вважати/називати + Accusative + Instrumental
Вважати and Називати with Accusative Plus Instrumental
When using verbs like вважати (to consider) or називати (to call/name), the person or thing being described is in the Accusative case, while the role or label assigned to them is in the Instrumental case.
How It Works
In Ukrainian, certain transitive verbs require two complements to complete their meaning. This is common in formal, academic, and everyday speech.
1. The Verbs:
- Вважати: Used for judgments, opinions, or classifications ('to consider').
- Називати: Used for labeling, naming, or titling ('to call').
- Визнавати: Used for acknowledging a status or fact ('to recognize/admit').
2. The Case Logic:
The first noun (the direct object) takes the Accusative case. The second part (the predicate complement) describes the object and takes the Instrumental case. This complement can be either a noun or an adjective.
3. Alternative Constructions:
For the verb вважати, using за + Accusative is a very common and productive alternative (e.g., вважати це за помилку). This is often preferred in stylistic guides to distinguish Ukrainian from other Slavic influences.
4. Important Nuances:
- Avoid 'як': Using як (as) with these verbs (e.g., *вважати як помилку) is considered a stylistic error or an Anglicism in formal Ukrainian. Stick to the bare Instrumental.
- Називати vs. Звати: While the verb звати (to call/name) typically takes the Nominative case for literal names, the verb називати follows the standard rule and requires the Instrumental in modern usage.
Examples (6)
- Я вважаю його своїм найкращим другом.
I consider him my best friend.
Word by Word: I consider him [Acc.] my best friend [Inst.].
The direct object 'him' is in the Accusative, while the role 'best friend' is in the Instrumental.
- Учні називають цю вчительку легендою школи.
The students call this teacher a legend of the school.
Word by Word: Students call this teacher [Acc.] legend [Inst.] of school.
Even for titles or labels, 'називати' requires the Instrumental case in standard Ukrainian.
- Суд визнав його винним у злочині.
The court recognized him as guilty of the crime.
Word by Word: Court recognized him [Acc.] guilty [Inst.] in crime.
The verb 'визнавати' (to recognize/acknowledge) follows the same pattern, often with an adjective in the Instrumental.
- Ми вважаємо це рішення великою помилкою.
We consider this decision a big mistake.
Word by Word: We consider this decision [Acc.] big mistake [Inst.].
- Вона вважає таку поведінку неприпустимою.
She considers such behavior unacceptable.
Word by Word: She considers such behavior [Acc.] unacceptable [Inst.].
Here, the adjective 'unacceptable' is in the Instrumental case to match the role assigned to the behavior.
- Його назвали новим директором компанії.
He was named the new director of the company.
Word by Word: Him [Acc.] named new director [Inst.] of company.
Common Mistakes
Using the Nominative case for a role or classification.
Він вважає мене друг.Він вважає мене другом.When describing a role or category, the complement must be in the Instrumental case (другом) or use the 'за + Accusative' construction, not the Nominative (друг).
Using an infinitive like 'бути' (to be) to link the object and its role.
Я вважаю це бути правильним.Я вважаю це правильним.Ukrainian does not use the infinitive 'to be' in this construction; the Instrumental case alone conveys the state or classification.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn this construction, you need to understand how to form the accusative case for the direct object and the instrumental case for the predicate noun. It builds on the logic of using the instrumental case to define a role or category, similar to how it is used with the verb 'to be' (бути) or 'to become' (стати).
- стати / бути + InstrumentalInstrumental Predicate After Стати and Бути
This pattern introduces the concept of using the instrumental case for a predicate noun to describe a role or status, which is the same logic used here.
Level 3 - Present tense of regular -ати verbs
The verb 'вважати' follows the regular -ати conjugation pattern, which is necessary to form sentences in the present tense.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- Predicative Instrumental
This is the specific use of the Instrumental case to describe a state or role, which is the core of this pattern.
Level 6 - Accusative direct object
The first part of this construction requires a direct object in the Accusative case.
Level 1 - призначити/обрати + Accusative + InstrumentalAppointing or Electing with Instrumental Role
This pattern uses the exact same case structure (Accusative + Instrumental) for appointing or electing someone to a role.
Level 5 - цікавитися / займатися / керувати + InstrumentalVerb-Governed Instrumental
Another set of verbs that govern the Instrumental case, though for different semantic reasons.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice вважати/називати + Accusative + Instrumental in Bubblegum
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