(no subject)

[wolfie-18.livejournal.com]

How does one decide when to use к as opposed to в/на for things that are not people? I just saw this poster that said "Детям к школе" and I was befuddled.

Comments

[solito.livejournal.com]

"к + Dat." = "для + Gen." = meant for a certain goal
Both constructions are used to reflect causality. The poster says that there are some goods that are destined to children for (use in the) school.

[ex-ex-zhuzh.livejournal.com]

That's right, but "к + Dat." is also used in the sense of "in direction of", "to the vicinity of".

[solito.livejournal.com]

I just mentioned one of the meanings, but forgot to point it out. Thank you.

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

Yes, детям к школе is a rare thing, but completely legitimate. К школе means "for the school season," in this case. It's like "готовиться к зиме" (to prepare oneself for the winter.) Or, when I was still in the high school (note that that legendary time is quite distant from us now :)))), they had that ugly poster in the Beginning the Military Training class, which said that
Готовиться к армии - обязанность каждого комсомольца
which meant "to prepare himself for the military service is mandatory for every male member of Young Communists League," though literally the first half goes like "to prepare oneself for the army" ("the army" normally substitutes for "the military service" in everyday Russian speech.)