Prepozita

Prepozita, or prepositions, are a class of words that link a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to other elements in a sentence. They express relationships such as location, direction, time, manner, or instrument, and they typically form a prepositional phrase with their object. In many languages with case systems, prepozita govern the form of their noun or pronoun, determining which grammatical case or inflection the noun takes.

There are two broad typologies: simple prepozita (single words like in, on, at) and complex or compound prepozita (two or more words such as because of, in spite of, on top of). Some languages also use postpozita, which follow the noun rather than precede it; others rely on case endings to convey similar relations rather than a separate preposition.

Functions of prepozita include spatial relations (in the room), temporal relations (after dawn), directional relations (toward the city), and other semantic relations such as means or accompaniment (with a fork), cause (due to rain), or manner (by hand). In languages with rich morphology, the choice of prepozitum may interact with the noun’s case and agreement, influencing the form of the related words.

Usage notes: Prepozita are highly idiomatic and form fixed expressions in many languages. Pronouns after prepozita often take special forms (to me, with him). Correct use requires attention to collocations and, in inflected languages, to the governing case.