свідчити про + Accusative
Свідчити Про with Accusative
The construction свідчити про + знахідний (accusative) means 'to indicate,' 'to testify to,' or 'to be evidence of.' It is a formal way to link a sign or observation to a conclusion.
How It Works
In Ukrainian, the verb свідчити (to testify/indicate) requires the preposition про when discussing a topic or evidence. This preposition strictly governs the accusative case.
Morphological Rules:
- Feminine nouns (1st declension): Nouns ending in -а/-я change their ending to -у/-ю (e.g., про перемогу). See feminine accusative endings.
- Feminine nouns (3rd declension): Nouns ending in a consonant (like якість) remain unchanged in the accusative.
- Masculine inanimate & Neuter nouns: The form remains identical to the nominative. See inanimate accusative as nominative.
- Masculine animate nouns: The form is identical to the genitive (e.g., про свідка).
Usage Nuances:
This construction is highly frequent in academic, journalistic, and legal registers. It differs from свідчити, що..., which introduces a full clause. Note: When the object is animate, the meaning typically shifts from 'to indicate/point to' to the legal sense of 'to give testimony about someone'.
Examples (4)
- Ці результати свідчать про значний прогрес у реформах.
These results indicate significant progress in the reforms.
Word by Word: These results testify about significant progress in reforms.
Here, 'прогрес' is an inanimate masculine noun, so its accusative form is identical to the nominative.
- Його мовчання свідчило про глибоку образу.
His silence testified to a deep resentment.
Word by Word: His silence testified about deep resentment.
The feminine noun 'образа' changes to 'образу' in the accusative case after 'про'.
- Нові дані свідчать про зростання економіки.
New data indicate the growth of the economy.
Word by Word: New data testify about growth of economy.
The neuter noun 'зростання' remains unchanged in the accusative case.
- Свідок погодився свідчити про підозрюваного.
The witness agreed to testify about the suspect.
Word by Word: Witness agreed to testify about suspect.
When the object is animate (підозрюваний), the accusative form matches the genitive (підозрюваного), and the meaning shifts to giving legal testimony.
Common Mistakes
Using the Locative case instead of the Accusative.
Це свідчить про зростанні.Це свідчить про зростання.Learners often use the Locative case (prepositional) due to influence from other Slavic languages. In Ukrainian, 'про' always requires the accusative.
Using 'свідчити про' when you mean to certify a document.
Different MeaningВін свідчить про документ.Він засвідчує документ.'Він свідчить про документ' is a real sentence, but it means 'he gives evidence about the document'. 'Засвідчувати' is used for official certification or notarization, while 'свідчити про' is for giving evidence or showing that something is so.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'свідчити про + знахідний', you need to understand how the preposition 'про' functions and how to decline nouns into the accusative case. Since this pattern is often used in formal or analytical contexts to describe what data or facts indicate, familiarity with third-person verb conjugations is also necessary.
Related Patterns
- Animate and Inanimate Accusative
The case required for the noun following the preposition 'про' in this pattern.
Level 6 - що (з'ясувальне)Content Clauses with Що
Used when 'свідчити' introduces a specific fact in a subordinate clause rather than a noun phrase.
Level 3 - -у/-юFeminine Accusative Ending
Explains the specific ending changes for first-declension feminine nouns used in this construction.
Level 1 - Inanimate Accusative as Nominative
Explains why many masculine and neuter nouns do not change their form in this pattern.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice свідчити про + Accusative in Bubblegum
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