Predicates in -на/-та

Predicates in -на and -та

Level 4Sounds Like vykazník na -na/-ta

Усё зроблена. (Everything is done.) The short form in -на or -та says what state something is in.

How It Works

The passive participle has a short form that ends in -на or -та. It does not change for case, so it is used only as a predicate, the part of the sentence that says something about the subject.

  • Neuter subject. Усё зроблена. (Everything is done.) Акно адчынена. (The window is open.)
  • No subject. Пра гэта шмат напісана. (A lot has been written about this.) Было вырашана пачакаць. (It was decided to wait.) A sign on a door says simply Зачынена (Closed).
  • Feminine subject. Крама зачынена. (The shop is closed.) Праца скончана. (The work is finished.)
  • Masculine or plural subject. Use the long form, which already ends in -ы or -ыя: Ліст напісаны. (The letter is written.) Вокны адчыненыя. (The windows are open.)

Time. In the present there is no linking verb, as in sentences without is. For the past and future add было or будзе, which agree with the subject or stay neuter when there is none: Усё было зроблена. Крама была зачынена. Усё будзе зроблена заўтра.

Who did it. Name the doer in the instrumental: Гэта было зроблена намі. (This was done by us.) See the agent in the instrumental.

Because the short form never changes for case, it cannot stand before a noun. Before a noun, use the long form: зробленая праца, not зроблена праца.

Examples (6)

  1. Усё зроблена.

    Everything is done.

    Word by Word: All done.

  2. Крама сёння зачынена.

    The shop is closed today.

    Word by Word: Shop today closed.

  3. Пра гэта шмат напісана.

    A lot has been written about this.

    Word by Word: About this much written.

    There is no subject, so the -на form stands alone.

  4. Было вырашана пачакаць да вясны.

    It was decided to wait until spring.

    Word by Word: Was decided to-wait until spring.

  5. Ліст ужо напісаны.

    The letter has already been written.

    Word by Word: Letter already written.

    Ліст is masculine, so the long form напісаны is used.

  6. Усе вокны былі адчыненыя.

    All the windows were open.

    Word by Word: All windows were opened.

    A plural subject takes the long form.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the masculine form with a neuter subject.

    Усё зроблены.
    Усё зроблена.

    Усё is neuter, so the predicate is the neuter short form зроблена.

  • Using the masculine form with a feminine subject.

    Праца скончаны.
    Праца скончана.

    Праца is feminine. Use the short form скончана, or the long feminine form скончаная.

  • Putting the short form before a noun.

    Я задаволены зроблена работай.
    Я задаволены зробленай работай.

    The short form does not change for case. Before a noun, use the long form with the case ending: зробленай работай.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Predicates in -на/-таLevel 4Predicates in -на and -та

Learn This First

Predicates in -на need participles and past быць.