Definite Participles
A participle can take a definite ending, just like gerasis: vadinamas → vadinamasis, minėta → minėtoji. It points to one specific thing: vadinamasis šaltasis karas (the so-called Cold War).
How It Works
1. How they are built. Take the ordinary participle and add the definite ending:
- present passive: vadinamas → vadinamasis, vadinamoji; geriamas → geriamasis vanduo (drinking water)
- past passive: minėtas → minėtasis, minėtoji
- from būti: būsimas → būsimasis, būsimoji (future, to be)
- present active: dirbantis → dirbantysis, dirbančioji
- past active: praėjęs → praėjusysis, praėjusioji
2. Fixed terms. Many terms are definite participles. The grammar names you already know are good examples: esamasis, būtasis, būsimasis laikas (present, past, future tense) and veikiamasis, neveikiamasis dalyvis (active, passive participle). Everyday terms work the same way: geriamasis vanduo (drinking water), gyvenamasis namas (residential house). See also įvardžiuotinės formos pavadinimuose.
3. As nouns. A definite participle can stand alone for a person or group: sužeistieji (the injured), dirbantieji (working people), mylimasis, mylimoji (beloved, sweetheart).
4. Vadinamasis and vadinamas. Before a name or term, vadinamasis means so-called: vadinamasis šaltasis karas. Standard Lithuanian does not say taip vadinamas here; that is a word-for-word loan. To say what something is called, use the plain participle with the instrumental: Šis metodas vadinamas kryžminiu tikrinimu (This method is called cross-checking). That is the pattern in laikyti, vadinti + įnagininkas.
5. Case forms. They decline like definite adjectives: vadinamasis, vadinamojo, vadinamajam, vadinamąjį, vadinamuoju, vadinamajame; feminine vadinamoji, vadinamosios, vadinamajai, vadinamąją, vadinamąja, vadinamojoje. For example: knyga apie vadinamąjį šaltąjį karą (a book about the so-called Cold War).
Examples (6)
- Prasidėjo vadinamasis šaltasis karas.
The so-called Cold War began.
Vadinamasis introduces a known name or term.
- Minėtasis įstatymas įsigalios kitais metais.
The aforementioned law will come into force next year.
Minėtasis points back to something already named in the text.
- Mano būsimoji žmona yra iš Klaipėdos.
My future wife is from Klaipėda.
Būsimoji agrees with the feminine noun žmona.
- Sužeistieji buvo nuvežti į ligoninę.
The injured were taken to hospital.
The definite participle works as a noun here.
- Geriamasis vanduo čia labai skanus.
The drinking water here is very tasty.
Geriamasis vanduo is a fixed term.
- Esamasis laikas rodo, kas vyksta dabar.
The present tense shows what is happening now.
Esamasis is a definite participle of būti used as a grammar term.
Common Mistakes
Saying taip vadinamas for so-called, copying the pattern of other languages.
Taip vadinamas šaltasis karas truko daugiau nei keturiasdešimt metų.Vadinamasis šaltasis karas truko daugiau nei keturiasdešimt metų.Before a name or term, Standard Lithuanian uses the single definite participle vadinamasis.
Using the definite form to say what something is called.
Šis metodas vadinamasis kryžminiu tikrinimu.Šis metodas vadinamas kryžminiu tikrinimu.To say what something is called, use the plain participle vadinamas with the name in the instrumental.
Forgetting to make the participle agree with a feminine noun.
Minėtasis taisyklė jau negalioja.Minėtoji taisyklė jau negalioja.Taisyklė is feminine, so the definite participle takes the feminine form minėtoji.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Definite participles combine participle meaning with definite adjective-like endings.
- Definite Adjectives
Know definite adjective endings.
Level 3 - Present Passive Participle -masPresent Passive Participle
Know present passive participles used in forms such as vadinamasis.
Level 5 - Present Active Participle -antisPresent Active Participle
Know active participles that can also receive definite forms.
Level 5
Related Patterns
- Definite Forms in Names and Terms
Many fixed names and terms use definite adjectives and participles.
Level 4 - Past Passive Participle: -tas, -taPast Passive Participle
Minėtasis is the definite form of this participle.
Level 4 - laikyti / vadinti + instrumentalConsidering and Calling with the Instrumental
To say what something is called, use vadinamas with the instrumental, not vadinamasis.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Definite Participles in Bubblegum
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