Prepositions

Main uses of prepositions in prose

1 Prepositions with one case only

(a) with accusative

�n�

of place

�n� potam�n up river
�n� t�n �Ell�da throughout Greece

of time

�n� p�!an t�n �m�ran throughout the whole day

distributively �n� �kat�n �ndra! in groups of 100 men
In compounds: up (�n�!tamai stand up); back (�naxvr�v go back, retreat); again (�nalamb�nv take (up) again).

e�! (�!)

of place

e�! t�n �Attik�n into Attica

of time

e�! �!p�ran towards evening
e�! t�n �panta xr�non for all time

measure and limit e�! triako!�ou! up to 300
purpose xr�!imo! e�! �pan �rgon useful for every task
reference e�d�kimo! e�! !of�an famous for wisdom
In compounds: in, into (e�!�rxomai go in).

�!

(only of persons) �! Perd�kkan to Perdiccas

(b) with genitive

�nt�

 

e�r�nh �nt� pol�mou peace instead of war

In compounds: instead, in return (�ntid�dvmi give in return); against, in opposition (�ny�!tamai stand against, oppose).

�p�

of place

�p� p�l�v! �k�!th! from each city

of time

�p� t�n Mhdik�n from the time of the Persian [Wars]

cause

�p� to�tou �tim�yh he was honoured for this

In compounds: from, away, off (�p�rxomai go away); in return, back (�pod�dvmi give back what is due).

�k

of place

�j �Ital�a! from Italy

of time

�k to�tou after this

origin

�k patr�! e�geno�! (sprung) from a noble father

In compounds: from, out, away (�jela�nv drive out and away); thoroughly (�kmany�nv learn thoroughly, by heart).

pr�

of place

pr� t�n pul�n in front of the gates

of time

pr� t�n Trvik�n before the Trojan [war]

preference

pr� to�tvn y�naton �l�!yai to choose death rather than this

In compounds: before, forward (prot�yhmi set before, set out); in defence of (prom�xomai fight in defence of); forth (prof�rv bring forth); publicly (proagore�v proclaim publicly); in preference (proaire�!yai choose in preference); beforehand (proai!y�nomai perceive beforehand).

(c) with dative

�n

of place

�n o�ran� in heaven
�n �m�n dhmhgore�n to make a speech among (or before) you

of time

�n t� prot�r& �!bol� in the former invasion
�n �te!i pent�konta within fifty years

In compounds: in, at, on (�mp�ptv fall in/on; �ggel�v laugh at).

!�n (j�n)

!�n to�! yeo�! with the help of the gods
!�n kraug� with a shout

(Attic prose normally uses met� + genitive)
In compounds: with, together (!umpore�omai march in company with); altogether, completely (!umplhr�v fill up).

2 Prepositions with accusative or genitive

(a) with accusative

of cause

di� f�bon on account of fear
di� a�!x�nhn because of (or through) shame

(b) with genitive

of place

di� t�! p�lev! through the city

of time

di� pant�! to� pol�mou throughout all the war

of intervals

di� tr�tou �tou! every third year

of means

di� �rmhn�v! by means of an interpreter

In compounds: through, across (diaba�nv cross); apart, thoroughly (dial�v dissolve, destroy; diapr�ttv complete); severally (diad�dvmi distribute).

kat�

(a) with accusative

of place

kat� potam�n down river
kat� t�n �gor�n throughout the market-place
kat� g�n ka� kat� y�lattan by land and sea

of time

kat� �ke�non t�n xr�non about that time
o� kay� �m�! our contemporaries

of manner

kat� to�! n�mou! according to the laws
kat� P�ndaron according to Pindar

distributively

kat� tre�! by threes
kay� �m�ran day by day

(b) with genitive

of place

�lanto kat� t�! p�tra! they leapt down from the cliff
m�ron kat� t�! kefal�! kataxe�n to pour perfume over one's head

against

kay� a�to� mhn�ein to give information against oneself

In compounds: downwards, down (katap�ptv fall down); back (kat�rxomai return from exile); against (katagign�!kv condemn); completely (kate!y�v eat up).

met�

(a) with accusative

of time

met� t�n m�xhn after the battle

of succession

� m�gi!to! potam�! met� t�n �I!tron the greatest river after the Danube

(b) with genitive

 

mey� �m�n pore�e!yai to travel along with us
met� t�n �dikoum�nvn m�xe!yai to fight on the side of those who are wronged

In compounds: among, with (of sharing) (metad�dvmi give a share of); after, in quest of (metap�mpomai send for); denoting change (metano�vv change one's mind).

�p�r

(a) with accusative

of place

�p�r t� �rh o�ke�n to live beyond the mountains

of measure

�p�r d�namin beyond one's power

(b) with genitive

of place

�p�r t�! g�! above the earth

on behalf of

�p�r t�! patr�do! �poyane�n to die for one's country

In compounds: over, above (�perba�nv step over, cross); in defence of (�permax�v (poetical) fight for); exceedingly (�perfron�v be �erproud).

3 Prepositions with accusative, genitive or dative

�p�

(a) with accusative

of place

�f� �ppon �naba�nein to mount one's horse

hostility

�p� to�! polem�ou! against the enemy

(b) with genitive

of place

o�t� �p� g�! o�t� �p� g�! neither upon the earth nor under the earth
�p� �Ayhn�n pore�e!yai to travel in the direction of Athens

of time

�p� t�n prog�nvn in the time of our ancestors

(c) with dative

of place

a� �p� t� yal�tt� p�lei! the cities on the sea coast
�p� to�! �re!i on the mountains

purpose

�p� doule�& t� �met�r& �kete you have come to enslave us (lit. with a view to our slavery)

condition

�p� to�toi! on these conditions

In compounds: upon (�peimi be upon); over (�pitr�xv overrun); at (�pixa�rv rejoice at/over); toward (�pi!t�llv send to); in addition (�pid�dvmi give in addition); against (�piboule�v plot against); after (�pig�gnomai come after).

par�

(a) with accusative

of place

�kv par� !� I have come to you
par� t�n g�n �plei he sailed along the coast

comparison

�jet�zein par� �llhla to compare with one another

contrary to

par� to�! n�mou! contrary to the laws

(b) with genitive

of place

par� ba!il�v! �kein to have come from the King

source

par� %vkr�tou! many�nein to learn from Socrates

(c) with dative

of place

par� to�! �Ayhna�oi! amongst the Athenians
par� �mo� deipne�n to dine at my house (cf. French chez moi)
par� to�! dika!ta�! before the judges

In compounds: alongside, beside (par�rxomai go alongside); beyond, past (parela�nv drive past); aside, beyond i.e. amiss (paraba�nv transgress).

per�

(a) with accusative

of place

per� Pelop�nnh!on around the Peloponnese
o� per� �Hr�kleiton the followers of Heraclitus

of time

per� pr�ton �pnon about the time of the first sleep

number

per� �jako!�ou! about 600

reference

o� per� to�! g�mou! n�moi the laws about marriage

(b) with genitive

reference

per� pol�mou boule�e!yai to deliberate about war
per� to�tvn l�gein to speak about these things

(c) with dative

of place

per� t� xeir� dakt�lion f�rein to wear a ring on the hand
!trepto� per� to�! trax�loi! collars about their necks

In compounds: around, about (perib�llv throw around); beyond, over (perierg�zomai waste one's labour; perior�v overlook, allow); (remaining) over (perig�gnomai remain over, excel).

pr�!

(a) with accusative

of place

pr�! t�n l�fon towards the hill

of time

pr�! �ar towards spring

of reference

pr�! x�rin l�gein to speak with a view to pleasing

(b) with genitive

in appeals

pr�! ye�n by (or in the name of) the gods

characteristic

o�k �n pr�! to� K�rou tr�pou it was not like Cyrus's way

(c) with dative

of place

pr�! t� g� naumaxe�n to fight a sea-battle near the land
pr�! A�g�n� off (the island of) Aegina

addition

pr�! to�toi! in addition to this

In compounds: towards (pro!�rxomai approach); in addition to (pro!d�dvmi give in addition); against (pro!p�ptv fall against).

�p�

(a) with accusative

of place

�p� %p�rtvlon �ly�nte! having come up to (i.e. under the walls of)Spartolus

of time

�p� t�n !ei!m�n at the time of the earthquake

(b) with genitive

of place

�p� g�! �lye�n to come from under the earth

agent

�p� t�n polem�vn �poyane�n to be killed by the enemy

cause

�p� limo� �p�leto he perished of hunger

(c) with dative

of place

� k�mh �p� t� �rei the village under (or at the foot of) the mountain

subjection

�p� Lakedaimon�oi! e�nai to be subject to the Lacedaemonians

In compounds: under (�pot�yhmi place under); behind (�pole�pv leave behind); secretly (�pop�mpv send secretly); gradually (�pokataba�nv descend by degrees).