Expressing Time by Cases

14 November 2013 by Pigmalijonas

Level: A2
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Expressing time through the accusative and instrumental case.

As you know, there is a number of ways to express time in Lithuanian.

One way, as you remember, is through the prepositions prieš, po and per (see lesson).

Another way is to use temporal adverbs like visada (always) and kartais (sometimes).

In this lesson we will learn to express time through cases.

For this you must take a time designating noun like diena (day) or kartas (a time). If this noun is singular, you must use it in the accusative case:

kartą
dieną

Vieną dieną einu į mokyklą. One day I go to school.
Gyvename tik vieną kartą. We live only one time (once).

If this noun is plural, you must use it in the instrumental case:

kartais (sometimes)
dienomis
pirmadieniais (on Mondays)

Kartais gyvenu Latvijoje. Sometimes I live in Latvia.
Šiomis dienomis esu Lietuvoje. These days I am in Lithuania.
Pirmadieniais einu į mokyklą. On Mondays I go to school.
Kur esi penktadieniais? Where are you on Fridays?

Antradienį turiu eiti į universitetą. On Tuesday I have to go to the university.
Šią savaitę rašau knygą. This week I am writing a book.
Tą dieną visada skaitau. On that day I always read.

Šiomis dienomis aš skaitau knygas. These days I am reading books.
Tomis savaitėmis mano tėvas perka laikrodžius. Those weeks my father is buying clocks.
Trečiadieniais mes skambiname tėvui. On Wednesdays we call our father.

However, if you want to indicate continuous duration with plural nouns, you must use the accusative case:

Devynias savaites važiuoju autobusu. For nine weeks I am going by bus.
Latvijoje aš buvau penkis kartus. I have been in Latvia for five times.
Gyvenu Lietuvoje savaitę. I live in Lithuania for a week.

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