по истечении + Genitive
After-expiry Formula По Истечении
По истечении + Genitive is a formal way to say 'after' a specific time period has fully run out. It is the standard formula for legal deadlines and official contracts.
How It Works
The phrase по истечении is derived from the noun истечение (expiration/flowing out). In Russian, when the preposition по means 'after' or 'upon completion of,' it historically governs the prepositional case, which is why the ending is -ии and not the dative -ию.
Key Characteristics:
- Register: It belongs to the официально-деловой стиль (official-business style). You will see it in laws, bank agreements, and formal notices.
- Precision: Unlike the general после (after), this pattern specifically implies that a clock has run out or a legal term has ended.
- Case Government: The noun following the phrase must be in the genitive case.
Commonly used nouns include:
- Срок (term/deadline) → по истечении срока
- Время (time) → по истечении времени
- Договор (agreement) → по истечении договора
- Месяц/Год (month/year) → по истечении месяца
Examples (4)
- По истечении срока полномочий президент уходит в отставку.
Upon the expiry of the term of office, the president resigns.
Word by Word: Upon expiry [of] term [of] powers president goes into resignation.
This is a classic legal usage referring to the end of a fixed political term.
- По истечении десяти дней решение суда вступает в законную силу.
After ten days have elapsed, the court's decision becomes legally binding.
Word by Word: Upon expiry [of] ten days decision [of] court enters into legal force.
Note the use of the genitive plural 'дней' after the number 'десяти'.
- Заявка будет аннулирована по истечении месяца.
The application will be annulled after one month has expired.
Word by Word: Application will be annulled upon expiry [of] month.
In administrative contexts, this indicates an automatic action triggered by a deadline.
- Вы сможете забрать документы по истечении часа.
You will be able to pick up the documents after an hour has passed.
Word by Word: You will be able to take documents upon expiry [of] hour.
Even for shorter durations like an hour, this phrase adds a formal, official tone to the instruction.
Common Mistakes
Using the Dative ending '-ию' instead of '-ии'.
По истечению срока...По истечении срока...This is the most common error. When 'по' means 'after/upon,' the noun 'истечение' must be in the prepositional case form ending in '-ии'. The form '-ию' is only for physical flowing (like water).
Using the construction in casual conversation.
Я позвоню тебе по истечении обеда.Я позвоню тебе после обеда.Using 'по истечении' for lunch sounds unnaturally robotic. Use the simple 'после' for everyday activities.
Using the Dative case for the following noun.
По истечении сроку...По истечении срока...The noun following the prepositional phrase must be in the genitive case, not the dative.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'по истечении + родительный', a learner needs to recognize the verbal noun 'истечение' (from 'истечь'), understand how to form the prepositional case for nouns ending in -ие, and be familiar with using the genitive case to indicate the object of a verbal noun's action.
- Genitive object with verbal nouns
The pattern requires a genitive complement to specify what has expired (e.g., 'истечении срока').
Level 4 - после/до + Genitive Verbal NounTemporal Prepositions with Verbal Nouns
This pattern functions similarly to other temporal prepositions used with verbal nouns to indicate time sequences.
Level 4
Related Patterns
- до/после + GenitiveGenitive After До and После
The simple, neutral alternative to 'по истечении' for everyday 'after' meanings.
Level 2 - Stacked genitives
This pattern often triggers a 'chain of genitives' in formal writing (e.g., по истечении срока договора).
Level 5 - при + Prepositional Verbal NounПри with Verbal Nouns for Accompanying Circumstance
Another formal construction using a preposition with a verbal noun to describe circumstances.
Level 4 - согласно + DativeAccording to
Another common formal preposition used in the same administrative register, though it governs the dative.
Level 5 - в случае + GenitiveIn the Event of
A formal conditional preposition often found in the same legal documents as 'по истечении'.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice по истечении + Genitive in Bubblegum
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