Long Participial Phrases

Level 5

Where English says the school built last year, Latvian can put the whole phrase before the noun: pagājušajā gadā uzceltā skola. The participle comes last, right before the noun.

How It Works

1. The order. the participle's own words + participle + noun:

  • pagājušajā gadā uzceltā skola (the school built last year)
  • pie loga sēdošā meitene (the girl sitting by the window)
  • vakar no Rīgas atbraukušie viesi (the guests who arrived from Riga yesterday)
  • mūsu skolotājas ieteiktā grāmata (the book our teacher recommended)

2. Endings. The participle agrees with the noun in gender, number and case. When the phrase picks out a particular thing, it is usually definite: uzceltā, sēdošā, atbraukušie (see definite participles).

3. No commas. A phrase before the noun is not set off by commas: Uz galda stāvošā vāze ir ļoti veca.

4. The everyday alternative. Speech usually uses a relative clause after the noun, with a comma: skola, kas tika uzcelta pagājušajā gadā; meitene, kas sēž pie loga (see relative kas and relative kurš kura). The participial phrase is shorter and common in writing and news.

5. After the noun. A phrase can also follow the noun, but then it is set off by commas: Vēstule, rakstīta pirms simt gadiem, joprojām ir saglabājusies. (The letter, written a hundred years ago, has survived.)

Examples (5)

  1. Pagājušajā gadā uzceltā skola ir ļoti moderna.

    The school built last year is very modern.

    Word by Word: Last year built school is very modern.

  2. Pie loga sēdošā meitene ir mana māsa.

    The girl sitting by the window is my sister.

    Word by Word: At window sitting girl is my sister.

  3. Uz galda stāvošā vāze ir ļoti veca.

    The vase standing on the table is very old.

    Word by Word: On table standing vase is very old.

  4. Vakar no Rīgas atbraukušie viesi jau ir viesnīcā.

    The guests who arrived from Riga yesterday are already at the hotel.

    Word by Word: Yesterday from Riga arrived guests already are in-hotel.

  5. Mūsu skolotājas ieteiktā grāmata bija ļoti interesanta.

    The book our teacher recommended was very interesting.

    Word by Word: Our teacher's recommended book was very interesting.

    Skolotājas is a genitive agent: the book recommended by our teacher.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the participle's own words between it and the noun.

    sēdošā pie loga meitene
    pie loga sēdošā meitene

    Everything that belongs to the participle goes in front of it. The participle stands right before the noun.

  • Copying English order without commas or a relative word.

    Meitene sēdoša pie loga ir mana māsa.
    Meitene, kas sēž pie loga, ir mana māsa.

    After the noun, use a kas clause with commas, or move the phrase in front: Pie loga sēdošā meitene ir mana māsa.

  • Adding commas around a phrase that stands before the noun.

    Pie loga, sēdošā meitene, ir mana māsa.
    Pie loga sēdošā meitene ir mana māsa.

    A participial phrase before the noun is part of the noun phrase, so it takes no commas.

How It Connects

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

Long Participial PhrasesLevel 5

Learn This First

Long participial phrases go before the noun.