Present Passive Participle -ams / -āms
Participles Like Lasāms
A participle in -ams (sometimes -āms) describes something that can or should be done to a thing: dzerams ūdens (drinkable water), lasāma grāmata (a readable book).
How It Works
1. Forming it. Take the es form of the present, drop the ending, and add -ams. Some third-conjugation verbs, such as lasīt and rakstīt, take -āms:
- dzert → dzeru → dzerams
- ēst → ēdu → ēdams
- redzēt → redzu → redzams
- darīt → daru → darāms
- lasīt → lasu → lasāms
2. It agrees like an adjective. redzams, redzama, redzami, redzamas; ēdamas sēnes; ar redzamu prieku (with visible joy).
3. Three main meanings.
- Can be done: Vai šis ūdens ir dzerams? (Is this water drinkable?) No kalna bija redzama jūra. (The sea could be seen from the hill.)
- Has to be done: Mums bija daudz darāmu darbu. (We had a lot of work to do.)
- Meant for: with the definite ending, it names what a thing is for: dzeramais ūdens (drinking water).
4. Everyday words. Many are ordinary adjectives now: zināms (known, certain), domājams (presumably), gaidāms (expected). Nākamais (next) is one of these participles too.
5. With ne-. Ne- + -ams often means 'cannot be': neticams (unbelievable). See ne- + -ams. A dative can name who is able to see or understand: Tas man nav saprotams (see dative + -ams participle).
Examples (6)
- Šī grāmata ir viegli lasāma.
This book is easy to read.
Word by Word: This book is easily readable.
- Vai šis ūdens ir dzerams?
Is this water drinkable?
Word by Word: Q this water is drinkable?
- Mežā aug arī ēdamas sēnes.
Edible mushrooms also grow in the forest.
Word by Word: In-forest grow also edible mushrooms.
- No kalna bija redzama jūra.
The sea could be seen from the hill.
Word by Word: From hill was visible sea.
Redzama agrees with jūra, which is feminine.
- Mums bija ļoti daudz darāmu darbu.
We had a great deal of work to do.
Word by Word: To-us was very much to-be-done works.
Here -ams means 'has to be done'.
- Dzeramais ūdens ir virtuvē.
The drinking water is in the kitchen.
Word by Word: Drinking water is in-kitchen.
With the definite ending, dzeramais names what the water is for.
Common Mistakes
Not making the participle agree with its noun.
No kalna bija redzams jūra.No kalna bija redzama jūra.Jūra is feminine, so the participle takes -a: redzama.
Using the active -ošs form where the thing is acted on.
Šī ir viegli lasoša grāmata.Šī ir viegli lasāma grāmata.Lasošs means 'reading', so a lasoša grāmata would be a book that reads. A book that is read needs lasāma.
Writing -ams where the verb takes -āms.
Teksts ir labi lasams.Teksts ir labi lasāms.Lasīt belongs to the group that takes -āms: lasāms, rakstāms.
How It Connects
Learn This First
-ams makes present passive participles.
Related Patterns
- ne- + -amsUnbelievable and Inevitable
With ne-, the -ams participle often means 'cannot be': neticams, neredzams.
Level 5 - Dative + -ams ParticipleClear to Me: Dative with -ams
A dative person with -ams says who can see or understand something.
Level 6 - Definite Participles
Definite -amais forms name a purpose or stand as nouns: dzeramais ūdens.
Level 5 - nākamais / pagājušaisNext Week and Last Year
Nākamais (next) is the definite -ams participle of nākt.
Level 3 - -ts / -ta Participles as AdjectivesParticiples Like Atvērts
The -ts participle is the passive of a finished action: lasīts (read).
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Present Passive Participle -ams / -āms in Bubblegum
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