polski · A1 · vocabulary · 4 minutes
Places in town
Locate services relative to landmarks with case-governing prepositions.
Understand the choice
Town vocabulary should form a mental map. Learn each place’s article-free Polish noun with a position phrase that exposes the required case.
Core rule: Między takes instrumental for location; naprzeciwko/obok take genitive.
Notice it in context
Apteka jest między bankiem a dworcem.
The pharmacy is between the bank and station.
Między governs instrumental bankiem and dworcem; apteka is located subject.
Supermarket jest naprzeciwko poczty.
The supermarket is opposite the post office.
Naprzeciwko takes genitive poczty.
Za muzeum zaczyna się park.
The park begins behind the museum.
Za + instrumental muzeum marks fixed location; park is subject.
What to remember
- Dworzec is a train/bus station building; stacja is a station/stop or technical station.
- Bank can also mean bank institution; ławka is bench.
Common trap: Do not leave landmark nouns in nominative after a preposition.