Definite Participles

Level 5

Participles that decline can take the definite ending, just like adjectives: minētais likums (the law mentioned), vakar nopirktā maize (the bread bought yesterday).

How It Works

1. The endings. They follow definite adjective -ais -ā:

  • -ts: minēts → minētais, minētā
  • -ošs: strādājošs → strādājošais, strādājošā
  • -ams: dzerams → dzeramais, dzeramā
  • -is: pagājis → pagājušais, pagājusī; bijis → bijušais, bijusī

They decline like definite adjectives too: minētajā likumā (in the law mentioned), ar dzeramo ūdeni (with drinking water). See definite adjective case forms.

2. Singling something out. The definite form says 'the one that was ...': Kur ir vakar nopirktā maize? (Where is the bread we bought yesterday?) The indefinite form just describes: svaigi cepta maize (freshly baked bread).

3. After determiners. After šis, tas, possessives and genitive owners, the participle is usually definite, like an adjective: šis minētais likums, mana mīļotā grāmata. See definite adjectives after determiners. A genitive doer, as in tēva celta māja (a house built by father), does not require the definite form; see genitive agent with participles.

4. As nouns. A definite participle can stand alone for people or things: strādājošie (working people), ievainotie (the injured), mīļotā (darling, to a woman). This works like adjectives as nouns.

5. Words you already know. nākamais and pagājušais and bijušais are definite participles used every day.

Examples (5)

  1. Minētais likums stājās spēkā janvārī.

    The law mentioned came into force in January.

    Word by Word: Mentioned law stood in force in-January.

  2. Kur ir vakar nopirktā maize?

    Where is the bread we bought yesterday?

    Word by Word: Where is yesterday bought bread?

  3. Visi strādājošie maksā nodokļus.

    All working people pay taxes.

    Word by Word: All working-ones pay taxes.

    Strādājošie stands alone as a noun.

  4. Ievainotie tika nogādāti slimnīcā.

    The injured were taken to hospital.

    Word by Word: Injured-ones got taken in-hospital.

  5. Dzeramo ūdeni var ņemt no krāna.

    You can take drinking water from the tap.

    Word by Word: Drinking water can take from tap.

    Dzeramo is the definite accusative, because ūdeni is the object.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the indefinite form after a demonstrative.

    šis minēts likums
    šis minētais likums

    After šis or tas the participle is usually definite, just like an adjective.

  • Using the indefinite form when the participle stands alone as a noun.

    Visi strādājoši maksā nodokļus.
    Visi strādājošie maksā nodokļus.

    A participle used as a noun takes the definite ending: strādājošie.

  • Forgetting that the past active participle changes its stem.

    pagājisais gads
    pagājušais gads

    The -is participle builds its other forms on -uš-: pagājis → pagājušais, pagājusī.

How It Connects

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Definite ParticiplesLevel 5

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Participles can take definite endings.

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