з мэтай + Genitive
Formal Purpose with З Мэтай
Official texts give a purpose with з мэтай + genitive: Сустрэча праводзіцца з мэтай абмеркавання праекта. (The meeting is held to discuss the project.)
How It Works
З мэтай names the purpose of an action. The word after it is in the genitive: з мэтай абмеркавання (in order to discuss), з мэтай бяспекі (for safety reasons).
The genitive noun is very often a verbal noun, one made from a verb with -нне or -цце: абмеркаваць becomes абмеркаванне, genitive абмеркавання; вывучаць becomes вывучэнне, genitive вывучэння. Adjectives and further genitives can follow: з мэтай паляпшэння якасці (in order to improve quality).
Style. This is the language of reports, rules and announcements. In ordinary speech, the same idea sounds much more natural with каб and an infinitive or для таго, каб:
- Formal: Сустрэча праводзіцца з мэтай абмеркавання праекта.
- Everyday: Мы сустрэліся, каб абмеркаваць праект.
Long chains of verbal nouns after з мэтай are typical of officialese. Understand them when you read, but prefer a verb when you write to friends.
Spelling. The Belarusian preposition is always з (or са before some consonant groups), never с.
Examples (5)
- Сустрэча праводзіцца з мэтай абмеркавання праекта.
The meeting is being held to discuss the project.
Word by Word: Meeting is-held with aim of-discussion of-project.
- Праверка праводзіцца з мэтай паляпшэння якасці.
The inspection is carried out in order to improve quality.
Word by Word: Inspection is-held with aim of-improvement of-quality.
- Ён прыехаў у Мінск з мэтай вывучэння беларускай мовы.
He came to Minsk to study Belarusian.
Word by Word: He came to Minsk with aim of-study of-Belarusian language.
- З мэтай бяспекі ўваход у будынак зачынены.
For security reasons, the entrance to the building is closed.
Word by Word: With aim of-safety entrance into building closed.
- Мы сустрэліся, каб абмеркаваць праект.
We met to discuss the project.
Word by Word: We met, so-that to-discuss project.
The everyday way to say the same thing: каб with a verb.
Common Mistakes
Leaving the noun after з мэтай in the nominative.
Сустрэча праводзіцца з мэтай абмеркаванне праекта.Сустрэча праводзіцца з мэтай абмеркавання праекта.З мэтай is followed by the genitive: абмеркавання, вывучэння, бяспекі.
Writing the Russian preposition с.
Ён прыехаў у Мінск с мэтай вывучэння мовы.Ён прыехаў у Мінск з мэтай вывучэння мовы.Belarusian has no preposition с. It is always з, or са before some consonant groups.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Formal purpose needs purpose and the genitive.
Related Patterns
- каб + InfinitivePurpose with Каб
The everyday way to state a purpose with a verb.
Level 3 - Verbal Nouns in -нне/-ццеVerbal Nouns in -нне and -цце
Forms the verbal nouns that usually follow з мэтай.
Level 5 - Chains of Verbal Nouns
Shows how з мэтай starts long chains of verbal nouns in formal writing.
Level 6 - Officialese
The official style where з мэтай is most at home.
Level 6
Words in This Pattern
Practice з мэтай + Genitive in Bubblegum
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