzene naturally / of course

pravdaže pravdaže of course

skutočne skutočne really / indeed

naozaj naozaj really

veru veru indeed / certainly

ozaj ozaj really / indeed

nepochybne nepochybne undoubtedly

jednoznačne jednoznačne unequivocally

10. Negative adverbs

Slovak Transliteration English

nie nie not / no

nikdy nikdy never

nikde nikde nowhere

nikam nikam nowhere / to nowhere

nijako nijako in no way

vôbec vôbec at all

ani ani not even

vôbec nie vôbec nie not at all

nikdy viac nikdy viac never again

nikde inde nikde inde nowhere else

nijak nijak in no way

11. Interrogative adverbs

Slovak Transliteration English

kde kde where

kam kam where to

odkiaľ odkiaľ where from

kedy kedy when

ako ako how

prečo prečo why

načo načo what for / why

začo začo for what

dokedy dokedy until when

odkedy odkedy since when

nakoľko nakoľko to what extent

koľko koľko how much / how many

ako dlho ako dlho how long

ako často ako často how often

ako ďaleko ako ďaleko how far

ako veľmi ako veľmi how much / how very

12. Indefinite adverbs

These are especially important because Slovak forms them systematically.

Slovak Transliteration English

niekde niekde somewhere

niekam niekam somewhere / to somewhere

niekedy niekedy sometime / sometimes

niekedy niekedy sometimes

nejako nejako somehow

niečím niečím by something / somehow

niekadiaľ niekadiaľ from somewhere / by some way

niekoľkokrát niekoľkokrát several times

niekedy inokedy niekedy inokedy sometime another time

niekde inde niekde inde somewhere else

niekam inam niekam inam somewhere else

13. Negative indefinite adverbs

Slovak Transliteration English

nikde nikde nowhere

nikam nikam nowhere / to nowhere

nikdy nikdy never

nijako nijako in no way

nikadiaľ nikadiaľ from nowhere / by no route

nijak nijak in no way

14. Relative adverbs

Slovak Transliteration English

kde kde where

kam kam where/to where

odkiaľ odkiaľ from where

kedy kedy when

ako ako how

kadiaľ kadiaľ by which way / where through

dokedy dokedy until when

odkedy odkedy since when

nakoľko nakoľko to what extent

Example:

Viem, kde býva.

Viem, kde býva.

I know where he lives.

15. Conjunctive / sentence adverbs

These connect ideas rather than simply describe a verb.

Slovak Transliteration English

preto preto therefore

teda teda therefore / so

pretože pretože because

navyše navyše moreover / additionally

tiež tiež also

takisto takisto likewise / also

zároveň zároveň at the same time

napriek tomu napriek tomu nevertheless

predsa predsa nevertheless / after all

však však however

napríklad napríklad for example

totiž totiž namely / because

dokonca dokonca even

najmä najmä especially

predovšetkým predovšetkým above all

jednoducho jednoducho simply

skrátka skrátka simply / in short

vlastne vlastne actually

údajne údajne allegedly

očividne očividne evidently

očividne očividne obviously

pravdepodobne pravdepodobne probably

možno možno perhaps / maybe

určite určite certainly

samozrejme samozrejme of course

našťastie našťastie fortunately

bohužiaľ bohužiaľ unfortunately

našťastie našťastie fortunately

napokon napokon finally / after all

konečne konečne finally

inak inak otherwise

teda teda so / thus

následne následne subsequently

potom potom then

medzitým medzitým meanwhile

16. Causal adverbs

Slovak Transliteration English

preto preto therefore / for that reason

pretože pretože because

teda teda therefore

následkom toho následkom toho as a result

v dôsledku toho v dôsledku toho as a result

z toho dôvodu z toho dôvodu for that reason

preto preto therefore

tak tak thus / so

Note: pretože is traditionally a conjunction, not a pure adverb. It is included because learners often encounter it in the same “grammar adverb/connective” category.

17. Result / consequence adverbs

Slovak Transliteration English

preto preto therefore

teda teda thus / therefore

tak tak thus / so

následne následne consequently / subsequently

následkom toho následkom toho as a consequence

preto preto for that reason

tým tým thereby / by that

18. Adverbs of viewpoint / limitation

Slovak Transliteration English

najmä najmä especially

predovšetkým predovšetkým above all

obzvlášť obzvlášť particularly

hlavne hlavne mainly

prevažne prevažne predominantly

prednostne prednostne preferentially

osobitne osobitne particularly / separately

výlučne výlučne exclusively

iba iba only

len len only

takmer takmer almost

aspoň aspoň at least

nanajvýš nanajvýš at most

prinajmenšom prinajmenšom at least

maximálne maximálne at most / maximally

minimálne minimálne at least / minimally

19. Restrictive adverbs — “only”

Slovak Transliteration English

iba iba only

len len only

výlučne výlučne exclusively

jedine jedine only / solely

práve práve precisely / exactly

akurát akurát just / exactly

jedine jedine solely

Examples:

Mám iba jednu knihu.

Mám iba jednu knihu.

I have only one book.

Len on to vie.

Len on to vie.

Only he knows it.

20. Approximation adverbs

Slovak Transliteration English

približne približne approximately

asi asi approximately / probably

zhruba zhruba roughly

okolo okolo around / approximately

takmer takmer almost

skoro skoro almost

približne približne approximately

viac-menej viac-menej more or less

asi tak asi tak roughly / approximately

21. Certainty / probability adverbs

Slovak Transliteration English

určite určite definitely

iste iste certainly

isto isto certainly

určite určite surely

nepochybne nepochybne undoubtedly

pravdepodobne pravdepodobne probably

asi asi probably

možno možno maybe

snáď snáď perhaps / hopefully

zrejme zrejme apparently / evidently

očividne očividne obviously

údajne údajne allegedly

vraj vraj reportedly / supposedly

údajne údajne allegedly

zaiste zaiste certainly

22. “Maybe / perhaps / hopefully”

Slovak Transliteration English

možno možno maybe

možnože možnože perhaps

snáď snáď perhaps / hopefully

hádam hádam perhaps / hopefully

azda azda perhaps

vari vari perhaps

ktovie ktovie who knows

možno možno possibly

23. “Really / actually / indeed”

Slovak Transliteration English

naozaj naozaj really

skutočne skutočne really / truly

ozaj ozaj really / indeed

veru veru indeed

vlastne vlastne actually

v skutočnosti v skutočnosti actually / in reality

skutočne skutočne truly

práve práve exactly / just

24. Emotional / speaker-attitude adverbs

Slovak Transliteration English

našťastie našťastie fortunately

bohužiaľ bohužiaľ unfortunately

našťastie našťastie luckily

žiaľ žiaľ unfortunately / sadly

prekvapivo prekvapivo surprisingly

pochopiteľne pochopiteľne understandably

prirodzene prirodzene naturally

očividne očividne obviously

úprimne úprimne honestly

našťastie našťastie fortunately

25. Adverbs of sequence/order

Slovak Transliteration English

najprv najprv first

potom potom then

následne následne subsequently

ďalej ďalej next / further

napokon napokon finally

nakoniec nakoniec finally / in the end

konečne konečne finally

medzitým medzitým meanwhile

predtým predtým beforehand

potom potom afterwards

súčasne súčasne simultaneously

zároveň zároveň simultaneously

26. Adverbs of duration

Slovak Transliteration English

dlho dlho for a long time

krátko krátko briefly / for a short time

navždy navždy forever

dočasne dočasne temporarily

natrvalo natrvalo permanently

stále stále still / continuously

neustále neustále constantly

ustavične ustavične continually

večne večne eternally

chvíľu chvíľu for a while

zatiaľ zatiaľ for now / meanwhile

dovtedy dovtedy until then

odvtedy odvtedy since then

27. “Still / already / yet”

These are extremely important Slovak grammar adverbs.

Slovak Transliteration English

už už already

ešte ešte still / yet

ešte stále ešte stále still

už nie už nie no longer

ešte nie ešte nie not yet

už nikdy už nikdy never again

už viac už viac any longer / anymore

ešte viac ešte viac even more

Examples:

Už som jedol.

Už som jedol.

I have already eaten.

Ešte pracujem.

Ešte pracujem.

I am still working.

Ešte som nejedol.

Ešte som nejedol.

I haven't eaten yet.

28. “Also / too / even”

Slovak Transliteration English

tiež tiež also / too

aj aj also / too

takisto takisto likewise / also

rovnako rovnako equally / likewise

dokonca dokonca even

dokonca aj dokonca aj even

navyše navyše moreover / additionally

okrem toho okrem toho besides / in addition

29. “However / nevertheless”

Slovak Transliteration English

však však however

predsa predsa nevertheless / after all

napriek tomu napriek tomu nevertheless

aj tak aj tak nevertheless / anyway

predsa len predsa len nevertheless / after all

naopak naopak on the contrary

inak inak otherwise

30. “Otherwise”

Slovak Transliteration English

inak inak otherwise

ináč ináč otherwise

ak nie ak nie if not

v opačnom prípade v opačnom prípade otherwise / in the opposite case

31. Common productive adverb formation

A very important feature of Slovak is that many adverbs can be formed from adjectives.

Adjective → adverb

Adjective Transliteration Adverb Transliteration English

rýchly rýchly rýchlo rýchlo quick → quickly

pomalý pomalý pomaly pomaly slow → slowly

dobrý dobrý dobre dobre good → well

zlý zlý zle zle bad → badly

pekný pekný pekne pekne nice → nicely

jasný jasný jasne jasne clear → clearly

presný presný presne presne precise → precisely

správny správny správne správne correct → correctly

opatrný opatrný opatrne opatrne careful → carefully

tichý tichý ticho ticho quiet → quietly

hlasný hlasný hlasno hlasno loud → loudly

jednoduchý jednoduchý jednoducho jednoducho simple → simply

úplný úplný úplne úplne complete → completely

osobný osobný osobne osobne personal → personally

prirodzený prirodzený prirodzene prirodzene natural → naturally

pravdepodobný pravdepodobný pravdepodobne pravdepodobne probable → probably

13- CONJUNCTIONS:

Slovak Transliteration English

a a and

aj aj also / too

i i and / also

ani ani nor / not even

takisto takisto likewise / also

rovnako rovnako equally / likewise

ako aj ako aj as well as

nielen...ale aj nielen...ale aj not only...but also

nielen...no aj nielen...no aj not only...but also

nielen...ba aj nielen...ba aj not only...but also

jednak...jednak jednak...jednak partly...partly / both...and

aj...aj aj...aj both...and

i...i i...i both...and

ani...ani ani...ani neither...nor

Examples

Ján a Peter prišli.

Ján a Peter prišli.

John and Peter came.

Nielen číta, ale aj píše.

Nielen číta, ale aj píše.

He not only reads but also writes.

2. Adversative conjunctions — “but / whereas / however”

Slovak Transliteration English

ale ale but

no no but / well

avšak avšak however / but

však však however / nevertheless

lež lež but / however

lenže lenže but / except that

ibaže ibaže except that / but

zato zato but / whereas / instead

zatiaľ čo zatiaľ čo whereas / while

kým kým while / whereas

napriek tomu napriek tomu nevertheless

predsa predsa nevertheless / after all

predsa len predsa len nevertheless

naopak naopak on the contrary

zatože zatože because / whereas, depending context

Strictly speaking, avšak, však, predsa, naopak can function as particles or sentence adverbs rather than pure conjunctions in some analyses.

3. Alternative / disjunctive conjunctions — “or”

Slovak Transliteration English

alebo alebo or

či či or / whether

buď...alebo buď...alebo either...or

buď...či buď...či either...or

či...či či...či whether...or

alebo...alebo alebo...alebo either...or

či už...alebo či už...alebo whether...or

buď...buď buď...buď either...or

či už...či či už...či whether...or

nech už...alebo nech už...alebo whether...or

Example

Buď prídeš, alebo zostaneš doma.

Buď prídeš, alebo zostaneš doma.

Either you come or you stay home.

4. Negative coordinating conjunctions — “nor”

Slovak Transliteration English

ani ani nor

ani...ani ani...ani neither...nor

ani nie ani nie nor / not even

ani...ani nie ani...ani nie neither...nor

nielenže...ale ani nielenže...ale ani not only...but not even

Example

Ani neprišiel, ani nezavolal.

Ani neprišiel, ani nezavolal.

He neither came nor called.

5. Causal conjunctions — “because / since”

Slovak Transliteration English

lebo lebo because

pretože pretože because

keďže keďže since / because

nakoľko nakoľko since / insofar as

keď keď since / when

preto, že preto, že because

vzhľadom na to, že vzhľadom na to, že given that

z toho dôvodu, že z toho dôvodu, že for the reason that

pretože pretože because

tým, že tým, že by the fact that / because

Main distinction

lebo and pretože are the common everyday equivalents of “because.”

Neprišiel, lebo bol chorý.

Neprišiel, lebo bol chorý.

He didn't come because he was sick.

6. Result / consecutive conjunctions — “so / so that / therefore”

Slovak Transliteration English

takže takže so / therefore

tak že tak že so that / such that

tak, že tak, že so that

takže aj takže aj so / therefore also

natoľko...že natoľko...že so much...that

tak...že tak...že so...that

taký...že taký...že such...that

taká...že taká...že such...that

také...že také...že such...that

toľko...že toľko...že so much/many...that

tak málo...že tak málo...že so little/few...that

Example

Bol unavený, takže išiel spať.

Bol unavený, takže išiel spať.

He was tired, so he went to bed.

7. Conditional conjunctions — “if”

Slovak Transliteration English

ak ak if

keď keď if / when

pokiaľ pokiaľ if / as long as

ak nie ak nie if not

pokiaľ nie pokiaľ nie unless / if not

keby keby if

kebyže kebyže if

za predpokladu, že za predpokladu, že provided that

pod podmienkou, že pod podmienkou, že on condition that

v prípade, že v prípade, že in case / if

iba ak iba ak only if

len ak len ak only if

jedine ak jedine ak only if

Example

Ak bude pršať, zostaneme doma.

Ak bude pršať, zostaneme doma.

If it rains, we'll stay home.

8. “Unless”

Slovak Transliteration English

ak nie ak nie unless / if not

pokiaľ nie pokiaľ nie unless

iba ak nie iba ak nie unless

len ak nie len ak nie unless

okrem prípadu, že okrem prípadu, že unless / except in the case that

Example:

Nepôjdem, ak nebudeš doma.

Nepôjdem, ak nebudeš doma.

I won't go unless you are home.

9. Concessive conjunctions — “although / even though”

Slovak Transliteration English

hoci hoci although

hoc hoc although / even though

aj keď aj keď although / even though

i keď i keď although / even though

napriek tomu, že napriek tomu, že despite the fact that

hoci aj hoci aj even though

hoc aj hoc aj even though

nech nech even if / let

nech už nech už no matter whether

akokoľvek akokoľvek however / no matter how

akokoľvek by akokoľvek by however much

nech už... nech už... no matter...

Example

Hoci pršalo, išli sme von.

Hoci pršalo, išli sme von.

Although it was raining, we went outside.

10. “Even if”

Slovak Transliteration English

aj keby aj keby even if

i keby i keby even if

hoci aj keby hoci aj keby even if

nech aj nech aj even if

aj keď aj keď even though / even if

aj keby aj aj keby aj even if

Example:

Aj keby pršalo, pôjdem.

Aj keby pršalo, pôjdem.

Even if it rains, I'll go.

11. Temporal conjunctions — “when / while / before / after”

Slovak Transliteration English

keď keď when

kým kým while / until

dokiaľ dokiaľ until / as long as

pokiaľ pokiaľ while / until / as long as

zatiaľ čo zatiaľ čo while

zatiaľ čo zatiaľ čo whereas / while

len čo len čo as soon as

sotva sotva scarcely / hardly when

hneď ako hneď ako as soon as

akonáhle akonáhle as soon as

prv než prv než before

skôr než skôr než before

predtým než predtým než before

potom čo potom čo after

po tom, čo po tom, čo after

odkedy odkedy since

čo čo since / after, in certain constructions

kýmkoľvek kýmkoľvek whoever/while, depending context

dovtedy, kým dovtedy, kým until

až kým až kým until

až keď až keď only when / when eventually

zakaždým, keď zakaždým, keď every time when

vždy, keď vždy, keď whenever

Examples

Keď prídem, zavolám ti.

Keď prídem, zavolám ti.

When I arrive, I'll call you.

Počkám, kým príde.

Počkám, kým príde.

I'll wait until he comes.

Zavolal mi hneď, ako prišiel.

Zavolal mi hneď, ako prišiel.

He called me as soon as he arrived.

12. “As soon as”

Slovak Transliteration English

len čo len čo as soon as

hneď ako hneď ako as soon as

akonáhle akonáhle as soon as

sotva sotva hardly/scarcely when

čo najskôr čo najskôr as soon as possible

13. Purpose conjunctions — “so that / in order that”

Slovak Transliteration English

aby aby so that / in order that

aby nie aby nie so that...not

nech nech so that / let

preto aby preto aby so that

s cieľom, aby s cieľom, aby with the aim that

na to, aby na to, aby in order to / so that

za účelom, aby za účelom, aby for the purpose that

Example

Učím sa, aby som sa zlepšil.

Učím sa, aby som sa zlepšil.

I study so that I can improve.

14. Negative purpose — “so that...not”

Slovak Transliteration English

aby nie aby nie so that...not

nech nie nech nie so that...not

aby sa nestalo, že aby sa nestalo, že so that it does not happen that

Example:

Ponáhľal sa, aby neprišiel neskoro.

Ponáhľal sa, aby neprišiel neskoro.

He hurried so that he wouldn't arrive late.

15. Comparative conjunctions

Slovak Transliteration English

ako ako as / than

než než than

sťa sťa like / as if

akoby akoby as if

ako keby ako keby as if

tak ako tak ako just as

rovnako ako rovnako ako just as / as

viac než viac než more than

menej než menej než less than

lepšie než lepšie než better than

taký...aký taký...aký such...as

tak...ako tak...ako as...as

čím...tým čím...tým the...the

Examples

Je vyšší ako ja.

Je vyšší ako ja.

He is taller than me.

Správa sa, akoby nič nevedel.

Správa sa, akoby nič nevedel.

He behaves as if he knew nothing.

16. “As if / as though”

Slovak Transliteration English

akoby akoby as if

ako keby ako keby as if / as though

sťa by sťa by as if

ako ako as / as if, depending context

tak, akoby tak, akoby as if

Example:

Hovorí, akoby všetko vedel.

Hovorí, akoby všetko vedel.

He speaks as if he knew everything.

17. Manner conjunctions — “as / how”

Slovak Transliteration English

ako ako as / how

tak ako tak ako just as

tak, ako tak, ako as

ako keby ako keby as if

akoby akoby as if

spôsobom, ako spôsobom, ako in the way that

18. Explanatory / declarative conjunctions

Slovak Transliteration English

že že that

aby aby that / so that

ako ako how / that, in some constructions

čo čo that / what, depending construction

totiž totiž namely / because

teda teda thus / that is

a to a to namely / specifically

Example

Viem, že príde.

Viem, že príde.

I know that he will come.

19. Complementizer “that”

The main Slovak complementizer is:

Slovak Transliteration English

že že that

aby aby that / in order that

či či whether / if

ako ako how / that

Examples:

Myslím si, že má pravdu.

Myslím si, že má pravdu.

I think that he is right.

Neviem, či príde.

Neviem, či príde.

I don't know whether he will come.

20. “Whether / if”

Slovak Transliteration English

či či whether / if

či...alebo či...alebo whether...or

či už...alebo či už...alebo whether...or

či...či či...či whether...or

či vôbec či vôbec whether at all

Example:

Neviem, či príde.

Neviem, či príde.

I don't know whether he will come.

21. Correlative conjunctions

These work in pairs.

Slovak Transliteration English

aj...aj aj...aj both...and

i...i i...i both...and

ani...ani ani...ani neither...nor

buď...alebo buď...alebo either...or

alebo...alebo alebo...alebo either...or

či...či či...či whether...or

nielen...ale aj nielen...ale aj not only...but also

nielen...no aj nielen...no aj not only...but also

nielen...ba aj nielen...ba aj not only...but also

jednak...jednak jednak...jednak both...and / partly...partly

čím...tým čím...tým the more...the more

tak...ako tak...ako as...as

taký...aký taký...aký such...as

či už...či či už...či whether...or

nech...nech nech...nech whether...or / let...let

22. “The more..., the more...”

Slovak Transliteration English

čím...tým čím...tým the more...the more

čím viac...tým viac čím viac...tým viac the more...the more

čím viac...tým menej čím viac...tým menej the more...the less

čím menej...tým viac čím menej...tým viac the less...the more

čím menej...tým menej čím menej...tým menej the less...the less

čím skôr...tým lepšie čím skôr...tým lepšie the sooner...the better

Example:

Čím viac sa učíš, tým viac vieš.

Čím viac sa učíš, tým viac vieš.

The more you study, the more you know.

23. “No matter / however / whoever”

Slovak uses several conjunction-like constructions.

Slovak Transliteration English

akokoľvek akokoľvek however / no matter how

nech nech no matter / let

nech už nech už no matter

ktokoľvek ktokoľvek whoever

čokoľvek čokoľvek whatever

kdekoľvek kdekoľvek wherever

kamkoľvek kamkoľvek wherever / wherever to

kedykoľvek kedykoľvek whenever

akokoľvek akokoľvek however

akýkoľvek akýkoľvek whatever kind

ktorýkoľvek ktorýkoľvek whichever

These are technically often indefinite/relative pronouns or adverbs, rather than conjunctions.

24. Exceptive conjunction-like expressions

Slovak Transliteration English

ibaže ibaže except that / unless

lenže lenže except that / but

okrem toho, že okrem toho, že besides the fact that

s výnimkou toho, že s výnimkou toho, že except that

až na to, že až na to, že except that

okrem prípadu, že okrem prípadu, že except in the case that

25. Additive connective expressions

Slovak Transliteration English

okrem toho okrem toho besides / moreover

navyše navyše moreover / additionally

naviac naviac additionally

tiež tiež also

takisto takisto likewise

rovnako rovnako likewise

okrem toho, že okrem toho, že besides the fact that

ako aj ako aj as well as

a navyše a navyše and moreover

a tiež a tiež and also

These are connective expressions, not all strict conjunctions.

26. Contrastive connective expressions

Slovak Transliteration English

napriek tomu napriek tomu nevertheless

napriek tomu, že napriek tomu, že despite the fact that

na druhej strane na druhej strane on the other hand

naopak naopak conversely

predsa predsa nevertheless

predsa len predsa len nevertheless

aj tak aj tak nevertheless / anyway

zato zato instead / whereas

na rozdiel od toho na rozdiel od toho unlike that / in contrast

27. Purpose, condition, concession — master group

Function Slovak Transliteration English

Condition ak ak if

Condition keby keby if

Condition pokiaľ pokiaľ if/as long as

Condition za predpokladu, že za predpokladu, že provided that

Only if iba ak iba ak only if

Unless ak nie ak nie unless

Concession hoci hoci although

Concession hoc hoc although

Concession aj keď aj keď even though

Even if aj keby aj keby even if

Purpose aby aby so that

Negative purpose aby nie aby nie so that...not

Time keď keď when

Time kým kým while/until

Time len čo len čo as soon as

Time hneď ako hneď ako as soon as

Time akonáhle akonáhle as soon as

Before skôr než skôr než before

After potom čo potom čo after

Since odkedy odkedy since

Comparison ako ako as/than

Comparison než než than

As if akoby akoby as if

As if ako keby ako keby as if

Result takže takže so/therefore

Result tak...že tak...že so...that

Result natoľko...že natoľko...že so much...that

Complement že že that

Whether či či whether

14- PREPOSITIONS:

Slovak Transliteration English

bez bez without

blízko blízko near / close to

do do into / to / until

od od from / since

z z from / out of

zo zo from / out of

medzi medzi between / among

okolo okolo around

ponad ponad over / across

pod pod under / below

popri popri alongside / along

ponad ponad over / across

pred pred before / in front of

proti proti against

pri pri at / by / near

poza poza behind / beyond

poza poza behind

okrem okrem except / besides

podľa podľa according to

pomocou pomocou by means of / with

počas počas during

počas počas during

uprostred uprostred in the middle of

vnútri vnútri inside

mimo mimo outside / beyond

namiesto namiesto instead of

miesto miesto instead of

vrátane vrátane including

vďaka vďaka thanks to

vinou vinou through the fault of

zásluhou zásluhou thanks to / owing to

pričinením pričinením through the efforts of

prostredníctvom prostredníctvom through / by means of

týkajúci sa týkajúci sa concerning

následkom následkom as a result of

dôsledkom dôsledkom as a consequence of

Important: Some items in this table are noun-derived or preposition-like forms rather than universally classified as basic prepositions.

2. Accusative prepositions — + Accusative

Slovak Transliteration English

na na onto / to

v v into

vo vo into

za za for / behind / to

pod pod under / beneath

nad nad over / above

pred pred in front of / before

medzi medzi between / among

cez cez across / through

pre pre for

o o about / for

po po after / for

proti proti against / toward

mimo mimo outside / beyond

okolo okolo around

ponad ponad over / across

popri popri along / alongside

za za after / behind / for

Some of these have more than one possible case depending on meaning or construction.

3. Locative prepositions — + Locative

Slovak Transliteration English

v v in

vo vo in

na na on / at

o o about

pri pri at / by / during

po po after / throughout / around

proti proti toward / against

Examples:

Slovak Transliteration English

v dome v dome in the house

vo vode vo vode in the water

na stole na stole on the table

o Slovensku o Slovensku about Slovakia

pri práci pri práci during work / at work

po obede po obede after lunch

4. Instrumental prepositions — + Instrumental

Slovak Transliteration English

s s with

so so with

pred pred in front of / before

za za behind / beyond

nad nad above / over

pod pod under

medzi medzi between / among

popri popri alongside / along

Examples

Slovak Transliteration English

s priateľom s priateľom with a friend

so sestrou so sestrou with a sister

pred domom pred domom in front of the house

za domom za domom behind the house

nad stolom nad stolom above the table

pod stolom pod stolom under the table

medzi ľuďmi medzi ľuďmi among people

5. Dative prepositions — + Dative

Slovak has a smaller group of prepositions governing the dative.

Slovak Transliteration English

k k to / toward

ku ku to / toward

naproti naproti opposite / across from

oproti oproti opposite / across from

voči voči toward / towards / in relation to

vďaka vďaka thanks to

napriek napriek despite

navzdory navzdory despite / in spite of

kvôli kvôli because of / for

preč preč away from, in certain constructions

Examples:

idem k lekárovi

idem k lekárovi

I am going to the doctor.

Napriek dažďu išiel von.

Napriek dažďu išiel von.

Despite the rain, he went outside.

6. The most important case-changing prepositions

Several Slovak prepositions take different cases depending on whether there is movement or location.

v / vo

Construction Case Meaning Example

v + Locative Locative in v dome — in the house

v + Accusative Accusative into v dom — into the house

na

Construction Case Meaning Example

na + Locative Locative on / at na stole — on the table

na + Accusative Accusative onto / to na stôl — onto the table

pod

Construction Case Meaning Example

pod + Instrumental Instrumental under pod stolom — under the table

pod + Accusative Accusative to/under pod stôl — under the table

nad

Construction Case Meaning Example

nad + Instrumental Instrumental above nad stolom — above the table

nad + Accusative Accusative to/over nad stôl — over the table

pred

Construction Case Meaning Example

pred + Instrumental Instrumental in front of pred domom — in front of the house

pred + Accusative Accusative to/in front of pred dom — to the front of the house

za

Construction Case Meaning Example

za + Instrumental Instrumental behind za domom — behind the house

za + Accusative Accusative behind/to/for za dom — behind/to the house

medzi

Construction Case Meaning Example

medzi + Instrumental Instrumental between/among medzi domami — between the houses

medzi + Accusative Accusative to between/among medzi domy — between the houses

7. Direction and movement

Slovak Transliteration English Case

do do to / into Genitive

k k to / toward Dative

ku ku to / toward Dative

na na onto / to Accusative

v v into Accusative

vo vo into Accusative

za za behind / to Accusative

pod pod under Accusative

nad nad over Accusative

pred pred in front of Accusative

medzi medzi between / among Accusative

cez cez across / through Accusative

od od away from / from Genitive

z z out of / from Genitive

zo zo out of / from Genitive

8. Source / “from”

Slovak has several important ways of expressing from.

Slovak Transliteration English Case

od od from a person/source Genitive

z z from inside / out of Genitive

zo zo from inside / out of Genitive

s s from a surface Genitive

so so from a surface Genitive

Examples:

Som od lekára.

Som od lekára.

I am from the doctor.

Idem z domu.

Idem z domu.

I am coming from the house.

Kniha spadla zo stola.

Kniha spadla zo stola.

The book fell from the table.

9. Time prepositions

Slovak Transliteration English Case

pred pred before Instrumental / Accusative depending construction

po po after Locative

počas počas during Genitive

od od from / since Genitive

do do until / by Genitive

za za in / within Accusative

cez cez during / over Accusative

v v in / on Accusative/Locative

na na for / during Accusative/Locative

pri pri during / at Locative

okolo okolo around / approximately Genitive

uprostred uprostred in the middle of Genitive

koncom koncom toward the end of Instrumental

začiatkom začiatkom at the beginning of Instrumental

začiatkom začiatkom at the beginning of Instrumental

koncom koncom at the end of Instrumental

Examples:

Po obede pôjdem domov.

Po obede pôjdem domov.

I'll go home after lunch.

Počas leta pracujem.

Počas leta pracujem.

I work during the summer.

10. Place / position

Slovak Transliteration English Case

v v in Locative

vo vo in Locative

na na on / at Locative

pri pri at / by / near Locative

pod pod under Instrumental

nad nad above Instrumental

pred pred in front of Instrumental

za za behind Instrumental

medzi medzi between / among Instrumental

vedľa vedľa beside / next to Genitive

blízko blízko near Genitive

oproti oproti opposite Dative

naproti naproti opposite Dative

okolo okolo around Genitive

pozdĺž pozdĺž along Genitive

popri popri alongside Locative/Accusative depending construction

mimo mimo outside / beyond Genitive

vnútri vnútri inside Genitive

uprostred uprostred in the middle of Genitive

11. Cause / reason

Slovak Transliteration English Case

pre pre because of / due to Accusative

kvôli kvôli because of Dative

vďaka vďaka thanks to Dative

pre pre due to / because of Accusative

vinou vinou through the fault of Genitive

zásluhou zásluhou thanks to / owing to Genitive

následkom následkom as a result of Genitive

v dôsledku v dôsledku as a result of Genitive

z dôvodu z dôvodu because of / for the reason of Genitive

na základe na základe on the basis of Genitive

12. Purpose / benefit

Slovak Transliteration English Case

pre pre for Accusative

na na for / for the purpose of Accusative

za za for / for the sake of Accusative

kvôli kvôli for / because of Dative

v prospech v prospech for the benefit of Genitive

na účely na účely for the purposes of Genitive

za účelom za účelom for the purpose of Genitive

v záujme v záujme in the interest of Genitive

na ochranu na ochranu for the protection of Genitive

13. Means / instrument

Slovak Transliteration English Case

pomocou pomocou by means of / with Genitive

prostredníctvom prostredníctvom through / by means of Genitive

cez cez through / via Accusative

po po by / via Locative

s s with Instrumental

so so with Instrumental

za pomoci za pomoci with the help of Genitive

pomocou pomocou using / by means of Genitive

14. Accompaniment

Slovak Transliteration English Case

s s with Instrumental

so so with Instrumental

spolu s spolu s together with Instrumental

spolu so spolu so together with Instrumental

spolu spolu together with, in certain constructions —

popri popri alongside Locative/Accusative

Example:

Idem s kamarátom.

Idem s kamarátom.

I am going with a friend.

15. Comparison

Slovak Transliteration English Case

ako ako like / as —

než než than —

sťa sťa like / as —

oproti oproti compared with / relative to Dative

voči voči compared with / toward Dative

v porovnaní s v porovnaní s compared with Instrumental

v porovnaní so v porovnaní so compared with Instrumental

v porovnaní s tým v porovnaní s tým compared with that Instrumental

na rozdiel od na rozdiel od unlike / in contrast to Genitive

16. Opposition / relation

Slovak Transliteration English Case

proti proti against Dative

voči voči toward / against Dative

oproti oproti opposite / compared with Dative

naproti naproti opposite Dative

napriek napriek despite Dative

navzdory navzdory despite Dative

v rozpore s v rozpore s contrary to / in conflict with Instrumental

na rozdiel od na rozdiel od unlike Genitive

17. Exception / exclusion

Slovak Transliteration English Case

okrem okrem except / besides Genitive

mimo mimo except / outside Genitive

s výnimkou s výnimkou with the exception of Genitive

okrem okrem apart from Genitive

vrátane vrátane including Genitive

nevynímajúc nevynímajúc without excluding Accusative

počnúc počnúc beginning with Instrumental/Accusative depending construction

vynímajúc vynímajúc excluding Accusative

18. According to / conformity

Slovak Transliteration English Case

podľa podľa according to Genitive

podľa toho podľa toho according to that Genitive

v súlade s v súlade s in accordance with Instrumental

v zmysle v zmysle in accordance with / within the meaning of Genitive

na základe na základe on the basis of Genitive

vzhľadom na vzhľadom na with regard to Accusative

voči voči toward / in relation to Dative

podľa podľa according to Genitive

19. Common compound prepositions

These are extremely useful in formal Slovak.

Slovak Transliteration English

na základe na základe on the basis of

v dôsledku v dôsledku as a result of

z dôvodu z dôvodu because of

z hľadiska z hľadiska from the point of view of

vzhľadom na vzhľadom na with regard to

v súvislosti s v súvislosti s in connection with

v súlade s v súlade s in accordance with

v porovnaní s v porovnaní s compared with

v prospech v prospech in favor of / for the benefit of

v neprospech v neprospech to the detriment of

v záujme v záujme in the interest of

v mene v mene in the name of

v rámci v rámci within / as part of

v prípade v prípade in the case of

v prípade, že v prípade, že in case / if

v priebehu v priebehu during / in the course of

v čase v čase at the time of

v období v období during the period of

v blízkosti v blízkosti near / in the vicinity of

v okolí v okolí in the vicinity of

v strede v strede in the middle of

uprostred uprostred in the middle of

vnútri vnútri inside

mimo mimo outside

na úkor na úkor at the expense of

na rozdiel od na rozdiel od unlike / in contrast to

na území na území in the territory of

na čele na čele at the head of

na konci na konci at the end of

na začiatku na začiatku at the beginning of

za účelom za účelom for the purpose of

za pomoci za pomoci with the help of

za cenu za cenu at the price/cost of

s pomocou s pomocou with the help of

s výnimkou s výnimkou with the exception of

s ohľadom na s ohľadom na with regard to

bez ohľadu na bez ohľadu na regardless of

bez ohľadu na to bez ohľadu na to regardless of the fact that

čo sa týka čo sa týka as for / concerning

pokiaľ ide o pokiaľ ide o as far as...is concerned

čo sa týka čo sa týka concerning

vzhľadom na to vzhľadom na to considering that

vzhľadom na to, že vzhľadom na to, že given that

na rozdiel od toho na rozdiel od toho unlike that / in contrast

spolu s spolu s together with

spolu so spolu so together with

20. “About / concerning”

Slovak Transliteration English Case

o o about Locative

čo sa týka čo sa týka concerning / as for Genitive

pokiaľ ide o pokiaľ ide o as far as...is concerned Accusative

v súvislosti s v súvislosti s in connection with Instrumental

vzhľadom na vzhľadom na with regard to Accusative

z hľadiska z hľadiska from the perspective of Genitive

v otázke v otázke concerning / regarding Locative

v prípade v prípade in the case of Genitive

21. “Instead of”

Slovak Transliteration English Case

namiesto namiesto instead of Genitive

miesto miesto instead of Genitive

namísto namísto instead of Genitive

namiesto is the normal modern Slovak form.

22. “Without”

Slovak Transliteration English Case

bez bez without Genitive

bez ohľadu na bez ohľadu na regardless of Accusative

bez toho, aby bez toho, aby without doing / without the fact that Genitive + aby construction

Example:

Odišiel bez slova.

Odišiel bez slova.

He left without a word.

23. “Despite / in spite of”

Slovak Transliteration English Case

napriek napriek despite Dative

navzdory navzdory despite / in spite of Dative

napriek tomu napriek tomu nevertheless / despite that Dative

napriek tomu, že napriek tomu, že despite the fact that —

24. “Thanks to”

Slovak Transliteration English Case

vďaka vďaka thanks to Dative

zásluhou zásluhou thanks to / owing to Genitive

pričinením pričinením through the efforts of Genitive

25. Important preposition forms

Slovak frequently changes the form of a preposition for pronunciation.

Basic Variant Transliteration Meaning

v vo v / vo in / into

z zo z / zo from / out of

s so s / so with / from

k ku k / ku to / toward

Examples:

v škole — v škole — in school

vo vode — vo vode — in water

z domu — z domu — from the house

zo školy — zo školy — from school

s bratom — s bratom — with my brother

so sestrou — so sestrou — with my sister

k lekárovi — k lekárovi — to the doctor

ku mne — ku mne — toward me

15- DETERMINERS

Slovak Transliteration English Function

— — the no article; definiteness usually comes from context

— — a/an no article; indefinite noun can be bare

jeden jeden one / a certain can give an indefinite/specific sense

jedna jedna one / a certain feminine

jedno jedno one / a certain neuter

istý isty a certain / particular indefinite-specific

istá ista a certain feminine

isté iste a certain neuter

Example:

Mám knihu.

Mam knihu.

“I have a book.”

Mám tú knihu.

Mam tu knihu.

“I have that/the book.”

2. Demonstrative determiners

These point to a specific noun.

Slovak Transliteration English

tento tento this

táto tato this

toto toto this

títo tito these

tieto tieto these

ten ten that / the one

tá ta that

to to that

tí ti those

tie tie those

tamten tamten that one over there

tamtá tamta that one over there

tamto tamto that one over there

tamtí tamti those over there

tamtie tamtie those over there

onen onen that / that particular

ona ona that (fem.)

ono ono that (neut.)

oní oni those

ony ony those

Examples

tento muž

tento muz

“this man”

tá žena

ta zena

“this woman”

toto dieťa

toto dieta

“this child”

ten dom

ten dom

“that/the house”

tie knihy

tie knihy

“those books”

3. Possessive determiners

These indicate possession.

Slovak Transliteration English

môj moj my

moja moja my

moje moje my

moji moji my

tvoje tvoje your

tvoj tvoj your

tvoja tvoja your

tvoji tvoji your

jeho jeho his

jej jej her

náš nas our

naša nasa our

naše nase our

naši nasi our

váš vas your (plural/formal)

vaša vasa your

vaše vase your

vaši vasi your

ich ich their

svoj svoj one's own

svoja svoja one's own

svoje svoje one's own

svoji svoji one's own

Possessive forms agree with the noun in gender, number and case.

Examples

môj dom

moj dom

“my house”

moja kniha

moja kniha

“my book”

naše auto

nase auto

“our car”

ich deti

ich deti

“their children”

svoj dom

svoj dom

“one's own house”

4. Interrogative determiners

These are used when asking about a noun.

Slovak Transliteration English

ktorý ktory which

ktorá ktora which

ktoré ktore which

ktorí ktori which

čí ci whose

čia cia whose

čie cie whose

aký aky what kind of / what sort of

aká aka what kind of

aké ake what kind of

akí aki what kind of

koľký kolky which number / how many-th

koľká kolka which number

koľké kolke which number

Examples

Ktorý dom je tvoj?

Ktory dom je tvoj?

“Which house is yours?”

Aká kniha?

Aka kniha?

“What kind of book?”

Čí je tento telefón?

Ci je tento telefon?

“Whose phone is this?”

5. Relative determiners

The same forms can introduce relative clauses.

Slovak Transliteration English

ktorý ktory which / who

ktorá ktora which / who

ktoré ktore which

ktorí ktori who / which

aký aky what kind of

čí ci whose

koľký kolky which-number

Example

Muž, ktorý prišiel, je môj brat.

Muz, ktory prisiel, je moj brat.

“The man who came is my brother.”

6. Universal determiners

These express all, every, each, etc.

Slovak Transliteration English

každý kazdy every / each

každá kazda every / each

každé kazde every / each

všetok vsetok all / whole

všetka vsetka all / whole

všetko vsetko everything / all

všetci vsetci everyone / all

všetky vsetky all

každý jeden kazdy jeden every single

každý z kazdy z each of

všetci z vsetci z all of

všetky z vsetky z all of

Examples

Každý študent pracuje.

Kazdy student pracuje.

“Every student works.”

Všetci študenti prišli.

Vsetci studenti prisli.

“All the students came.”

Všetky knihy sú na stole.

Vsetky knihy su na stole.

“All the books are on the table.”

7. Both

Slovak Transliteration English

obaja obaja both (masculine persons)

obe obe both (feminine/neuter)

obidvaja obidvaja both

obidve obidve both

obidva obidva both

oba oba both

Examples

Obaja muži prišli.

Obaja muzi prisli.

“Both men came.”

Obe knihy sú zaujímavé.

Obe knihy su zaujimave.

“Both books are interesting.”

8. Negative determiners

Slovak commonly expresses negative determination with žiadny.

Slovak Transliteration English

žiadny ziadny no / not any

žiadna ziadna no / not any

žiadne ziadne no / not any

žiadni ziadni no / not any

nijaký nijaky no kind of / not any

nijaká nijaka no kind of

nijaké nijake no kind of

žiaden ziaden no / not any

Examples

Nemám žiadnu knihu.

Nemam ziadnu knihu.

“I don't have any book.”

Žiadny študent neprišiel.

Ziadny student neprisiel.

“No student came.”

Slovak normally uses double negation:

žiadny + negative verb

rather than simply using žiadny alone.

9. Indefinite determiners

These indicate an unspecified person, thing, quantity, or selection.

Slovak Transliteration English

nejaký nejaky some / a certain

nejaká nejaka some / a certain

nejaké nejake some

nejakí nejaki some

niektorý niektory some / a certain one

niektorá niektora some

niektoré niektore some

niektorí niektori some

hocijaký hocijaky any / whatever kind of

hocijaká hocijaka any

hocijaké hocijake any

akýkoľvek akykolvek any / any whatsoever

akákoľvek akakolvek any whatsoever

akékoľvek akekolvek any whatsoever

ktorýkoľvek ktorykolvek any one / whichever

ktorákoľvek ktorakolvek whichever

ktorékoľvek ktorekolvek whichever

každýkoľvek kazdykolvek any/every possible

Examples

Mám nejakú otázku.

Mam nejaku otazku.

“I have some question / I have a question.”

Niektorí študenti odišli.

Niektori studenti odisli.

“Some students left.”

Vyber si akúkoľvek knihu.

Vyber si akukolvek knihu.

“Choose any book.”

10. Quantifying determiners — some

Slovak Transliteration English

nejaký nejaky some

niektorý niektory some / a certain

určitý urcity a certain

pár par a couple / a few

zopár zopar a few

niekoľko niekolko several / a few

trocha trocha a little

trochu trochu a little / some

kus kus a piece / some

množstvo mnozstvo an amount / quantity

isté množstvo iste mnozstvo a certain amount

11. Many / much

Slovak Transliteration English

mnoho mnoho many / much

veľa vela many / much / a lot of

veľké množstvo velke mnozstvo a large amount/quantity

množstvo mnozstvo a quantity / a lot of

nemálo nemalo quite a few / no small amount

nespočetne veľa nespocetne vela countless / very many

Examples

Veľa ľudí prišlo.

Vela ludi prislo.

“A lot of people came.”

Mám veľa práce.

Mam vela prace.

“I have a lot of work.”

12. Few / little

Slovak Transliteration English

málo malo few / little

trochu trochu a little

trocha trocha a little

niekoľko málo niekolko malo a few

veľmi málo velmi malo very little / very few

len málo len malo only a little / few

Examples

Mám málo času.

Mam malo casu.

“I have little time.”

Málo ľudí tomu rozumie.

Malo ludi tomu rozumie.

“Few people understand it.”

13. More / less

Slovak Transliteration English

viac viac more

viacero viacero several / more than one

ešte viac este viac even more

oveľa viac ovela viac much more

menej menej less / fewer

ešte menej este menej even less

oveľa menej ovela menej much less

Examples

Chcem viac času.

Chcem viac casu.

“I want more time.”

Potrebujeme menej peňazí.

Potrebujeme menej penazi.

“We need less money.”

14. Several

Slovak Transliteration English

niekoľko niekolko several

niekoľkí niekolki several (people)

niekoľko málo niekolko malo a few

viacero viacero several / a number of

pár par a couple / a few

zopár zopar a few

Niekoľko študentov odišlo.

Niekoľko studentov odislo.

“Several students left.”

15. Each / every

Slovak Transliteration English

každý kazdy each / every

každá kazda each / every

každé kazde each / every

každý jeden kazdy jeden every single

každý z kazdy z each of

každý zvlášť kazdy zvlast each separately

každý osobitne kazdy osobitne each individually

16. Other / another

Slovak Transliteration English

iný iny other / different

iná ina other

iné ine other

iní ini other

ďalší dalsi another / additional / next

ďalšia dalsia another

ďalšie dalsie other/additional

ďalší jeden dalsi jeden another one

ešte jeden este jeden another one / one more

druhý druhy another / second / the other

druhá druha another / second

druhé druhe another / second

Examples

Chcem inú knihu.

Chcem inu knihu.

“I want another/different book.”

Daj mi ďalšiu knihu.

Daj mi dalsiu knihu.

“Give me another book.”

17. Same

Slovak Transliteration English

ten istý ten isty the same

tá istá ta ista the same

to isté to iste the same

tí istí ti isti the same

tie isté tie iste the same

Máme tú istú knihu.

Mame tu istu knihu.

“We have the same book.”

18. Certain / particular / specific

Slovak Transliteration English

istý isty certain

určitý urcity certain / specific

konkrétny konkretny specific / particular

daný dany given / particular

príslušný prislusny respective / relevant

určitý druh urcity druh a certain kind

konkrétny konkretny a specific

jednotlivý jednotlivy individual / particular

19. Whole / entire

Slovak Transliteration English

celý cely whole / entire

celá cela whole

celé cele whole

celí celi whole / all

úplný uplny complete

úplná uplna complete

úplné uplne complete

celý jeden cely jeden one whole

Examples

Celý deň pracujem.

Cely den pracujem.

“I work all day / the whole day.”

Celá rodina prišla.

Cela rodina prisla.

“The whole family came.”

20. Enough

Slovak generally uses a quantifier rather than a dedicated determiner.

Slovak Transliteration English

dosť dost enough / plenty

dostatok dostatok enough / sufficient amount

dostatočný dostatocny sufficient

dostatočná dostatocna sufficient

dostatočné dostatocne sufficient

Máme dosť času.

Mame dost casu.

“We have enough time.”

21. Too much / too many

Slovak Transliteration English

príliš veľa prilis vela too much / too many

priveľa priveľa too much / too many

príliš mnoho prilis mnoho too much / too many

nadmerné množstvo nadmerne mnozstvo excessive amount

Je tu príliš veľa ľudí.

Je tu prilis vela ludi.

“There are too many people here.”

22. Enough / plenty / a lot

Slovak Transliteration English

dosť dost enough / quite a lot

veľa vela a lot / many / much

mnoho mnoho much / many

hojne hojne abundantly / plentifully

množstvo mnozstvo a quantity / plenty

dostatok dostatok sufficient amount

prebytok prebytok surplus / excess

23. Numerical determiners

Cardinal numbers can determine nouns.

Slovak Transliteration English

jeden jeden one

dva dva two

tri tri three

štyri styri four

päť pat five

šesť sest six

sedem sedem seven

osem osem eight

deväť devat nine

desať desat ten

jedenásť jedenast eleven

dvanásť dvanast twelve

trinásť trinast thirteen

štrnásť strnast fourteen

pätnásť patnast fifteen

dvadsať dvadsat twenty

sto sto hundred

tisíc tisic thousand

milión milion million

miliarda miliarda billion

Examples

tri knihy

tri knihy

“three books”

päť domov

pat domov

“five houses”

24. Ordinal determiners

Ordinal numbers determine which position/order something has.

Slovak Transliteration English

prvý prvy first

druhý druhy second

tretí treti third

štvrtý stvrty fourth

piaty piaty fifth

šiesty siesty sixth

siedmy siedmy seventh

ôsmy osmy eighth

deviaty deviaty ninth

desiaty desiaty tenth

posledný posledny last

predposledný predposledny penultimate / second-to-last

prvý deň

prvy den

“the first day”

druhý dom

druhy dom

“the second house”

25. Distributive determiners

These express distribution.

Slovak Transliteration English

každý kazdy each/every

po jeden po jeden one each

po dva po dva two each

po tri po tri three each

každý po kazdy po each ...

jeden každý jeden kazdy each and every

každý zvlášť kazdy zvlast each separately

Dostali po dve knihy.

Dostali po dve knihy.

“They received two books each.”

26. Approximate quantity

Slovak Transliteration English

asi asi about / approximately

približne priblizne approximately

okolo okolo around/about

zhruba zhruba roughly

necelý necely just under

vyše vyse over / more than

cez cez over / more than

takmer takmer almost / nearly

Examples:

asi desať ľudí

asi desat ludi

“about ten people”

vyše sto ľudí

vyse sto ludi

“over a hundred people”

necelých päť rokov

necelych pat rokov

“just under five years”

27. Exceptive / excluding determination

These don't form a normal determiner class but are important for English determiner meanings.

Slovak Transliteration English

každý okrem kazdy okrem everyone/everything except

všetci okrem vsetci okrem everyone except

všetky okrem vsetky okrem all except

okrem jedného okrem jedneho except one

okrem niekoľkých okrem niekolkych except several

Všetci okrem Petra prišli.

Vsetci okrem Petra prisli.

“Everyone except Peter came.”

28. “Any” determiners

Slovak has several ways to express English any, depending on meaning.

Slovak Transliteration English

akýkoľvek akykolvek any

ktorákoľvek ktorakolvek any/whichever

ktorýkoľvek ktorykolvek any/whichever

hocijaký hocijaky any/whatever kind

hociktorý hociktory any/whichever

ľubovoľný lubovolny any/arbitrary

akýkoľvek z akykolvek z any of

Vyber si ľubovoľnú knihu.

Vyber si lubovolnu knihu.

“Choose any book.”

29. “No” / “none”

Slovak Transliteration English

žiadny ziadny no / not any

nijaký nijaky no kind of

žiaden ziaden no

nik nik nobody

nikto nikto nobody

nič nic nothing

nijaký nijaky no / not any

The last group contains pronouns, rather than noun determiners, when used independently.

30. Possessive-independent forms

These can function like determiners in some constructions but are technically possessive pronouns.

Slovak Transliteration English

môj moj mine / my

tvoj tvoj yours / your

jeho jeho his

jej jej hers / her

náš nas ours / our

váš vas yours / your

ich ich theirs / their

svoj svoj one's own

31. “What kind/type of” determiners

Slovak Transliteration English

aký aky what kind of

aká aka what kind of

aké ake what kind of

aký druh aky druh what kind

aký typ aky typ what type

aký druhý aky druhy what other kind

ktorý druh ktory druh which kind

ktorý typ ktory typ which type

Aký druh auta chceš?

Aky druh auta chces?

“What kind of car do you want?”

32. “How many / how much”

Slovak Transliteration English

koľko kolko how many / how much

koľko z kolko z how many/much of

koľký kolky which numbered / how many-th

koľkí kolki how many people

Koľko kníh máš?

Kolko knih mas?

“How many books do you have?”

33. “A certain / some particular”

Slovak Transliteration English

istý isty a certain

určitý urcity a certain / specific

nejaký nejaky some / a certain

daný dany given / particular

konkrétny konkretny specific

príslušný prislusny respective / relevant

16- IF CONDITIONAL

Zero ak + present → present Ak prší, cesty sú mokré.

First ak + present/future-perfective → future Ak prídeš, pôjdeme.

Second keby + past → conditional Keby som mal čas, išiel by som.

Third keby + past → past conditional (or simplified conditional) Keby som bol vedel, prišiel by som.

Mixed keby + past → conditional Keby som bol študoval, bol by som lekárom.

Even if aj keby + past → conditional Aj keby pršalo, išiel by som.

Unless ak nie / pokiaľ nie Ak nebudeš pracovať, neuspeješ.

As long as pokiaľ + clause Pokiaľ budeš študovať, uspeješ.

Provided that za predpokladu, že + clause Za predpokladu, že prídeš...

In case pre prípad, že + clause Pre prípad, že bude pršať...

Wish kiež by + clause Kiež by prišiel!

ja robil by som I would do

ty robil by si You would do

on robil by He would do

my robili by sme We would do

vy robili by ste You would do

oni robili by They would do

FEMALE:

ja robila by som I would do

ty robila by si You would do

ona robila by She would do

my robili by sme We would do

vy robili by ste You would do

ony robili by They would do

pracoval by som I would be working

pracoval by si You would be working

pracoval by He would be working

pracovali by sme We would be working

pracovali by ste You would be working

pracovali by They would be working

ja bol by som urobil I would have done

ty bol by si urobil You would have done

on bol by urobil He would have done

my boli by sme urobili We would have done

vy boli by ste urobili You would have done

oni boli by urobili They would have done

FEMALE:

ja bola by som urobila I would have done

ty bola by si urobila You would have done

ona bola by urobila She would have done

my boli by sme urobili We would have done

vy boli by ste urobili You would have done

ony boli by urobili They would have done

bol by som pracoval I would have been working

bol by si pracoval You would have been working

bol by pracoval He would have been working

boli by sme pracovali We would have been working

boli by ste pracovali You would have been working

boli by pracovali They would have been working

Povedal, že by prišiel. "He said that he would come."

ja chcel by som I would like

ty chcel by si You would like

on chcel by He would like

my chceli by sme We would like

vy chceli by ste You would like

oni chceli by They would like

FEMALE:

ja chcela by som I would like

ty chcela by si You would like

ona chcela by She would like

my chceli by sme We would like

vy chceli by ste You would like

ony chceli by They would like

mohol by som I could

mohol by si You could

mohol by He could

mohli by sme We could

mohli by ste You could

mohli by They could

mal by som I should

mal by si You should

mal by He should

mali by sme We should

mali by ste You should

mali by They should

ja nerobil by som I would not do

ty nerobil by si You would not do

on nerobil by He would not do

my nerobili by sme We would not do

vy nerobili by ste You would not do

oni nerobili by They would not do

FEMALE:

ja nerobila by som I would not do

ty nerobila by si You would not do

ona nerobila by She would not do

my nerobili by sme We would not do

vy nerobili by ste You would not do

ony nerobili by They would not do

ja nebol by som urobil I would not have done

ty nebol by si urobil You would not have done

on nebol by urobil He would not have done

my neboli by sme urobili We would not have done

vy neboli by ste urobili You would not have done

oni neboli by urobili They would not have done

ja bol by som napísaný I would be written

ty bol by si napísaný You would be written

on bol by napísaný He would be written

my boli by sme napísaní We would be written

vy boli by ste napísaní You would be written

oni boli by napísaní They would be written

FEMALE:

ja bola by som napísaná I would be written

ty bola by si napísaná You would be written

ona bola by napísaná She would be written

my boli by sme napísané We would be written

vy boli by ste napísané You would be written

ony boli by napísané They would be written

NEUTER:

ono bolo by napísané It would be written

ony (neuter nouns) boli by napísané They would be written

Kniha by sa písala. The book would be being written.

OR:

Kniha by bola písaná. The book would be written / would be being written (formal, less common).

ja bol by som bol napísaný I would have been written

ty bol by si bol napísaný You would have been written

on bol by bol napísaný He would have been written

my boli by sme boli napísaní We would have been written

vy boli by ste boli napísaní You would have been written

oni boli by boli napísaní They would have been written

FEMALE:

ja bola by som bola napísaná I would have been written

ty bola by si bola napísaná You would have been written

ona bola by bola napísaná She would have been written

my boli by sme boli napísané We would have been written

vy boli by ste boli napísané You would have been written

ony boli by boli napísané They would have been written

NEUTER:

ono bolo by bolo napísané It would have been written

ony (neuter nouns) boli by boli napísané They would have been written

Kniha by sa bola písala. The book would have been being written. (Slovak has no separate grammatical form for would perfect continuous passive, this is the closest construction)

ja nebol by som napísaný I would not be written

ty nebol by si napísaný You would not be written

on nebol by napísaný He would not be written

my neboli by sme napísaní We would not be written

vy neboli by ste napísaní You would not be written

oni neboli by napísaní They would not be written

17- COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE

Positive adjective veľký big

Comparative adjective + -ší/-ejší (or irregular form) väčší bigger

Superlative naj- + comparative najväčší biggest

Equality tak...ako taký vysoký ako as tall as

Inequality nie tak...ako nie taký vysoký ako not as tall as

More viac viac peňazí more money

Less menej menej práce less work

Most najviac najviac času the most time

Least najmenej najmenej problémov the fewest / least problems

Progressive čoraz + comparative čoraz lepší better and better

Correlative čím...tým... Čím viac..., tým lepšie. The more..., the better.

Pracuje viac ako ja. He works more than I do.

18- RELATIVE CLAUSES

who / which / that ktorý (declined as needed)

what / that (after všetko, nič, niečo, etc.) čo

whoever / the one who kto

where (location) kde

where to kam

where from odkiaľ

when keď (more common than kedy in relative clauses, e.g. deň, keď...)

since when odkedy

until when / by when dokedy

why prečo

how / the way ako

whose čí

The man I saw Muž, ktorého som videl. The man whom I saw

The book I bought Kniha, ktorú som kúpil. The book which I bought

The woman you know Žena, ktorú poznáš. The woman whom you know

The man who came. Muž, ktorý prišiel.

Singular

Case Masculine Feminine Neuter

Nominative ktorý ktorá ktoré

Genitive ktorého ktorej ktorého

Dative ktorému ktorej ktorému

Accusative ktorý / ktorého* ktorú ktoré

Locative ktorom ktorej ktorom

Instrumental ktorým ktorou ktorým

* ktorého for masculine animate; ktorý for masculine inanimate.

Plural

Case Masculine animate Other genders

Nominative ktorí ktoré

Genitive ktorých ktorých

Dative ktorým ktorým

Accusative ktorých ktoré

Locative ktorých ktorých

Instrumental ktorými ktorými

Full active relative noun + ktorý + verb muž, ktorý pracuje the man who works / is working

Reduced active noun + -úci/-iaci/-ajúci muž pracujúci the man working

Full passive relative noun + ktorý bol + passive participle kniha, ktorá bola napísaná the book that was written

Reduced passive noun + passive participle kniha napísaná the book written

Conversational alternative noun + ktorý + verb muž, ktorý pracuje the man who works / is working

19- REPORTED SPEECH AND DIRECT SPEECH

Direct Speech: Speaker + ":" + quotation

Reported Speech:

Reported statement verb + že + clause Povedal, že príde. He said that he would come.

Yes/No question verb + či + clause Spýtal sa, či prídem. He asked if I would come.

Wh-question verb + question word + clause Spýtal sa, kde bývam. He asked where I live.

Command verb + aby + subject + verb Povedal mi, aby som prišiel. He told me to come.

Request poprosiť + aby Poprosil ma, aby som počkal. He asked me to wait.

Suggestion navrhnúť + aby Navrhol, aby sme odišli. He suggested that we leave.

20- INFINITIVES AND VERBAL NOUNS

to read infinitive čítať

I want to read verb + infinitive chcem čítať

I can swim modal + infinitive môžem plávať

Reading is fun infinitive Čítať je zábava

Reading is fun verbal noun Čítanie je zábava

I like reading conjugated verb Rád čítam

I see him running verb + infinitive Vidím ho bežať

after eating po + noun / clause po jedle

without doing bez toho, aby bez toho, aby urobil

I am happy seeing you Som rád, že ťa vidím adjective + že + clause

I am happy to see you Som rád, že ťa vidím adjective + že + clause

I plan to eat Plánujem jesť verb + infinitive

I plan eating Plánujem jedenie (unnatural) verb + verbal noun

I see him run Vidím ho bežať perception verb + object + infinitive

I see him running Vidím ho bežať / Vidím ho, ako beží perception + infinitive / ako-clause

I eat to play Jem, aby som sa mohol hrať clause + aby + verb

21- SUBJUNCTIVE

I want him to go aby + verb Chcem, aby išiel

I need you to help aby + verb Potrebujem, aby si pomohol

Let him go nech + verb Nech ide

May he succeed nech + verb Nech sa mu darí

If I were you keby + conditional Keby som bol na tvojom mieste

I would like conditional Chcel by som

If only kiež by Kiež by prišiel

22- TAG QUESTIONS

isn't it? však? Je pekný, však?

right? že? Je to pravda, že?

isn't that so? že áno? Máš čas, že áno?

right? (informal) nie? Prídeš, nie?

isn't it? (formal) či nie? Je to správne, či nie?

is that right? Je to tak? Je to tak?

Don't you work? ne- + verb? Nepracuješ?

Didn't you come? ne- + past? Neprišiel si?

Won't you go? nebudeš + infinitive? Nebudeš ísť?

Aren't you home? nie + byť? Nie si doma?

Can't you help? nemôcť + infinitive? Nemôžeš pomôcť?

Don't you want...? nechceš...? Nechceš čaj?

Don't you happen to...? náhodou + ne- Náhodou nevieš...?

23- MODAL WORDS

Slovak Transliteration English Main meaning

môcť moct can, may, be able to ability / possibility / permission

musieť musiet must, have to obligation / necessity

smieť smiet may, be allowed to permission

chcieť chciet want willingness / desire

mať mat have to / be supposed to obligation / expectation

vedieť vediet know how to / be able to ability

potrebovať potrebovat need necessity

dať sa dat sa can / be possible possibility

patriť patrit be supposed to / belong expectation / obligation

Examples

Môžem ísť.

Možem ist.

“I can go / I may go.”

Musím pracovať.

Musim pracovat.

“I must work.”

Smieš vojsť.

Smies vojst.

“You may enter.”

Chcem odísť.

Chcem odist.

“I want to leave.”

Musíš to urobiť.

Musis to urobit.

“You have to do it.”

2. Ability — “can / be able to”

Slovak Transliteration English

môcť moct can / be able to

vedieť vediet know how to / be able to

dokázať dokazat be able to / manage to

byť schopný byt schopny be capable of

byť schopná byt schopna be capable of

byť schopné byt schopne be capable of

mať schopnosť mat schopnost have the ability

mať možnosť mat moznost have the possibility/opportunity

byť v stave byt v stave be in a position to

dať sa dat sa be possible / can be done

Examples

Viem plávať.

Viem plavat.

“I can swim / I know how to swim.”

Dokážem to urobiť.

Dokazem to urobit.

“I can manage to do it.”

Je schopný pracovať.

Je schopny pracovat.

“He is capable of working.”

3. Possibility — “may / might / could”

Slovak Transliteration English

môcť moct may / can / could

možno mozno maybe / perhaps

možnože moznoze perhaps

možno aj mozno aj perhaps / possibly

snáď snad perhaps / hopefully

azda azda perhaps / maybe

vari vari perhaps / maybe

hádam hadam perhaps / hopefully

prípadne pripadne possibly / alternatively

prípadný pripadny possible / eventual

potenciálne potencialne potentially

potenciálny potencialny potential

Examples

Možno príde.

Mozno pride.

“Maybe he will come.”

Snáď bude doma.

Snad bude doma.

“Perhaps he will be at home.”

Môže prísť zajtra.

Moze prist zajtra.

“He may/can come tomorrow.”

4. Probability

Slovak Transliteration English

pravdepodobne pravdepodobne probably

pravdepodobný pravdepodobny probable

zrejme zrejme apparently / probably

zrejmý zrejmy evident / apparent

zrejmeže zrejmeze apparently

zaiste zaiste certainly / assuredly

asi asi probably / approximately

najskôr najskor most likely / probably

zrejúco zrejúco evidently

zrejme zrejme apparently

sotva sotva hardly / unlikely

takmer určite takmer urcite almost certainly

Pravdepodobne príde.

Pravdepodobne pride.

“He will probably come.”

Asi má pravdu.

Asi ma pravdu.

“He is probably right.”

5. Certainty

Slovak Transliteration English

určite urcite definitely / certainly

iste iste certainly / surely

isto isto certainly

určiteže urciteze certainly

zaiste zaiste certainly

nepochybne nepochybne undoubtedly

bezpochyby bezpochyby without doubt

bez pochyby bez pochyby without doubt

nepochybne nepochybne undoubtedly

rozhodne rozhodne definitely

jednoznačne jednoznacne unequivocally / definitely

naisto naisto for sure

samozrejme samozrejme of course

bezpodmienečne bezpodmienecne unconditionally

Určite príde.

Urcite pride.

“He will definitely come.”

6. Doubt and uncertainty

Slovak Transliteration English

možno mozno maybe

snáď snad perhaps

azda azda perhaps

vari vari perhaps

hádam hadam perhaps

asi asi probably

pochybne pochybne doubtfully

pochybne pochybne dubiously

neisto neisto uncertainly

sotva sotva hardly / scarcely

možno nie mozno nie maybe not

asi nie asi nie probably not

7. Obligation — “must / have to”

Slovak Transliteration English

musieť musiet must / have to

mať mat have to

byť povinný byt povinny be obliged

byť povinná byt povinna be obliged

byť povinné byt povinne be obligatory

byť nutný byt nutny be necessary

byť potrebný byt potrebny be necessary

byť nevyhnutný byt nevyhnutny be necessary / indispensable

potreba potreba need

nevyhnutnosť nevyhnutnost necessity

povinnosť povinnost obligation

nutnosť nutnost necessity

Examples

Musím ísť.

Musim ist.

“I must go.”

Musíš pracovať.

Musis pracovat.

“You have to work.”

Máme odísť.

Mame odist.

“We are supposed to leave / We have to leave.”

8. Necessity

Slovak Transliteration English

treba treba it is necessary / one needs to

je treba je treba it is necessary

je potrebné je potrebne it is necessary

je nutné je nutne it is necessary

je nevyhnutné je nevyhnutne it is essential

je nevyhnutnosť je nevyhnutnost there is a necessity

musí musi must

musieť musiet have to

potreba potreba need

nevyhnutnosť nevyhnutnost necessity

Treba pracovať.

Treba pracovat.

“It is necessary to work.”

Je potrebné odísť.

Je potrebne odist.

“It is necessary to leave.”

9. Permission — “may / be allowed to”

Slovak Transliteration English

smieť smiet may / be allowed to

môcť moct may / can

byť dovolené byt dovolene be allowed

byť povolené byt povolene be permitted

dovoliť dovolit allow

povoliť povolit permit

mať dovolené mat dovolene be allowed to

mať povolenie mat povolenie have permission

Smieš ísť.

Smies ist.

“You may go.”

Môžete vstúpiť.

Mozete vstupit.

“You may enter.”

10. Prohibition — “must not / may not”

Slovak Transliteration English

nesmieť nesmiet must not / may not

nesmie nesmie must not

nemôcť nemoct cannot / may not

nesmie byť nesmie byt must not be

nie je dovolené nie je dovolene it is not allowed

je zakázané je zakazane it is forbidden

zakázané zakazane forbidden

zákaz zakaz prohibition

Nesmieš fajčiť.

Nesmies fajcit.

“You must not smoke.”

11. Advice — “should / ought to”

Slovak Transliteration English

mal by mal by should

mala by mala by should

mali by mali by should

malo by malo by should

mali by ste mali by ste you should

odporúčať odporucat recommend

odporúčané odporucane recommended

bolo by vhodné bolo by vhodne it would be advisable

bolo by dobré bolo by dobre it would be good

bolo by lepšie bolo by lepsie it would be better

treba treba one should / it is necessary

Example

Mal by si odpočívať.

Mal by si odpocivat.

“You should rest.”

Mali by sme ísť.

Mali by sme ist.

“We should go.”

12. Conditional / hypothetical modality

The conditional form by is extremely important for Slovak modality.

Slovak Transliteration English

by by would

by som by som I would

by si by si you would

by by he/she/it would

by sme by sme we would

by ste by ste you would

by by they would

možno by mozno by might / perhaps would

asi by asi by probably would

určite by urcite by would definitely

mal by mal by should / ought to

mohol by mohol by could

musel by musel by would have to

chcel by chcel by would want / would like

Mohol by som prísť.

Mohol by som prist.

“I could come.”

Musel by som odísť.

Musel by som odist.

“I would have to leave.”

Chcel by som kávu.

Chcel by som kavu.

“I would like a coffee.”

13. “Could”

Slovak Transliteration English

mohol by mohol by could

mohla by mohla by could

mohli by mohli by could

mohlo by mohlo by could

mohol by som mohol by som I could

mohli by sme mohli by sme we could

dalo by sa dalo by sa it would be possible

bolo by možné bolo by mozne it would be possible

Mohli by sme ísť zajtra.

Mohli by sme ist zajtra.

“We could go tomorrow.”

14. “Would”

Slovak Transliteration English

by by would

by som by som I would

by si by si you would

by sme by sme we would

by ste by ste you would

chcel by som chcel by som I would like

chcel by si chcel by si you would like

rád by som rad by som I would like

rada by som rada by som I would like

radi by sme radi by sme we would like

Rád by som išiel.

Rad by som isiel.

“I would like to go.”

15. Desire / willingness

Slovak Transliteration English

chcieť chciet want

chcel by chcel by would like

chcieť chciet wish/want

priať si priat si wish

túžiť tuzit long/desire

byť ochotný byt ochotny be willing

byť ochotná byt ochotna be willing

ochotne ochotne willingly

byť pripravený byt pripraveny be ready/willing

rád rad gladly / would like

rada rada gladly / would like

Som ochotný pomôcť.

Som ochotny pomoct.

“I am willing to help.”

16. Intention

Slovak Transliteration English

chcieť chciet intend/want

plánovať planovat plan

mať v úmysle mat v umysle intend

zamýšľať zamyslat intend

hodlať hodlat intend

chystať sa chystat sa be about to / intend

chystať chystat prepare/intend

chystám sa chystam sa I am going to

plánujem planujem I plan to

mám v úmysle mam v umysle I intend to

Chystám sa odísť.

Chystam sa odist.

“I am going to leave.”

Mám v úmysle cestovať.

Mam v umysle cestovat.

“I intend to travel.”

17. Expectation

Slovak Transliteration English

očakávať ocakavat expect

mať očakávanie mat ocakavanie have an expectation

mať prísť mat prist be expected to come

byť očakávaný byt ocakavany be expected

predpokladať predpokladat suppose / assume

predpokladaný predpokladany presumed / expected

rátať s ratat s count on / expect

Očakávam, že príde.

Ocakavam, ze pride.

“I expect that he will come.”

18. “Be supposed to”

Slovak commonly uses mať + infinitive.

Slovak Transliteration English

mám mam I am supposed to

máš mas you are supposed to

má ma he/she is supposed to

máme mame we are supposed to

máte mate you are supposed to

majú maju they are supposed to

mal mal was supposed to

mala mala was supposed to

mali mali were supposed to

Mám tam ísť.

Mam tam ist.

“I am supposed to go there.”

19. “Need to”

Slovak Transliteration English

potrebovať potrebovat need

treba treba need to / it is necessary

musieť musiet have to

je potrebné je potrebne it is necessary

je nutné je nutne it is necessary

potrebujem potrebujem I need

potrebuješ potrebujes you need

potrebuje potrebuje he/she needs

Potrebujem pracovať.

Potrebujem pracovat.

“I need to work.”

20. “Dare”

There is no exact everyday equivalent of English modal dare, but Slovak uses:

Slovak Transliteration English

odvážiť sa odvazit sa dare

trúfať si trufat si dare / venture

opovážiť sa opovazit sa dare / have the audacity

dovoliť si dovolit si dare / presume to

Neodvážim sa to povedať.

Neodvazim sa to povedat.

“I don't dare to say it.”

21. “Be likely to”

Slovak Transliteration English

pravdepodobne pravdepodobne probably

je pravdepodobné je pravdepodobne it is probable

je pravdepodobné, že je pravdepodobne, ze it is likely that

pravdepodobný pravdepodobny probable

vyzerať, že vyzerat, ze seem to

vyzerať na vyzerat na look like / seem likely

byť náchylný byt nachylny be prone/likely

mať sklon mat sklon tend to

22. “Tend to”

Slovak Transliteration English

mávať mavat tend to / usually

mať sklon mat sklon tend to

byť náchylný byt nachylny be prone to

zvyknúť zvyknut tend to / usually

bývať byvat usually / tend to

Zvykne chodiť neskoro.

Zvykne chodit neskoro.

“He tends to come late.”

23. Habitual modality

Slovak Transliteration English

zvyknúť zvyknut usually / tend to

bývať byvat usually be/do

obvykle obvykle usually

zvyčajne zvycajne usually

spravidla spravidla generally / as a rule

bežne bezne normally / commonly

obyčajne obycajne usually

24. Necessity vs. possibility

These are particularly important pairs:

Slovak Transliteration English

musí musi must

nemusí nemusi does not have to / need not

môže moze can/may

nemôže nemoze cannot

smie smie may/is allowed

nesmie nesmie must not/is not allowed

potrebuje potrebuje needs

nepotrebuje nepotrebuje does not need

Important distinction

Nemusíš ísť.

Nemusis ist.

“You don't have to go.”

This does not mean:

Nesmieš ísť.

Nesmies ist.

“You must not go.”

25. Modal adverbs

Slovak Transliteration English

možno mozno maybe

asi asi probably

snáď snad perhaps

azda azda perhaps

vari vari perhaps

hádam hadam perhaps

určite urcite definitely

iste iste certainly

isto isto certainly

pravdepodobne pravdepodobne probably

zrejme zrejme apparently/probably

nepochybne nepochybne undoubtedly

rozhodne rozhodne definitely

sotva sotva hardly/scarcely

takmer takmer almost

údajne udajne allegedly/reportedly

vraj vraj supposedly/they say

očividne ocividne obviously

zjavne zjavne evidently

samozrejme samozrejme of course

prípadne pripadne possibly/alternatively

potenciálne potencialne potentially

nutne nutne necessarily

nevyhnutne nevyhnutne necessarily

dobrovoľne dobrovolne voluntarily

povinne povinne obligatorily

údajne udajne reportedly

údajne vraj udajne vraj reportedly/supposedly

26. Evidential / reported modality

These indicate that information comes from another source rather than direct certainty.

Slovak Transliteration English

vraj vraj supposedly / they say

údajne udajne allegedly / reportedly

podľa všetkého podla vsetkeho apparently / judging by everything

podľa neho podla neho according to him

podľa nej podla nej according to her

podľa správ podla sprav according to reports

zdá sa zda sa it seems

zdá sa, že zda sa, ze it seems that

vyzerá to, že vyzera to, ze it looks/seems that

Vraj príde zajtra.

Vraj pride zajtra.

“They say he will come tomorrow.”

27. “Seem / appear”

Slovak Transliteration English

zdať sa zdat sa seem

vyzerať vyzerat seem/look

javiť sa javit sa appear

pôsobiť posobit seem / appear

očividne ocividne obviously

zjavne zjavne evidently

Zdá sa, že má pravdu.

Zda sa, ze ma pravdu.

“It seems that he is right.”

28. Evaluation / advisability

Slovak Transliteration English

vhodný vhodny suitable / advisable

nevhodný nevhodny unsuitable

potrebný potrebny necessary

nutný nutny necessary

nevyhnutný nevyhnutny necessary/essential

možný mozny possible

nemožný nemozny impossible

prípustný pripustny permissible

neprípustný nepripustny impermissible

dovolený dovoleny allowed

zakázaný zakazany forbidden

odporúčaný odporucany recommended

povinný povinny obligatory

dobrovoľný dobrovolny voluntary

pravdepodobný pravdepodobny probable

nepravdepodobný nepravdepodobny improbable

29. Possibility and impossibility constructions

Slovak Transliteration English

je možné je mozne it is possible

je možné, že je mozne, ze it is possible that

je nemožné je nemozne it is impossible

nie je možné nie je mozne it is not possible

dá sa da sa it is possible / can be done

nedá sa neda sa it cannot be done

možno mozno perhaps

môže byť moze byt may be

nemôže byť nemoze byt cannot be

je pravdepodobné je pravdepodobne it is probable

je nepravdepodobné je nepravdepodobne it is unlikely

Dá sa to urobiť.

Da sa to urobit.

“It can be done.”

Nedá sa to vysvetliť.

Neda sa to vysvetlit.

“It cannot be explained.”

30. “Must be” / strong inference

Slovak commonly uses musieť for logical inference as well as obligation.

Musí byť doma.

Musí byt doma.

“He must be at home.”

Here musí means “must / is evidently”, not physical obligation.

Compare:

Musí pracovať.

Musí pracovat.

“He must work.” → obligation

Musí byť unavený.

Musí byt unaveny.

“He must be tired.” → strong inference

31. “May be / might be”

Slovak Transliteration English

môže byť moze byt may be / can be

možno je mozno je maybe is

možno bude mozno bude may be/will perhaps be

asi je asi je is probably

asi bude asi bude will probably be

mohol by byť mohol by byt could be

mohlo by byť mohlo by byt might/could be

pravdepodobne je pravdepodobne je is probably

32. Modal negation

Positive Negative English

môžem nemôžem I can / cannot

môžem nemusím I can / don't have to

smiem nesmiem I may / must not

musím nemusím I must / don't have to

chcem nechcem I want / don't want

potrebujem nepotrebujem I need / don't need

viem neviem I know how / don't know how

dokážem nedokážem I can manage / cannot manage

33. Main modal constructions

Function Slovak formation Transliteration English

Ability môcť + infinitive moct + infinitive can

Ability vedieť + infinitive vediet + infinitive know how to

Ability dokázať + infinitive dokazat + infinitive manage to

Obligation musieť + infinitive musiet + infinitive must/have to

Permission smieť + infinitive smiet + infinitive may

Possibility môcť + infinitive moct + infinitive may/can

Necessity treba + infinitive treba + infinitive need to

Necessity je potrebné + infinitive je potrebne + infinitive it is necessary to

Advice mal by + infinitive mal by + infinitive should

Advice malo by sa + infinitive malo by sa + infinitive one should

Prohibition nesmieť + infinitive nesmiet + infinitive must not

Lack of obligation nemusieť + infinitive nemusiet + infinitive do not have to

Desire chcieť + infinitive chciet + infinitive want to

Intention chystať sa + infinitive chystat sa + infinitive be going to

Intention mať v úmysle + infinitive mat v umysle + infinitive intend to

Willingness byť ochotný + infinitive byt ochotny + infinitive be willing to

Possibility dať sa + infinitive dat sa + infinitive can be done

Impossibility nedá sa + infinitive neda sa + infinitive cannot be done

Probability asi + clause asi + clause probably

Possibility možno + clause mozno + clause maybe

Certainty určite + clause urcite + clause definitely

Reported information vraj + clause vraj + clause supposedly

Inference musieť + infinitive musiet + infinitive must

Conditional possibility mohol by + infinitive mohol by + infinitive could

Conditional obligation musel by + infinitive musel by + infinitive would have to

Conditional desire chcel by + infinitive chcel by + infinitive would like

24- THERE IS / HAVE / BE

There is a book Je kniha / Je tu kniha je + noun

There are books Sú knihy / Sú tu knihy sú + plural noun

There isn't a book Nie je kniha nie je + noun

There aren't books Nie sú knihy nie sú + plural noun

Is there a book? Je kniha? Je + noun?

Are there books? Sú knihy? Sú + noun?

There was a book Bola kniha bol/bola/bolo + noun

There were books Boli knihy boli + noun

There will be a book Bude kniha bude + noun

There will be books Budú knihy budú + noun

I have mám mať present

I don't have nemám ne- + mať

Do you have? Máš? verb-first question

I had mal som / mala som past mať

I will have budem mať future

I would have mal by som conditional

ja mám I have

ty máš you have

on/ona/ono má he/she/it has

my máme we have

vy máte you have

oni/ony majú they have

You (informal) stem + ending rob! do!

Let's stem + -me robme! let's do!

Formal/plural stem + -te robte! do!

Negative ne + imperative nerob! don't do!

Be buď buď ticho! be quiet!

Let's go poďme poďme domov! let's go home!

Be done (you) buď + participle Buď pripravený

Be done (formal/plural) buďte + participle Buďte pripravení

Don't be done nebuď + participle Nebuď zabudnutý

Let it be done nech + byť + participle Nech je urobené

Let it be done (common) nech sa + verb Nech sa otvorí

Should be done má sa + infinitive Má sa opraviť