при том / притом

Connecting an Accompanying Point

Level 6Sounds Like pri tom; pritom u povezivan̂u teksta

In standard Serbian orthography, the primary functional distinction is threefold: fused притом denotes accompanying circumstance or concurrency ('simultaneously / in the process / at the same time'), whereas the two-word phrase written separately—predominantly при томе, though при том is also recognized in broader standard usage—functions as an additive discourse connector ('moreover / in addition / besides that') or as an independent verbal complement (e.g., остати при томе). Before an overt masculine or neuter noun in the locative (e.g., при том послу, при том сусрету), the unextended form при том is standardly preferred and far more frequent, though the extended forms remain grammatically possible. The fused spelling *притоме is always incorrect.

How It Works

In advanced textual and academic discourse, connecting related ideas accurately requires understanding the distinction between fused притом and separated при томе or при том.

1. Fused 'притом' (Accompanying Circumstance: 'истовремено')
As an invariable fused adverb, притом marks concurrency or an accompanying condition that unfolds alongside the main predicate:

  • It inherently denotes temporal concurrency or concomitance ('at the same time', 'in the process', or 'while doing so' — истовремено, у исто време).
  • It frequently combines with coordinating conjunctions: а притом, и притом, or но притом.
  • An adversative or restrictive nuance is not intrinsic to притом itself; such readings arise strictly when it is coupled with adversative conjunctions (e.g., а притом, но притом) or contrastive discourse contexts ('they accepted the proposal, but at the same time expressed reservations').
  • Punctuation note: When притом introduces a detached supplementary clause or participial equivalent (e.g., Прихватили су предлог, притом изразивши одређене сумње), it is regularly set off by a comma.

2. Separated 'при томе' and 'при том' (Additive Discourse Connector: 'уз то, осим тога')
When introducing an added, supplementary point meaning 'moreover', 'furthermore', or 'in addition' (уз то, осим тога, поврх тога), standard Serbian uses the separated prepositional phrase:

  • Additive connector: While Правопис српскога језика highlights the extended form при томе in contrast to fused притом, standard language authorities and dictionaries (including Ivan Klajn and Milan Šipka) accept both при томе and при том as valid variants for the connector (e.g., При томе / При том треба имати у виду следеће чињенице).
  • Prescriptive norm vs. contemporary usage: While standard normative orthography strictly reserves the additive connector meaning ('moreover', 'besides') for separated при томе / при том and treats fused притом with this meaning as non-standard, this boundary is among the most frequently breached rules in contemporary Serbian writing. In journalistic, media, and everyday publicist prose, writers very commonly use fused притом in an additive sense (synonymous with штавише or уз то). Learners should recognize this common descriptive reality in authentic contemporary texts while adhering to the separated spelling in formal, normative writing.
  • Punctuation note: Unlike English connectors such as 'Moreover, ...', sentence-initial connective adverbials in Serbian do not require a comma by default, though writers may use one to mark an emphatic pause.

3. Separated 'при том' and 'при томе' in Other Syntactic Roles
Aside from discourse addition, the separated prepositional phrase serves two distinct grammatical functions based on form:

  • Attributive noun modifier: Directly preceding an overt masculine or neuter noun in the locative singular, the unextended form при том is standardly preferred and far more frequent in actual usage to avoid cumbersome stacked endings (e.g., при том сусрету 'at that meeting', при том послу 'during that work', при том избору 'in that choice'), although standard declension tables grammatically permit forms in -оме or -ому.
  • Verbal complement: With verbs that govern при + локатив (such as остати при..., meaning 'to stick to' or 'to insist on'), the extended form при томе is customary: Остао је при томе да договор мора да важи.
  • Orthographic warning: Never fuse the extended ending: *притоме is completely non-standard.

Examples (5)

  1. Возио је кроз густу маглу, притом пажљиво пратећи сваки знак на путу.

    He drove through thick fog, while carefully following every road sign in the process.

    Word by Word: Drove he through thick fog, while-doing-so carefully following every sign on road.

    Here 'притом' is fused because it denotes an accompanying circumstance occurring concurrently with driving.

  2. Задатак је био веома захтеван, а при томе нисмо имали довољно времена.

    The task was very demanding, and on top of that, we did not have enough time.

    Word by Word: Task was very demanding, and at that not-did-have enough time.

    Written separately as 'при томе' because it functions additively ('moreover', 'furthermore').

  3. Чврсто је остао при томе да понуду одбије.

    He remained firm in his stance of rejecting the offer.

    Word by Word: Firmly he remained at that that offer reject.

    Here 'при томе' is a literal prepositional complement governed by the verb 'остати при'.

  4. При том покушају направили смо неколико грешака.

    During that attempt, we made several mistakes.

    Word by Word: At that attempt made we several mistakes.

    'При том' modifies the noun 'покушају' (locative masculine singular) and must be separated.

  5. Прихватио је нову функцију, а притом је био свестан свих ризика.

    He accepted the new role, and in doing so, he was conscious of all the risks.

    Word by Word: Accepted he new function, and while-doing-so was conscious of-all risks.

    Demonstrates 'а притом' introducing an accompanying mental state alongside the main decision.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing the non-standard fused form *притоме.

    Задатак је тежак, а притоме немамо времена.
    Задатак је тежак, а при томе немамо времена.

    Only the short adverbial form fuses into 'притом'. Whenever the expanded pronoun ending -e is present, standard Serbian requires two words: 'при томе'.

  • Fusing 'притом' when it modifies a noun directly.

    Притом питању морамо бити опрезни.
    При том питању морамо бити опрезни.

    When 'том' is a demonstrative determiner modifying a noun (here 'питању'), it cannot fuse into an adverb. Write 'при том'.

  • Using fused 'притом' for pure additive enumeration instead of concurrent circumstance.

    Купио је хлеб, млеко, а притом и новине.
    Купио је хлеб, млеко, а при томе и новине.

    For simple cumulative addition ('and on top of that / in addition'), use separated 'при томе' (or 'уз то'), reserving 'притом' for concurrent actions or accompanying circumstances.

How It Connects

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

при том / притомLevel 6Connecting an Accompanying Point

Learn This First

To differentiate and correctly use 'при том' (the preposition 'при' followed by the demonstrative pronoun 'том') versus the merged textual connector 'притом' (meaning 'at the same time' or 'moreover'), learners need familiarity with the preposition 'при' governing the locative, demonstrative pronoun declensions, and how accompanying discourse qualifications are connected in Serbian.

Words in This Pattern

притај