Adverbial Participle in -йки

The Adverbial Participle

Level 4Sounds Like deepričastie

Четейки means while reading, гледайки means while watching. The form never changes and refers to the same person as the main verb: Тя пееше, работейки. (She sang as she worked.)

How It Works

1. Forming it. Start from the imperfect, third person singular. Drop -ше and add -йки:

  • First and second conjugation verbs always have е before -йки: чета → четеше → четейки, пиша → пишейки, говоря → говорейки, нося → носейки.
  • Third conjugation verbs keep а or я: гледам → гледайки, чакам → чакайки, стрелям → стреляйки.
  • Reflexive verbs keep се or си after the participle: усмихвайки се (smiling).

2. Only imperfective verbs. The form describes an action in progress, so there is казвайки (saying) but no кажейки. Secondary imperfectives work too: Подписвайки договора, той се усмихна. (Signing the contract, he smiled.) See aspect.

3. Same subject. The participle always refers to the subject of the main verb: Разхождайки се в парка, срещнах стар приятел. (While walking in the park, I met an old friend.) I was the one walking. If someone else does the action, use a clause: Докато той четеше, аз готвех. (While he was reading, I was cooking.)

4. Meaning. Most often it means while, but it can also show how something is done: Научих английски, гледайки филми. (I learned English by watching films.) With не, written as a separate word, it often gives a reason: Не знаейки адреса, решихме да попитаме. (Not knowing the address, we decided to ask.)

5. Style and commas. The adverbial participle belongs mainly to written and formal language. In conversation, докато or като + verb sounds more natural: Докато четях, заспах. (I fell asleep while reading.) In writing, set the participle and its phrase off with commas: Мария, пеейки, готвеше вечеря. (Maria was cooking dinner, singing.)

Examples (6)

  1. Тя пееше, работейки.

    She sang as she worked.

  2. Научих английски, гледайки филми.

    I learned English by watching films.

    Here the participle shows the means: by watching.

  3. Той влезе в стаята, усмихвайки се.

    He came into the room smiling.

    The reflexive се stays after the participle.

  4. Не знаейки адреса, решихме да попитаме.

    Not knowing the address, we decided to ask.

    Не is written separately and the phrase gives a reason.

  5. Разхождайки се в парка, срещнах стар приятел.

    While walking in the park, I met an old friend.

  6. Четейки книгата, водех бележки.

    While reading the book, I took notes.

Common Mistakes

  • Forming it from a perfective verb.

    Кажейки това, той излезе.
    Казвайки това, той излезе.

    Only imperfective verbs have an adverbial participle. Use the imperfective казвам to get казвайки.

  • Giving the participle a different subject from the main verb.

    Четейки книгата, телефонът звънна.
    Докато четях книгата, телефонът звънна.

    The participle always belongs to the subject of the main verb, and the phone was not reading. When the subjects differ, use a докато clause.

  • Keeping я before -йки in a second conjugation verb.

    Говоряйки по телефона, той караше бавно.
    Говорейки по телефона, той караше бавно.

    First and second conjugation verbs always have е before -йки: говорейки, носейки, четейки.

How It Connects

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Adverbial Participle in -йкиLevel 4The Adverbial Participle

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The adverbial participle needs aspect.

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