бивш/настоящ/бъдещ
Old Participles Used as Adjectives
Put бивш (former), настоящ (current) or бъдещ (future) before a noun: бившият министър (the former minister), настоящият собственик (the current owner), бъдещите учители (future teachers).
How It Works
1. Forms.
- бивш, бивша, бивше, бивши; with the article бившият/бившия, бившата, бившето, бившите
- настоящ, настояща, настоящо, настоящи; with the article настоящият/настоящия, настоящата, настоящото, настоящите
- бъдещ, бъдеща, бъдещо, бъдещи; with the article бъдещият/бъдещия, бъдещата, бъдещото, бъдещите
Note the neuter бивше, but настоящо and бъдещо.
2. Meanings.
- бивш: former. бивш президент, бившата ми колежка (my former colleague). In casual speech бившият ми / бившата ми alone means my ex.
- настоящ: current, present. настоящият адрес (the current address). In official texts it means this document: настоящото писмо (this letter), настоящият договор (this contract).
- бъдещ: future. бъдещ лекар (a future doctor), бъдещата ми съпруга (my future wife).
3. Article and position. As with any adjective, the article goes on the first word of the phrase (член на първата дума), and a masculine subject takes the full article -ят (пълен и кратък член): Бившият министър даде интервю.
4. The nouns. настояще (the present) and бъдеще (the future) are nouns: в бъдеще (in the future), Мисля за бъдещето. (I think about the future.)
5. Similar adjectives. сегашен (present), предишен (previous), някогашен (of old), следващ (next).
Examples (6)
- Бившият министър даде интервю.
The former minister gave an interview.
- Настоящият собственик не живее тук.
The current owner doesn't live here.
- Запознах се с бъдещите си колеги.
I met my future colleagues.
- Бившата ми колежка вече работи в чужбина.
My former colleague now works abroad.
- С настоящото писмо Ви уведомяваме, че договорът е прекратен.
With this letter we inform you that the contract has been terminated.
In official texts настоящ means "this present document".
- Тя е бъдеща лекарка.
She is a future doctor.
Common Mistakes
Using the short article on a masculine subject.
Бившия министър даде интервю.Бившият министър даде интервю.A masculine noun phrase that is the subject takes the full article -ят on its first word.
Putting the article on the noun instead of the adjective.
Бивш министърът даде интервю.Бившият министър даде интервю.The article goes on the first word of the phrase, which here is the adjective бивш.
Using the adjective бъдещ where the noun is needed.
Мисля за бъдещ.Мисля за бъдещето.Бъдещ is an adjective and needs a noun after it. "The future" is the noun бъдещето.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Бивш/настоящ/бъдещ follow participles as adjectives.
Related Patterns
- Adjective Agreement
These words agree with the noun like any adjective.
Level 1 - The Article on the First Word
The article attaches to the adjective, the first word of the phrase.
Level 2 - бъдаThe Verb Бъда
Бъдещ comes from an old participle of бъда.
Level 3 - -л Participles as AdjectivesЛ-Participles Used as Adjectives
Another group of participles used as adjectives.
Level 5 - Present Active Participle in -щThe Present Active Participle
The productive -щ participle, the same type that бъдещ and настоящ come from.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice бивш/настоящ/бъдещ in Bubblegum
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