Postnominal participial phrase
The postnominal participial phrase (дієприкметниковий зворот) is a formal way to describe a noun using a participle and its dependent words. It acts like a shortened relative clause and is typically set off by commas when it follows the noun, except when it serves as the sentence's predicate.
How It Works
The postnominal participial phrase (дієприкметниковий зворот) is a hallmark of high-style Ukrainian, common in literature and academic writing.
1. Definition and Structure
A дієприкметниковий зворот consists of a participle and its dependent words. The core is typically a passive participle (suffixes -н-, -ен-, -єн-) or -т-, or an active participle in -лий (suffix -л-). Note that past active participles can only be formed from perfective, intransitive verbs; for transitive verbs, a relative clause must be used instead. Dependent words can precede or follow the participle within the phrase (e.g., густо вкритий травою). The participle must match the modified noun in gender, number, and case.
- Indivisibility Rule (Нерозривність звороту): A participial phrase cannot be broken apart by the noun it modifies. The noun must stand entirely before or entirely after the phrase (e.g., correct: написаний учнем лист or лист, написаний учнем; incorrect: написаний лист учнем).
2. Syntactic Role and Punctuation
When isolated by commas, the phrase functions syntactically as a detached attribute (відокремлене означення).
- Postnominal Position: When the phrase follows the noun, it is usually isolated by commas.
- Homogeneous Phrases: If two postnominal participial phrases modify the same noun and are connected by і/й or та, no comma is placed between them.
- Predicate Exception: If the participial phrase functions as the predicate (присудок) of the sentence, no comma is placed between the subject and the predicate (e.g., Цей перший вірш написаний в юності.).
- Personal Pronouns: If the phrase modifies a personal pronoun (e.g., він, я, ми), it is isolated by commas regardless of its position.
- Prenominal Position: A phrase placed before a noun requires commas if it carries an additional adverbial meaning (such as cause, condition, or concession) or is separated from the noun by other words.
3. Stylistic Nuance
While a relative clause with який focuses on the action, the participial phrase focuses on the resultant state.
4. Modern Usage Note
Modern Ukrainian avoids Present Active Participles. Instead of using a participial phrase for active ongoing actions, speakers use a relative clause.
Examples (4)
- Документи, підписані директором, лежать на столі.
The documents, signed by the director, are lying on the table.
Word by Word: Documents, signed [by] director, lie on table.
The phrase 'підписані директором' uses a passive participle in the nominative plural matching 'Документи'.
- Втомлений роботою, він швидко заснув.
Exhausted by work, he fell asleep quickly.
Word by Word: Exhausted [by] work, he quickly fell asleep.
When a participial phrase modifies a personal pronoun like 'він' (he), it must be set off by commas even if it comes before the pronoun.
- Двері, забиті цвяхами, були дуже старими.
The door, nailed shut with nails, was very old.
Word by Word: Door, nailed [with] nails, was very old.
This example uses a passive participle with the suffix -т- (забиті) in the plural to match 'двері'.
- Зачаровані краєвидом, діти зупинилися біля річки.
Enchanted by the view, the children stopped by the river.
Word by Word: Enchanted [by] view, children stopped near river.
A prenominal phrase requires a comma here because it explains the reason why the children stopped (causal nuance).
Common Mistakes
Omitting commas when the phrase acts as an attribute following the noun.
Книга прочитана мною була цікавою.Книга, прочитана мною, була цікавою.In Ukrainian, a participial phrase functioning as an attribute in the postnominal position must be set off by commas. However, remember that if the phrase is the predicate of the sentence (e.g., 'Ця книга прочитана мною.'), no comma is used.
Using Russian-style active present participles (ending in -чий).
студент, читаючий книгустудент, який читає книгуModern Ukrainian rejects active present participles in phrases. Use a relative clause with 'який' instead.
Using the Nominative participle after a noun in another case.
Different MeaningЯ зустрів друга, одягнений у нове пальто.Я зустрів друга, одягненого у нове пальто.'Я зустрів друга, одягнений у нове пальто' is correct, but 'одягнений' agrees with 'я', so it is the speaker who wears the new coat. To say the friend wore it, the participle must match 'друга' (Accusative): 'одягненого'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn the postnominal participial phrase, a learner needs to be comfortable with forming participles and their dependent words (the phrase itself) and ensuring the participle agrees with the noun it follows. Understanding how these phrases replace relative clauses helps in grasping their function in formal written Ukrainian.
Related Patterns
- Participle Agreement
This pattern explains the fundamental rules of how participles must match nouns in gender, number, and case.
Level 4 - -нийPassive Participle in -ний
These participles are the most common 'heads' of a postnominal participial phrase.
Level 4 - який (відносний)Relative Clauses with Який
The participial phrase is a more formal, compressed alternative to a relative clause using 'який'.
Level 3 - Adverbial Participial Phrase
Learners often confuse these; while the participial phrase modifies a noun, the adverbial participial phrase modifies the verb.
Level 4 - -лийPast Active Participle in -лий
One of the few active participle types allowed in these phrases to describe a change in state.
Level 4 - Expressed Agent in the Passive
Explains how to express 'by whom' the action in the participial phrase was performed using the instrumental case.
Level 4
Practice Postnominal participial phrase in Bubblegum
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