Commas with Adverbial Participial Phrases
Adverbial participial phrases (дієприслівникові звороти) add extra information about an action. They are almost always set off by commas, regardless of their position in the sentence.
How It Works
In Ukrainian, a дієприслівниковий зворот consists of an imperfective or perfective adverbial participle plus its dependent words.
General Rule:
Adverbial participle phrases and single adverbial participles are usually set off by commas. Single participles are isolated if they denote time, cause, or condition.
The Same-Subject Rule:
According to the same-subject rule, the action of the participle must be performed by the same subject as the main verb. They generally cannot be used in impersonal sentences. An exception exists for impersonal sentences containing an infinitive, but only if there is no dative experiencer (subject) present. For example, 'Можна вивчити мову, лише постійно тренуючись' is acceptable, but 'Вам треба вивчити мову, тренуючись' is considered non-normative because the dative 'вам' conflicts with the participle.
Homogeneous Phrases:
If two phrases are joined by a single coordinating conjunction (і, й, та, або, чи), do not place a comma between them. However, if the conjunctions are repeated (і..., і...), a comma is required.
The Conjunction 'а':
A comma is placed after 'а' only if the phrase can be moved elsewhere in the sentence without the conjunction. If 'а' is structurally inseparable from the phrase, no comma is used between them.
Exceptions (No Commas):
1. Idioms: Set expressions like 'працювати не покладаючи рук'.
2. Adverbs of Manner: If a single participle functions strictly as an adverb of manner (answering 'How?') and stands after the verb.
3. Relative Clauses: If the phrase contains the relative pronoun який, the phrase is not separated by a comma from the rest of the subordinate clause.
4. Intensifying Particles: When preceded by the intensifying particle і or й (meaning 'even').
Examples (6)
- Відбувши зустріч, видавець узгодив деталі дизайну.
Having held the meeting, the publisher agreed on the design details.
Word by Word: Having-held meeting, publisher agreed-on details of-design.
The perfective adverbial participle 'Відбувши' is separated by a comma as it begins the sentence.
- Віддавши дитині іграшку та заваривши чай, батько сів відпочити.
Having given the child a toy and having brewed tea, the father sat down to rest.
Word by Word: Having-given child toy and having-brewed tea, father sat-down to-rest.
No comma is placed between two homogeneous phrases joined by the single conjunction 'та' (and).
- Він написав текст не задумуючись.
He wrote the text without thinking (effortlessly).
Word by Word: He wrote text not thinking.
No comma is used because the negative adverbial participle functions as an adverb of manner answering 'How?' and follows the verb.
- Він не відпочивав, а написавши листа, відразу відправив його.
He did not rest, but having written the letter, he sent it immediately.
Word by Word: He not rested, but having-written letter, immediately sent it.
The phrase 'написавши листа' is separated by commas because it is movable and independent of the conjunction 'а'.
- Дівчина, написавши листа, відправила його друзям.
The girl, having written the letter, sent it to her friends.
Word by Word: Girl, having-written letter, sent it to-friends.
The phrase is isolated by commas on both sides because it is in the middle of the sentence and refers to the nominative subject.
- Ви знайдете будинок, пройшовши який ви вийдете на вулицю.
You will find the building, having passed which you will come out onto the street.
Word by Word: You will-find building, having-passed which you will-come-out onto street.
When the phrase contains the relative pronoun який, the entire phrase is not separated by a comma from the rest of the subordinate clause.
Common Mistakes
The 'Dangling' Participle (Subject Mismatch)
Підходячи до школи, у мене випав телефон.Коли я підходив до школи, у мене випав телефон.In the incorrect version, the subject of the main verb is 'телефон' (phone), but the phone didn't 'approach the school.' The subject of the participle must match the subject of the main verb.
Missing commas at the end of a sentence.
Він сидів біля вікна читаючи книгу.Він сидів біля вікна, читаючи книгу.Unlike in some other languages, Ukrainian requires a comma before the adverbial participial phrase even when it concludes the sentence.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn commas with adverbial participial phrases, a learner must first be able to identify the adverbial participle itself (in both aspects) and understand how it functions within a larger phrase (the 'зворот') that modifies the main action of the sentence.
Related Patterns
- Shared-Subject Adverbial Participle
Explains the fundamental rule that the subject of the participle and the main verb must be identical.
Level 6 - Imperfective Adverbial Participle
Covers the formation of the present participles used in these phrases.
Level 4 - Perfective Adverbial Participle
Covers the formation of the past participles used in these phrases.
Level 4 - Participial Phrase
Contrasts adverbial phrases with adjectival participial phrases, which follow different punctuation and agreement rules.
Level 4 - який (відносний)Relative Clauses with Який
Relevant for the exception where a phrase containing the relative pronoun 'який' is not set off by commas.
Level 3
Practice Commas with Adverbial Participial Phrases in Bubblegum
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