Dash between Two Nouns
In the present tense, is is left out. When both sides are nouns, a dash marks the gap: Мінск — сталіца Беларусі (Minsk is the capital of Belarus).
How It Works
1. Why the dash appears. Belarusian drops the present tense of быць (see leaving out is). When the subject and the predicate are both nouns in the nominative, a dash shows where the verb would be:
- Мінск — сталіца Беларусі. (Minsk is the capital of Belarus.)
- Мой брат — урач. (My brother is a doctor.)
- Кніга — найлепшы падарунак. (A book is the best gift.)
2. Numbers, infinitives and гэта. The dash is also used between numbers (Два і тры — пяць) and with infinitives (Чытаць — мой любімы занятак). If гэта or вось comes before the predicate, the dash goes in front of it: Мінск — гэта сталіца Беларусі.
3. No dash in these cases.
- The subject is a personal pronoun: Я студэнт. Ён урач.
- Не comes before the predicate: Мой брат не ўрач.
- An adverb, particle or parenthetical word stands between the two: Мой брат таксама ўрач.
- The predicate is an adjective: Дзень цёплы.
- There is a verb: Мой брат працуе ўрачом. Мой брат быў урачом.
In literary writing a dash is sometimes added in these cases to stress the predicate. As a learner, follow the basic rule.
4. Spelling tip. The dash is a pause, so a word starting with у after it keeps у: Мая сястра — урач. Without a pause after a vowel, у becomes ў: Яна не ўрач.
Examples (6)
- Мінск — сталіца Беларусі.
Minsk is the capital of Belarus.
Both Мінск and сталіца are nouns in the nominative.
- Мой брат — урач.
My brother is a doctor.
- Кніга — найлепшы падарунак.
A book is the best gift.
- Два і тры — пяць.
Two and three is five.
The dash is also used between numbers.
- Я студэнт, а мая сястра — урач.
I'm a student, and my sister is a doctor.
No dash after the pronoun я, but a dash after the noun сястра.
- Мой брат таксама ўрач.
My brother is a doctor too.
No dash, because таксама stands between the subject and the predicate.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the dash between two nouns.
Мінск сталіца Беларусі.Мінск — сталіца Беларусі.When there is no verb between two nouns in the nominative, the dash is required.
Writing a dash when the sentence has a verb.
Мой брат — працуе ў бальніцы.Мой брат працуе ў бальніцы.The dash only replaces a missing verb. Here працуе is the verb, so no dash is written.
Putting the dash after гэта instead of before it.
Мінск гэта — сталіца Беларусі.Мінск — гэта сталіца Беларусі.When гэта introduces the predicate, the dash goes before гэта.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The dash marks the zero copula.
Related Patterns
- Leaving Out Is in the Present
The dash marks the place of the missing present-tense verb.
Level 1 - Nominative for the Subject
Both sides of the dash are in the nominative.
Level 1 - гэта не + NounNegative Identification with Гэта Не
Negated sentences normally have no dash.
Level 1 - працаваць / быць / стаць + InstrumentalInstrumental for Roles and Jobs
With a verb such as быў or працуе, the noun goes into the instrumental and there is no dash.
Level 2 - у / ў after a VowelУ Becomes Ў After a Vowel
A dash is a pause, so у after it does not become ў.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Dash between Two Nouns in Bubblegum
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