подлежать + Dative

Be Subject to

Level 5Sounds Like podležatʹ + datelʹnyj

The verb подлежать is used in formal, legal, and bureaucratic contexts to indicate that something is subject to a specific process. In standard Russian, it is almost exclusively paired with a noun in the Dative case.

How It Works

The verb подлежать is a specialized tool for formal Russian (официально-деловой стиль).

1. Syntactic Requirements:
In standard usage, it governs the Dative case. While you might see an infinitive in rare, archaic, or highly specific bureaucratic legalese (e.g., подлежит исполнить), this is generally avoided in modern standard Russian. You should use a noun, typically one derived from a verb (e.g., рассмотрению from рассмотреть).

2. Common Collocations:
In legal documents, you will frequently see it paired with:

  • обжалованию (appeal)
  • возврату (return)
  • уничтожению (destruction)
  • оплате (payment)
  • рассмотрению (consideration/review)

3. Nuance of Meaning:
It implies a procedural inevitability. If a document подлежит регистрации, it means the law requires it to be registered; it is not a choice. It is an imperfectum tantum, meaning it only exists in the imperfective aspect in this sense.

4. Negation:
When negated (не подлежит), it indicates that a process is forbidden or impossible under the rules, such as не подлежит разглашению (not subject to disclosure/confidential).

Examples (4)

  1. Данное решение подлежит обжалованию в суде.

    This decision is subject to appeal in court.

    Word by Word: This decision is-subject to-appeal in court.

    Here, 'обжалованию' is the Dative form of the verbal noun 'обжалование' (appeal).

  2. Все товары подлежат обязательному таможенному контролю.

    All goods are subject to mandatory customs control.

    Word by Word: All goods are-subject to-mandatory customs control.

    The adjective 'обязательному таможенному' also moves into the Dative to agree with 'контролю'.

  3. Информация о клиентах не подлежит разглашению.

    Information about clients is not subject to disclosure.

    Word by Word: Information about clients not is-subject to-disclosure.

    This is a standard way to express confidentiality in Russian contracts.

  4. Эти документы подлежат немедленному уничтожению.

    These documents are to be destroyed immediately.

    Word by Word: These documents are-subject to-immediate destruction.

    The pattern expresses a formal requirement for an action to be performed on the subject.

Common Mistakes

  • Using an infinitive instead of a Dative noun.

    Контракт подлежит подписать.
    Контракт подлежит подписанию.

    While you may occasionally encounter an infinitive in dense bureaucratic jargon, it is considered non-standard. To become proficient in formal Russian, you should use a verbal noun in the Dative case.

  • Using the Genitive case instead of the Dative.

    Это не подлежит сомнения.
    Это не подлежит сомнению.

    Learners often use the Genitive because of the English 'of' (subject of doubt), but standard Russian requires the Dative case for the object of this verb.

How It Connects

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

подлежать + DativeLevel 5Be Subject to

Learn This First

To learn the pattern 'подлежать + дательный', a learner needs to be comfortable with the dative case endings for nouns. Additionally, because this pattern is formal and often describes processes, familiarity with verbal nouns (nominalizations) is necessary to understand common expressions like 'subject to review' or 'subject to payment'.

Words in This Pattern

подлежать