Perfective Adverbial Participle

Level 4Sounds Like díêprislívnik dokonanogo vidu

The Perfective Adverbial Participle (дієприслівник доконаного виду) describes an action that was finished before the main action of the sentence. It translates to 'having [done something]' in English.

How It Works

1. Overview and Question
The perfective adverbial participle describes an action that was completed before the main action of the sentence. In Ukrainian grammar, it answers the specific question що зробивши? (having done what?).

2. Formation
To form this participle, take the stem of a perfective verb (often the same as the masculine past tense) and add the suffix:

  • -вши: If the stem ends in a vowel (e.g., прочитати → прочитавши).
  • -ши: If the stem ends in a consonant (e.g., прибігти → прибігши).

3. Spelling Rule
A crucial rule for all Ukrainian adverbial participles is that they always end in the letter -и. They never end in -і. Remembering this universal -и ending will help you avoid common spelling errors.

4. Reflexive Verbs
For verbs with the reflexive suffix -ся, the suffix always changes to -сь after the participle ending (e.g., вмитися → вмившись).

5. Usage and Register
This form is common in literature and formal writing. In casual speech, Ukrainians often prefer using two verbs with 'and' or a temporal clause starting with після того як (after).

6. The Same-Subject Rule
As with all adverbial participles, the same-subject rule applies: the person performing the participle action must be the same person performing the main action.

Examples (4)

  1. Повернувшись додому, я відразу ліг спати.

    Having returned home, I immediately went to sleep.

    Word by Word: Having-returned home, I immediately lay to-sleep.

    The action of returning was completed before the action of lying down.

  2. Склавши іспити, студенти поїхали на відпочинок.

    Having passed their exams, the students went on vacation.

    Word by Word: Having-passed exams, students went on rest.

    The exams were finished first, then the students left.

  3. Прочитавши лист, вона усміхнулася.

    Having read the letter, she smiled.

    Word by Word: Having-read letter, she smiled.

    The smile happened as a result of or after finishing the letter.

  4. Вмившись, дитина сіла снідати.

    Having washed up, the child sat down to have breakfast.

    Word by Word: Having-washed-self, child sat to-breakfast.

    Shows the reflexive suffix -сь attached to the perfective adverbial participle.

Common Mistakes

  • Dangling participle (different subjects).

    Підійшовши до зупинки, під’їхав автобус.
    Коли я підійшов до зупинки, під’їхав автобус.

    In the incorrect version, it sounds like the bus 'approached the stop' before it 'arrived'. Since 'I' approached and the 'bus' arrived, you cannot use an adverbial participle.

  • Using it in impersonal sentences with a Dative 'subject'.

    Прочитавши книгу, мені стало сумно.
    Прочитавши книгу, я засмутився.

    The participle must refer to the grammatical subject (Nominative). In 'мені стало сумно', there is no Nominative subject for the participle to attach to.

How It Connects

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Perfective Adverbial ParticipleLevel 4

Learn This First

To learn the Perfective Adverbial Participle, you must first understand the concept of Perfective Aspect (completed actions) and be familiar with the Past Tense verb stems, as the suffix -вши is added to the past tense base. It is also helpful to understand how to express sequential actions using temporal conjunctions.

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