лічыць + Accusative + Instrumental
Considering and Calling with the Instrumental
Say who in the accusative and what they are in the instrumental: Я лічу яго сябрам. (I consider him a friend.) Яе абралі старастай. (They chose her as class head.)
How It Works
Some verbs link an object to a description or a new role. The object is in the accusative, and the description is in the instrumental, with no preposition:
- лічыць (to consider): Я лічу яго сваім сябрам.
- называць / назваць (to call): Усе называлі яго героем.
- абіраць / абраць, выбіраць / выбраць (to elect, to choose as): Яе абралі старастай класа.
- прызначаць / прызначыць (to appoint): Яго прызначылі дырэктарам.
- рабіць / зрабіць (to make someone something): Гэтая роля зрабіла яе вядомай.
The description can be a noun or an adjective. Both take the instrumental: лічу гэта памылкай (I consider it a mistake), лічу яго разумным (I consider him clever). Use the regular instrumental singular endings. A masculine noun in -а such as стараста takes -ай: старастай (masculine nouns in -а).
Лічыцца (to be considered) has no object. The subject is nominative and the description stays instrumental: Полацк лічыцца самым старажытным горадам Беларусі.
This is the same instrumental you use after быць, стаць, працаваць (instrumental for roles). In set phrases, лічыць can also take за + accusative: лічу за гонар (I consider it an honour). For opinions about a whole situation, use a clause: Я лічу, што ён мае рацыю.
Examples (6)
- Я лічу яго сваім сябрам.
I consider him my friend.
Word by Word: I consider him own friend.
- Яе абралі старастай класа.
They chose her as class head.
Word by Word: Her chose class-head of-class.
Стараста is a masculine noun in -а; its instrumental is старастай.
- Усе называлі яго героем.
Everyone called him a hero.
Word by Word: All called him hero.
- Яго прызначылі дырэктарам школы.
He was appointed director of the school.
Word by Word: Him appointed director of-school.
- Я лічу гэта вялікай памылкай.
I consider this a big mistake.
Word by Word: I consider this big mistake.
The adjective вялікай is instrumental too.
- Полацк лічыцца самым старажытным горадам Беларусі.
Polatsk is considered the oldest town in Belarus.
Word by Word: Polatsk is-considered most ancient town of-Belarus.
Common Mistakes
Leaving the description in the nominative.
Я лічу яго сябар.Я лічу яго сябрам.After лічыць the description is instrumental: сябар becomes сябрам.
Putting the role in the accusative, like the object.
Яе абралі старасту.Яе абралі старастай.Only the person (яе) is accusative. The role she was chosen for is instrumental: старастай.
Leaving a describing adjective in the nominative.
Я лічу яго разумны.Я лічу яго разумным.An adjective in the description is instrumental as well: разумным.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Considering needs the instrumental of roles.
Related Patterns
- Instrumental Singular Endings
The endings the description takes.
Level 2 - Masculine Nouns in -аMasculine Nouns Ending in -а
Why стараста has the instrumental старастай.
Level 3 - Verbs Taking the Instrumental
Other verbs whose object is instrumental.
Level 3 - з'яўляцца + InstrumentalFormal Linking Verb З'яўляцца
The formal linking verb з'яўляцца also takes the instrumental.
Level 5 - Animate Accusative
Why the person object has the form яго or сябра.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice лічыць + Accusative + Instrumental in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Belarusian lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
