Adverbial Participles
Content
These are used to create adverb phrases. In english, these are made by adding -ing to the end of verbs (Note: the ending -ing in English also has different meanings besides in its use for adverbial participles, such as in adjectival participles and verbal nouns).
These types of participles are divided into contemporary and anterior participles.
Contemporary
– These denote a state or action that is occurring simultaneously with the main clause
– Can only be formed from imperfective verbs
Chodzę do szkoły, ucząc się nowych rzeczy.
(I go to school, learning new things)
The verb of the main clause chodzić (go) is happening at the same time with the adverbial participle uczyć się (learn).
Anterior
– These denote a state or action that took place before the main clause
– These are used almost exclusively in formal language
– Can only be formed from perfective verbs
Przeczytawszy pierwszą książkę, zaczął czytać drugą.
(Having read the first book, he started reading the second one)
The adverbial participle przeczytać (read) happened before “he” started reading the second book.
Usage
1. Cause of reason.
Powiedziawszy to, porozmawiajmy o czymś innym.
(Having said to, let’s talk about something else)
Chcąc się nauczyć języka obcego, zacząłem do szkoły chodzić.
(Wanting to learn a foreign language, I started going to school)
2. Condition
Rozmawiając z ludźmi, staniesz się mądrzejsza.
( (By) Talking with people, you will become smarter)
3. Manner
Czekali na przystanku śpiewając.
(They were waiting at the stop, singing)
Słuchali muzyki stojąc.
(They were listening to music standing)
Formation
Contemporary
Formed by adding a c to the 3rd personal plural present tense form of the verb.
Infinitive | 3rd Person Plural Present Tense | Anterior Participle |
czytać
pisać woleć |
czytają
piszą wolą |
czytając
pisząc woląc |
Anterior
These are formed in one of 2 ways. First, get the 3rd person singular masculine past tense form of the verb.
If there is a vowel before the last letter ł, the ł is cut off and wszy is added.
Infinitive | 3rd Person Singular Masculine Past Tense | Anterior Participle |
powiedzieć
umyć |
powiedział
umył |
powiedziawszy
umywszy |
If there is a consonant before the ł, the ł remains and szy is added.
Infinitive | 3rd Person Singular Masculine Past Tense | Anterior Participle |
zjeść
pójść |
zjadł
poszedł |
zjadłszy
poszedłszy |