Fetch errands vs purpose · Po zadatak i za svrhu
po + accusative here means go and get someone or something — a round trip with that purpose: picking up a person, buying milk because someone sent you, running to fetch the neighbor.
po + akuzativ — doći / ići po nekoga ili nešto: podrazumeva odlazak i vraćanje sa onim što si išao da uzmeš ili dovedeš.
za + accusative is wider: for someone or something (poklon za sestru), going for a goal (idem za hleb — in search of bread in general), in a span of time (za jedan sat), fighting for (boriti se za bolji život), or motion behind / past (sunce zađe za brdo, sakrij se za vrata).
za + akuzativ — za koga / šta (namena), cilj ili pravac, vreme do završetka, borba za…, kretanje iza prepreke.
Key contrast · Ključni kontrast: Idem za hleb. (going for bread — general aim / direction of errand) vs Idem po hleb. (going to fetch bread — concrete errand, you’re coming back with it). Native speakers feel this difference; exposure beats over-explaining.
| Okvir · Frame (SR · EN) | Primer · Example (SR + listen · EN) |
|---|---|
| za + akuzativ — za nekoga / nešto (namena) for someone / something (intended recipient) |
Ovo je za tebe.
This is for you.
|
| za + akuzativ — poklon, poruka… gift / message for someone |
Kupila sam poklon za sestru.
I bought a gift for my sister.
|
| za + akuzativ — ići za cilj / hranu going for a goal or basic “for bread” |
Idem za hleb.
I’m going for bread (general aim — not necessarily “fetch and return” wording).
|
| za + akuzativ — borba za… fighting for (a cause) |
Borimo se za bolji život.
We’re fighting for a better life.
|
| za + akuzativ — vreme (za koliko) in / within (a time span) |
Uradiću to za jedan sat.
I’ll do that in one hour.
|
| za + akuzativ — kretanje iza / iza horizont motion behind / past something |
Sunce zađe za brdo.
The sun sets behind the hill.
|
| za + akuzativ — sakriti se za… hide behind |
Sakrij se za vrata.
Hide behind the door.
|
| po + akuzativ — po nekoga / nešto (doći po) come / go to fetch (person or thing) |
Došao sam po tebe.
I came to pick you up.
|
| po + akuzativ — poslati / ići po lekara, mleko… sent / go for doctor, milk, etc. |
Idem po lekara. Poslala me je po mleko.
I’m going to get the doctor. She sent me for milk.
|
| za + akuzativ — pismo za nekoga letter for someone |
Ovo pismo je za njega.
This letter is for him.
|
| za + akuzativ — završiti za (vreme) finish in (a time span) |
Završiću za dva dana.
I’ll finish in two days.
|
| za + instrumental posao — otići za poslom leave on business / for work (fixed phrase) |
Otišla je za poslom u Beograd.
She went to Belgrade on business.
|
| po + akuzativ — idi po nju / njega go get her / him (imperative) |
Idi po nju!
Go get her!
|
| po + poziv — pozvati po hitnom pozivu call / send for on urgent summons |
Pozvali su ga po hitnom pozivu.
They called him on an urgent summons.
|
Contrast reminder: Idem za hleb vs Idem po hleb — same noun, different job: general “going for bread” vs a concrete fetch-and-return errand.
Choose po or za + accusative (three choices per item). Use context: fetch errand vs purpose, time, or behind.
Izaberi po ili za — kontekst određuje: po zadatak, za namenu / cilj / vreme / iza.
Same task — especially watch for za hleb vs po hleb style contrasts.
Isti zadatak — obrati pažnju na fine razlike (za cilj vs po zadatak).
Same task — these lines match the extra examples you just saw in the table (letter for someone, time span, business trip, imperative fetch, urgent summons).
Isti zadatak — rečenice odgovaraju dodatnim primerima u tabeli iznad.