дотримуватися + Genitive
Дотримуватися with Genitive
The verb дотримуватися (to adhere to/follow) always requires the genitive case. It is the standard way to talk about following rules, laws, diets, or principles.
How It Works
The pattern дотримуватися + родовий is essential for formal and everyday instructions.
1. Usage and Meaning:
While English uses 'follow' or 'keep' for both physical movement and abstract rules, Ukrainian distinguishes them. Use the imperfective дотримуватися (or its perfective counterpart дотриматися) for rules, laws, schedules, and diets. For spatial directions, like keeping to a side (правого/лівого боку), strictly use the imperfective дотримуватися, as it represents a continuous state of motion. To physically follow someone or something, use verbs like іти за (walk after), їхати за (drive after), or стежити за (monitor/track).
2. The Genitive Requirement:
Unlike the English direct object, the object of your 'adherence' must be in the Genitive case. Example: правила (rules - Nom. pl.) becomes правил (Gen. pl.).
3. Reflexive vs. Non-Reflexive:
Standard Ukrainian makes a clear distinction between these forms. Use the reflexive дотримуватися for rules, laws, principles, and plans. The non-reflexive дотримувати (perfective: дотримати) is reserved for a few specific contexts: keeping one's word (дотримувати слова), maintaining silence (дотримувати тиші), or maintaining order (дотримувати порядку).
4. Stylistic Nuance:
You may encounter the synonym додержуватися. It is grammatically identical and also takes the genitive, but дотримуватися is more frequent in modern media and daily life.
Examples (6)
- Водії повинні суворо дотримуватися правил дорожнього руху.
Drivers must strictly follow the rules of the road.
Word by Word: Drivers must strictly to-adhere-self rules (of) road movement.
'Правил' is the genitive plural of 'правила'.
- Важливо дотримуватися дієти та режиму сну.
It is important to follow a diet and a sleep schedule.
Word by Word: Important to-adhere-self diet and regime (of) sleep.
'Дієти' and 'режиму' are genitive singular forms.
- Ми маємо дотримуватися умов нашого договору.
We must abide by the terms of our agreement.
Word by Word: We have to-adhere-self terms (of) our agreement.
'Умов' is the genitive plural of 'умови' (terms/conditions).
- Будь ласка, дотримуйтеся дистанції в черзі.
Please, keep your distance in the queue.
Word by Word: Please, adhere-self distance in queue.
Uses the polite imperative form of the verb.
- Він завжди дотримує слова.
He always keeps his word.
Word by Word: He always adheres word.
Notice the use of the non-reflexive 'дотримує' here. 'Дотримувати слова' is a strict prescriptive idiom for keeping a promise.
- На дорозі потрібно дотримуватися правого боку.
On the road, you need to keep to the right side.
Word by Word: On road need to-adhere-self (of) right side.
Demonstrates the spatial meaning of keeping to a specific side, which also requires the genitive case.
Common Mistakes
Using the Accusative case instead of the Genitive.
Він дотримується закон.Він дотримується закону.Even though 'law' is the object, the verb дотримуватися specifically requires the genitive case. For masculine inanimate nouns like 'закон', the accusative looks like the nominative, but the genitive must end in -у.
Using the Russian-influenced 'притримуватися' for abstract rules.
Я притримуюся цієї думки.Я дотримуюся цієї думки.In standard Ukrainian, 'притримуватися' means to physically hold onto something (like a handrail). For opinions or rules, use дотримуватися.
Using the non-reflexive form 'дотримувати' for laws or rules.
Треба дотримувати закону.Треба дотримуватися закону.While both forms govern the genitive, standard Ukrainian reserves the non-reflexive 'дотримувати' for specific idioms like 'keeping one's word' or 'maintaining silence'. For laws, rules, and principles, you should use the reflexive дотримуватися.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn the pattern 'дотримуватися + родовий', a learner needs to understand how reflexive verbs are formed using the -ся suffix and be familiar with the endings of the genitive case, as this verb specifically governs that case for its objects (rules, principles, etc.).
- -ся/-сьAttached Reflexive Suffix
The verb 'дотримуватися' is a reflexive verb, so understanding the reflexive suffix is necessary to recognize and conjugate it.
Level 2 - Genitive Possession
This pattern requires the use of the genitive case for its object, so a basic understanding of genitive endings is essential.
Level 2 - Verbs Used with -ся
The verb 'дотримуватися' belongs to the category of verbs that are inherently reflexive, which is a specific functional category in Ukrainian grammar.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- уникати + GenitiveУникати with Genitive
Another common verb that governs the genitive case, often used in similar instructional contexts (e.g., 'avoid mistakes').
Level 5 - Polite Imperative with ви
Often used with this verb to give polite instructions or commands (e.g., 'Please follow the rules').
Level 2 - потребувати + GenitiveПотребувати with Genitive
Like дотримуватися, this is a high-frequency verb that requires the genitive case for its object.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice дотримуватися + Genitive in Bubblegum
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