па меры таго як
As with Па Меры Таго Як
Па меры таго як means as or in step with: Па меры таго як мы ішлі, станавілася цямней. (As we walked on, it grew darker.)
How It Works
Па меры таго як is a compound conjunction. It says that one process develops together with another: the more the first goes on, the more the second changes. Па меры таго як набліжалася восень, дні рабіліся карацейшымі. (As autumn approached, the days grew shorter.)
Verbs. Because both parts describe gradual change, the verbs are usually imperfective: ішлі, станавілася, растуць. For one sudden event, use як толькі or калі instead.
Commas. The 2008 rules say:
- If the clause comes first, the conjunction usually stays whole and the comma goes after the clause: Па меры таго як мы ішлі, станавілася цямней. To stress па меры таго, the rules also allow a comma before як: Па меры таго, як…
- If it comes after the main clause, the comma usually goes before the whole conjunction: Горад мяняўся, па меры таго як будаваліся новыя кварталы. The rules also allow a comma before як when you want to stress the first part.
Па меры + genitive. Without таго як, па меры works as a preposition with the genitive: па меры патрэбы (as needed), па меры магчымасці (as far as possible).
For the more … the more, compare чым …, тым …, which puts the same idea into two comparatives.
Examples (6)
- Па меры таго як мы ішлі, станавілася цямней.
As we walked on, it grew darker.
Word by Word: By measure of-that as we walked, became darker.
- Па меры таго як дзеці растуць, у іх з'яўляюцца новыя інтарэсы.
As children grow, they develop new interests.
Word by Word: By measure of-that as children grow, at them appear new interests.
- Па меры таго як набліжалася восень, дні рабіліся карацейшымі.
As autumn approached, the days grew shorter.
Word by Word: By measure of-that as approached autumn, days became shorter.
- Горад мяняўся, па меры таго як будаваліся новыя кварталы.
The city changed as new neighborhoods were built.
Word by Word: City changed, by measure of-that as were-built new neighborhoods.
- Па меры таго як я вывучаў беларускую мову, мне было ўсё лягчэй чытаць.
As I studied Belarusian, reading became easier and easier.
Word by Word: By measure of-that as I studied Belarusian language, to-me was all easier to-read.
- Кнігі мы будзем купляць па меры патрэбы.
We will buy books as needed.
Word by Word: Books we will buy by measure of-need.
Common Mistakes
Using па меры таго як for one sudden event.
Па меры таго як я прыйшоў дадому, пачаўся дождж.Як толькі я прыйшоў дадому, пачаўся дождж.The intended meaning is as soon as I got home. Па меры таго як links two gradual processes, so a single moment needs як толькі or калі.
Leaving out the comma between the two clauses.
Па меры таго як мы ішлі станавілася цямней.Па меры таго як мы ішлі, станавілася цямней.A comma must separate the па меры таго як clause from the main clause. When the clause comes first, the comma goes right after it.
Using the nominative after the preposition па меры.
Мы дапаможам па меры магчымасць.Мы дапаможам па меры магчымасці.Па меры before a noun takes the genitive: магчымасці, патрэбы, сіл.
How It Connects
Learn This First
As needs time clauses and the more ... the more.
Related Patterns
- пакульWhile and Until with Пакуль
Пакуль means while or until; па меры таго як stresses gradual, parallel change.
Level 3 - як толькіAs Soon as with Як Толькі
Як толькі is for one event that follows right after another.
Level 4 - пасля таго якAfter with Пасля Таго Як
Another compound conjunction with the same comma rules.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
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