pričom
While at the Same Time: Pričom
Pričom introduces a clause that adds a circumstance to the whole previous statement. English translates it in many ways: and, while, whereas, and yet, or with an -ing phrase.
How It Works
What pričom adds. The pričom clause gives a detail or circumstance that goes with the whole first statement:
- an action at the same time: Pohladkal ho, pričom sa usmial. (He stroked it, smiling as he did so.)
- an extra detail: Kurz trvá tri mesiace, pričom lekcie sú dvakrát do týždňa. (The course lasts three months, with lessons twice a week.)
- a contrast: Stále všetkým radí, pričom sám nemá žiadne skúsenosti. (He keeps giving everyone advice, and yet he has no experience himself.)
Translating it. English has no single word for pričom. Depending on the meaning, use and, while, whereas, and yet, although, or an -ing phrase: Vyplnil formulár, pričom uviedol aj telefónne číslo. (He filled in the form, giving his phone number as well.)
Where it stands. A comma always comes before pričom, and it never begins an independent sentence. Written apart, pri čom is a preposition with the question word čo: Pri čom ho prichytili? (What did they catch him doing?)
Similar connectors. Zatiaľ čo contrasts two parallel subjects (Peter works, whereas Jana studies). Čo referring to a whole clause comments on the previous fact (Prišiel načas, čo ma prekvapilo.). Pričom adds a circumstance of the same event. In speech, a pritom is a common alternative.
Examples (5)
- Hovoril dlho, pričom nepovedal nič nové.
He spoke for a long time without saying anything new.
Word by Word: He-spoke long, at-which he-did-not-say nothing new.
- Vstupné je päť eur, pričom deti do šiestich rokov majú vstup zdarma.
Admission is five euros, while children under six get in free.
Word by Word: Admission is five euros, at-which children up-to six years have entry free.
- Stále všetkým radí, pričom sám nemá žiadne skúsenosti.
He's always giving everyone advice, and yet he has no experience himself.
Word by Word: Constantly to-everyone he-advises, at-which himself he-has-not no experiences.
- Kurz trvá tri mesiace, pričom lekcie sú dvakrát do týždňa.
The course lasts three months, with lessons twice a week.
Word by Word: Course lasts three months, at-which lessons are twice into week.
- Firma zvýšila ceny, pričom kvalita služieb sa nezlepšila.
The company raised its prices, while the quality of its services did not improve.
Word by Word: Company raised prices, at-which quality of-services itself did-not-improve.
Common Mistakes
Starting a new sentence with pričom.
Hovoril dlho. Pričom nepovedal nič nové.Hovoril dlho, pričom nepovedal nič nové.Pričom refers back to the previous clause, so it must stay in the same sentence, after a comma.
Writing it as two words.
Kurz trvá tri mesiace, pri čom lekcie sú dvakrát do týždňa.Kurz trvá tri mesiace, pričom lekcie sú dvakrát do týždňa.As a connector, pričom is one word. Pri čom is a preposition with the question word čo.
Leaving out the comma.
Hovoril dlho pričom nepovedal nič nové.Hovoril dlho, pričom nepovedal nič nové.Pričom starts a new clause, so a comma always stands before it.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before While at the Same Time: pričom, learn While and Whereas. pričom adds a simultaneous action, like zatiaľ čo.
Related Patterns
- čo (Referring to a Whole Clause)Which, Referring to a Whole Clause
Like pričom, this čo refers back to a whole clause, but it comments on the fact.
Level 4 - The Transgressive
Formal texts can express an accompanying action with a transgressive instead of pričom.
Level 5 - kýmWhile and Until: Kým
Kým can also contrast two situations, in a more everyday style.
Level 3 - Commas Before Conjunctions
Explains the comma that always stands before pričom.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice pričom in Bubblegum
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