Russian Language Grammar
Nouns and Adjectives Derived from Participles
A few nouns and many adjectives were formerly participles. They may function as both. In some instances there is a difference in spelling.
Nouns
The words – заведующий; управляющий; раненный – and some others may be used as participles:
человек, заведующий библиотекой |
the man in charge of the library |
женщина, управляющая машиной |
the woman who is driving the car |
бойцы, раненные во вчерашнем бою |
the soldiers wounded in the yesterday's battle |
The same words may be used as nouns (substantivized participles):
заведующий |
the manager |
управляющий |
manager |
раненый |
the wounded (man) |
Adjectives
Adjectives derived from participles constitute a larger class.
(a) The distinction between adjectives and participles centers around the following points:
An adjective has a less "active" character than a participle. The notion of time is not clearly present in an adjective.
Adjective: |
Знающий человек. |
An educated man, a man having knowledge. |
Participle: |
Человек, знающий дорогу. |
The man who knows the way. |
Adjectives originating from passive participles make no reference to the agent performing the action:
Уважаемый... |
Dear... (lit. "Respected") |
разрушенный дом |
a destroyed house |
раненые бойцы |
wounded soldiers |
Passive participles indicate the agent (in the instrumental case) or have qualifying words:
человек, уважаемый всеми |
a man respected by everybody |
дом, разрушенный неприятелем |
a house destroyed by the enemy |
бойцы, раненные при отступлении |
soldiers wounded during the retreat |
Frequently, an adjective derived from a participle has a figurative meaning:
блестящие результаты |
brilliant (outstanding) results |
цветущее предприятие |
a flourishing enterprise |
потерянное время |
lost (wasted) time |
Note: Adjectives and participles may occasionally have different endings (and different meanings):
висящий на стене | hanging on the wall (participle) |
висячий мост | suspension bridge (adjective) |
плачущая девочка | a crying girl (participle) |
плакучая ива | a weeping willow (adjective) |
(The ending -щий is Church Slavonic; -чий is Russian.)
(b) Reflexive participles may also become adjectives:
небьющаяся посуда |
unbreakable dishes |
вращающийся вал |
a rotating shaft |
(c) Many adjectives with the suffix -л historically belong to past active participles:
взрослый |
grown up |
прошлый |
last former |
усталый |
tired |
(d) A large number of negated adjectives have the suffix of present passive participles -мый. These adjectives are formed from imperfective or perfective verbs, transitive or intransitive.
незабываемое впечатление |
unforgettable impression |
несгораемый шкаф |
safe (lit.: non-combustible closet) |
непромокаемое пальто |
waterproof coat |
необходимые меры |
necessary (unavoidable) measures |
непроходимые дороги |
impassable roads |
невозмутимое спокойствие |
imperturbable calmness (placidity) |
невыполнимый план |
impracticable plan |
Непобедимая армада |
invincible Armada |
неуловимый звук |
elusive (barely perceptible) sound |
неутомимый работник |
indefatigable worker |
The Spelling of Past Passive Participles and Related Adjectives
1. Participles are spelled with two н's:
письмо, полученное вчера |
the letter which was received yesterday |
деньги, посланные по почте |
the money sent by mail |
2. Adjectives are spelled with two н's when they have a prefix, or when they have one of the suffixes -ирова or -ова:
запутанное дело |
a confused (entangled) business |
аннексированная территория |
annexed territory |
маринованная рыба |
marinated fish |
Otherwise, adjectives formed from participles are spelled with one н:
путаный ответ |
a confused answer |
раненый офицер |
a wounded officer |
копчёная ветчина |
smoked ham |
Exceptions: The non-prefixed adjectives данный and желанный are spelled with two н's:
в данный момент |
at the present moment |
желанный гость |
a welcome guest |
3. The spelling rule regarding the short form of past passive participles and corresponding adjectives is different: In the feminine, neuter and plural, the participle takes one н, the adjective takes two н's:
PARTICIPLE: |
Здесь образована комиссия. |
A commission has been formed here. |
Они были воспитаны тётей. |
They were brought up by their aunt. |
|
ADJECTIVES: |
Она очень образованна. |
She is very well educated. |
Они хорошо воспитанны. |
They are well brought up. |