In the Serbian language, one can express location using the verbs that require nouns in different cases.
The dative and locative case have the same form, but whereas the dative case needs a verb which  denotes movement and direction, the locative case requires a stative verb or verbs expressing who we are talking about 
Dative: 
Sg. Fem. Kreni prema kući. Prilazim crkvi. (krenuti prema = leave for, prilaziti = approach)
Sg. Masc. Idi ka Beogradu. Kreni prema muzeju. (ići prema, krenuti prema)
Sg. Neuter. Idi ka selu. Krećemo se ka jezeru.  (ići ka, kretati ka = "ka" is the same as "prema")
Plural: Prilazimo + kućama, crkvama, jezerima, selima, muzejima
Locative: 
Sg. Fem. Sedim u kući. Ja sam u crkvi. (sedeti u = sit in )
Sg. Masc. On priča o Briselu. (pričati = to talk)
Sg. Neuter. Nalazim se u selu. (nalaziti se  = to be in/at)
Plural: Pričam o + kućama, crkvama, oblacima, dvorištima, selima (I'm talking about houses, churches, clouds, gardens and villages)

The accusative case is also used with the verbs that denote movement, but it denotes the aim  or goal, as can be seen in the following examples:
Accusative: (an excellent explanation with different forms)
Sg. Fem. Idem u Budimpeštu. Ptica sleće na granu. (ići u = go to, sleteti=land)
Sg. Masc. Izađi pred muzej.  Avion sleće na aerodrom. (izađi pred = come to, sleteti)
Sg. Neuter. Izađi u dvorište. Stigli smo na selo. (stići = arrive)
Pl. Fem: Ptice sleću na grane. 
Pl. Masc. Izađi pred muzeje.
Pl. Neuter. Reka teče kroz sela. 

Goal, direction or place: choose the path

Three cases answer three different spatial ideas. Accusative marks a destination reached or entered: idem u muzej. Dative with ka or prema marks direction towards something: idem ka muzeju. Locative describes a position or topic: nalazim se u muzeju; pričam o muzeju.

The choice is not simply “movement equals one case.” Ask whether the noun names the goal, the direction or the static setting. A plane landing na aerodrom uses accusative because the airport is its endpoint; a traveller walking prema aerodromu uses dative because only the direction is stated.

Why the same noun wears three endings

Compare škola: idem prema školi (towards school), idem u školu (into/to school), sedim u školi (in school). The preposition alone is not enough: u may take accusative for a destination or locative for a position.

Masculine and neuter nouns make the contrast visible too: ka gradu—u grad—u gradu; ka selu—u selo—u selu. Practise such triplets as miniature routes. First point towards a place, then arrive, then stay there.

Five journeys stop in different cases

LatinicaЋирилицаEnglish
Turisti ulaze u tvrđavu čim se kapija otvori.Туристи улазе у тврђаву чим се капија отвори.The tourists enter the fortress as soon as the gate opens.
Biciklista se polako kreće prema mostu.Бициклиста се полако креће према мосту.The cyclist is moving slowly towards the bridge.
Vodič govori o starom manastiru.Водич говори о старом манастиру.The guide is talking about the old monastery.
Čamac pristaje uz obalu malog ostrva.Чамац пристаје уз обалу малог острва.The boat is docking beside the shore of a small island.
Posle puta odmaramo se u tihom dvorištu.После пута одмарамо се у тихом дворишту.After the journey, we rest in a quiet courtyard.

Walk the sentence on a paper map

Draw a dot, an arrow and a box. Place locative sentences on the dot, dative-direction sentences along the arrow and accusative destinations inside the box. Then replace each place while preserving the case logic.

  1. Complete: Idemo prema ______. (jezero)
  2. Complete: Ulazimo u ______. (škola)
  3. Complete: Sedimo u ______. (park)
  4. Which idea does accusative express here?
  5. Write in Cyrillic: Pričamo o Beogradu.

Where every traveller finally belongs

  1. jezeru
  2. školu
  3. parku
  4. The destination or goal of movement.
  5. Причамо о Београду.

Walk one noun through direction, destination and location until its three endings feel like stages of the same journey.
Marina Petrović