с тим што / при чему

Adding a Qualification

Level 5Sounds Like s tim što; pri čemu

Both с тим што and при чему join a qualifying subordinate clause to a main statement, requiring a preceding comma.

• с тим што = "provided that / with the proviso that" (introduces a factual caveat, restriction, or boundary).
• при чему = "whereby / in doing so / while at the same time" (introduces an attendant circumstance or technical specification).

How It Works

In formal, administrative, legal, and academic Serbian, adding nuances and specific qualifications is essential for precision.

1. Structural Details:
• с тим што: Formed from the preposition с(а), the instrumental neuter demonstrative pronoun тим, and the subordinating conjunction што. Note that the extended variant с тиме што is stylistically disfavored in modern standard prose.
• при чему: Formed from the preposition при and the locative relative pronoun form чему (from шта / што). It functions strictly as a subordinating conjunction introducing a relative attendant circumstance clause.

2. Meaning Distinctions:

  • с тим што vs. с тим да: Use с тим што with factual, descriptive qualifications in the indicative mood. Use с тим да when introducing a prospective requirement, stipulation, or intention agreed upon by parties (often governing modal verbs or da + present).
  • с тим што vs. осим што: While осим што marks direct exclusions or exceptions ("except that"), с тим што establishes an operational parameter or qualification without excluding the core fact.
  • при чему vs. притом: притом (or при томе) is an independent sentence adverbial / discourse marker ("in addition, concurrently") used after a full stop or coordinating conjunction, whereas при чему is grammatically dependent and cannot stand as an isolated sentence.

3. Punctuation Rule:
Because both devices introduce non-restrictive qualifying specifications (одредбена допуна), a comma is obligatory before both expressions.

Examples (4)

  1. Сви кандидати полажу исти испит, с тим што студенти са завршеним модулом раде само усмени део.

    All candidates take the same exam, with the qualification that students who completed the module only take the oral section.

    Word by Word: All candidates take same exam, with that that students with finished module do only oral part.

    Here, 'с тим што' qualifies the universal statement about the exam by noting a specific restriction for one group.

  2. Процес се одвија у три етапе, при чему свака етапа захтева посебно одобрење.

    The process takes place in three stages, whereby each stage requires a separate approval.

    Word by Word: Process itself unfolds in three stages, at which each stage requires separate approval.

    'При чему' introduces an attendant circumstance and detailed operational parameter describing how the stages function.

  3. Уговор се аутоматски продужава, с тим што обе стране задржавају право на раскид у року од тридесет дана.

    The contract is automatically extended, provided that both parties retain the right of termination within thirty days.

    Word by Word: Contract itself automatically extends, with that that both sides retain right on termination in term of thirty days.

    Demonstrates standard legal usage of 'с тим што' to attach a clarifying condition or reservation to the main rule.

  4. Анализирали смо податке из свих региона, при чему нисмо уочили значајна одступања.

    We analyzed data from all regions, wherein we did not observe significant deviations.

    Word by Word: We-analyzed data from all regions, at which not-we-did observe significant deviations.

    'При чему' connects the attendant outcome/observation directly to the analytical action.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing 'при чему' as a single compound word.

    Тестирали смо систем, причему није било грешака.
    Тестирали смо систем, при чему није било грешака.

    Unlike some adverbs, 'при чему' consists of the preposition 'при' and the pronoun 'чему' and must always be written separately.

  • Using 'при чему' as an independent sentence starter instead of a subordinate connective.

    Завршили смо пројекат на време. При чему су трошкови остали у оквиру буџета.
    Завршили смо пројекат на време. Притом су трошкови остали у оквиру буџета.

    'При чему' must be attached directly to a matrix clause following a comma. To start a separate, independent sentence, use the discourse adverbial 'Притом' (or 'При томе').

  • Omitting the comma before 'с тим што' or 'при чему'.

    Прихватили смо понуду с тим што очекујемо брзу испоруку.
    Прихватили смо понуду, с тим што очекујемо брзу испоруку.

    A comma is mandatory before complex qualifying connectives like 'с тим што' and 'при чему' because they set off a distinct specifying clause.

How It Connects

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

с тим што / при чемуLevel 5Adding a Qualification

Learn This First

The qualification conjunctions 'с тим што' ('with the proviso that / except that') and 'при чему' ('whereby / wherein') are prepositional connectors built on 'с + instrumental pronoun тим + conjunction што' and 'при + locative relative pronoun чему'.

Words in This Pattern

стајштопричему