Thread: "в" vs. "к"

What is the difference between the two, and what could they both mean in given situations?

I have seen "в" mean "in, at, by" (at least I think)

Are there any specific rules governing the use of one or the other?

Thanks,
-Fantom

B + acc. means into, to the interior
K + dat. means towards

B is used for places you are going into.

Use K for people because if you use B it means you are going inside them

B + prep. means inside
У + gen. means by

Я иду в библиотеку - I am going to the libray [accus.]
Я иду к библиотеке - I am going towards the library (but I am not necesarily going in) [dative]
Я иду к подруге - I am going to my girlfriend's place [dative]
Я иду в подругу - I am going inside my girlfriend (oo-er). [accus/.]
So be careful.

У Владимира means - At Vladimir's place [gen.]
К Владимиру means - To Vladimir's place [dative]

So you can pair the words up:

---------- Motion towards --- No motion
Interior ----- В + acc. ---------- В + prep.
Exterior -----На + acc. --------- На + prep.
Near -------- К + dat. ----------- У + gen.


Here's how you use the table:
Motion towards interior = into = В + accusative - Я иду в город (I am walking into the city)
Motion towards exterior = onto = На + accusative - Я иду на улицу (I am walking on to the street)
Motion towards near = towards = К + dative - Я иду к Ивану - (I am walking to Ivan's place.)

No motion interior = in = В + prepositional - Я был в машине (I was in the car)
No motion exterior = on = На + prepositional - Я был на библиотеке (I was on the library [on the roof])
No motion near = by = У + gen. - Давай встретимся у входа метро (Let's meet by the entrance of the Metro station)


So just remember, if you want to say you are at someone's places, or going to someone's place. Don't В cos that will mean you are either going inside then, or you are inside them. Don't use На because that means you are either getting on top of them, or you are on them.
Use У + gen. for at, and К + dat. for going,

В Катю - Into Katya [accusative]
В Кате - In Katya [prepositional]
На Катю - Onto Katya [accusative]
На Кате - On Katya [prepositional]
У Кати - (By Katya) At Katya's place [genitive]
К Кате - (Towards Katya) Towards Katya's place [dative]

Motion towards interior = into = В + accusative - Я хожу в городе (I went into the city)

Я хожу в город.

Originally Posted by saibot

Motion towards interior = into = В + accusative - Я хожу в городе (I am going into the city)

Я хожу в город.

I just realised I said "I went" instead of "I am going"

Thanks, Taty, that helps a lot!
-Fantom

Originally Posted by TATY

Я хожу в библиотеку - I am going to the libray [accus.]
Я хожу к библиотеке - I am going towards the library (but I am not necesarily going in) [dative]
Я хожу к подруге - I am going to my girlfriend's place [dative]
Я хожу в подругу - I am going inside my girlfriend (oo-er). [accus/.]

I think your translation is incorrect.

Я иду в библиотеку - I am going to the library (now)
Я хожу в библиотеку - I go to the library (many times)
Same for the rest of 'em

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

Originally Posted by TATY

Я хожу в библиотеку - I am going to the libray [accus.]
Я хожу к библиотеке - I am going towards the library (but I am not necesarily going in) [dative]
Я хожу к подруге - I am going to my girlfriend's place [dative]
Я хожу в подругу - I am going inside my girlfriend (oo-er). [accus/.]

I think your translation is incorrect.

Я иду в библиотеку - I am going to the library (now)
Я хожу в библиотеку - I go to the library (many times)
Same for the rest of 'em

Yeh whatever, it's about the part after then verb we are interested in

fantom, check out this thread also.
http://masterrussian.net/mforum/viewtop ... %C2+%ED%E0

Originally Posted by TATY

В Катю - Into Katya [accusative]
В Кате - In Katya [prepositional]
На Катю - Onto Katya [accusative]
На Кате - On Katya [prepositional]

Зачот!

Originally Posted by fantom605

What is the difference between the two, and what could they both mean in given situations?

I have seen "в" mean "in, at, by" (at least I think)

Are there any specific rules governing the use of one or the other?

Thanks,
-Fantom

Use k with people. I'm going to Lena's or I'm going to the doctor.