Participle Phrases Before a Noun
Where English says the man standing by the window, Lithuanian puts the whole description first: prie lango stovintis vyras.
How It Works
1. The order. A common order places the participle phrase before the noun: its words + participle + noun:
- prie lango stovintis vyras (the man standing by the window)
- vakar nupirkta duona (the bread bought yesterday)
- rytoj prasidedanti konferencija (the conference that starts tomorrow)
No commas are used in this position.
2. Agreement. The participle agrees with the noun just like an adjective: Kalbėjau su Vilniuje gyvenančia drauge (I talked to a friend who lives in Vilnius), where drauge is instrumental, so the participle is too.
3. Active or passive? An active participle (-antis, -ęs) means the noun does the action: stovintis vyras stands. A passive participle (-tas, -mas) means something is done to it: nupirkta duona was bought.
4. Naming who did it. Inside a passive phrase, the doer goes in the genitive: mano mamos iškeptas pyragas (a cake my mother baked).
5. After the noun. The phrase can also follow the noun, especially when it is long. Then it is set off with commas: Vyras, stovintis prie lango, yra mano dėdė.
6. The everyday alternative. In speech, a kuris clause is often simpler: Vyras, kuris stovi prie lango, yra mano dėdė.
Examples (6)
- Prie lango stovintis vyras yra mano dėdė.
The man standing by the window is my uncle.
The whole phrase comes before vyras, with no commas.
- Vakar nupirkta duona jau sudžiūvo.
The bread bought yesterday has already gone stale.
A passive participle: the bread was bought.
- Rytoj prasidedanti konferencija vyks Kaune.
The conference that starts tomorrow will take place in Kaunas.
Prasideda → prasidedanti, feminine to match konferencija.
- Kalbėjau su Vilniuje gyvenančia drauge.
I talked to a friend who lives in Vilnius.
Gyvenančia is instrumental to match drauge.
- Mama padėjo ant stalo ką tik iškeptą pyragą.
Mom put the freshly baked cake on the table.
Iškeptą is accusative to match pyragą.
- Vyras, stovintis prie lango, yra mano dėdė.
The man, standing by the window, is my uncle.
After the noun, the phrase is set off with commas.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the commas when the phrase follows the noun.
Vyras stovintis prie lango yra mano dėdė.Vyras, stovintis prie lango, yra mano dėdė.A participle phrase after its noun is set off with commas. Before the noun it has none.
Not making the participle agree in case.
Kalbėjau su Vilniuje gyvenantis drauge.Kalbėjau su Vilniuje gyvenančia drauge.The participle takes the same gender, number and case as the noun.
Using an active participle for something that was done to the noun.
Vakar nupirkusi duona jau sudžiūvo.Vakar nupirkta duona jau sudžiūvo.The bread did not buy anything. Something done to the noun needs a passive participle.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Participle phrases modify a noun and inherit its gender, number and case.
- Present Active Participle -antisPresent Active Participle
Know present active participles as agreeing modifiers.
Level 5 - Past Active Participle: -ęs, -usiPast Active Participle
Know past active participles as agreeing modifiers.
Level 4 - Past Passive Participle: -tas, -taPast Passive Participle
Know past passive participles as agreeing modifiers.
Level 4
Related Patterns
- Relative kuris / kuriRelative Clauses with Kuris
A kuris clause says the same thing in a way that is easier in speech.
Level 3 - Agent in the Genitive
The doer inside a passive phrase is in the genitive.
Level 5 - Adjective Agreement
Participles agree with their noun just like adjectives.
Level 1 - Definite Participles
Definite participles are another way participles describe nouns.
Level 5
Practice Participle Phrases Before a Noun in Bubblegum
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