1. Orthographic convention

Belarusan spelling is important for grammar because many morphological alternations are visible first as spelling alternations. This chapter therefore begins with the vowel system and stress, then turns to consonant restrictions and finally to the special spelling rules for в, у, and ў.

1.1 Vowels

Belarusan has 10 letters representing vowel sounds. They can be divided into two categories, non-iotized vowels and their iotized counterparts. The letters in the second column represent the same sounds as the vowels in the first, but with an initial “y” sound.

When a consonant precedes one of the vowels in the second column, that consonant is palatized.

Non-iotized	Iotized
`а́`	`я́`
`о́`	`ё́`
`у́`	`ю́`
`ы́`	`і́`
`э́`	`е́`

1.2 Stress and the vowels `о, э`, and `ё`

The letters о, э, and ё normally only exist when stressed. When unstressed, о and э change to а. The letter ё usually changes to е, but sometimes it changes to я.

This makes stress important whenever a word changes form. If stress moves to another syllable, the spelling of the vowel may change with it. The following examples show the alternation between singular and plural forms.

Singular	Plural
`во́л` ‘ox’	`валы́`
`сасна́` ‘pine tree’	`со́сны`
`сто́л` ‘table’	`сталы́`

There are exceptions. In this lesson, the relevant exceptions are loan words.

ра́дыё ‘radio’

тэлеві́зар ‘television’

экано́міка ‘economy’

1.3 Conversion of `е` to other vowels

Any е or ё, which immediately precedes the accent, is changed to я.

адзе́ць ‘to dress’ (perfective) → адзява́ць ‘to dress’ (imperfective)

ве́цер ‘wind’ → вятры́ ‘winds’

Exceptions to this include certain loan words.

бензі́н ‘gasoline’

сезо́н ‘season’

электро́н ‘electron’

1.4 Conversion of `о` to `ы`

In words with the accent on the last syllable, it is common for a preceding syllable -ро- to change to -ры-.

бро́вы ‘eyebrows’ → брыво́ ‘eyebrow’

гро́м ‘thunder’ → грыме́ць ‘to rumble’

кро́ў ‘blood’ → крыві́ ‘of blood’

1.5 Invariably Non-palatized Consonants

The letters д, ж, р, т, ч, and ш are always hard: they are never followed by any letter from the second column of the vowel table. When morphology would normally place an iotized vowel after д or т, those consonants change to дз or ц respectively.

When an iotized vowel would normally follow ж, р, ч, or ш, that vowel changes to its non-iotized counterpart. The consonants г, к, х are also restricted: they are never followed by the letter ы. Where ы would otherwise occur after one of these three letters, it changes to і.

бяда́ ‘misery’ → у бядзе́ ‘in misery’

гара́ ‘mountain’ → на гары́ ‘on the mountain’

мяжа́ ‘boundary’ → на мяжы́ ‘on the boundary’

піро́г ‘pastry’ → пірагі́ ‘pastries’

расту́ць ‘they grow’ → расце́ ‘it grows’

1.6 The apostrophe

In Belarusan, this letter fills the function of the Russian letter ъ. It only occurs following a consonant, and preceding an iotized vowel. Having no sound of its own, its function is to separate the sound of the vowel following it from the consonant preceding it. This is either to prevent the consonant from being palatized, or to conform to spelling rules because the preceding consonant is invariably non-palatized.

аб’яві́ць ‘to declare’

п’я́ны ‘intoxicated’

сур’ё́зны ‘serious’

1.7 Assimilation

Belarusan, like Russian, de-voices its consonants. Voiced consonants followed by unvoiced consonants are pronounced as unvoiced. Unvoiced consonants followed by voiced consonants are pronounced voiced. Consonants at the end of words are pronounced as unvoiced. Belarusan has assimilation with respect to palatization. If a consonant is palatized, an immediately preceding consonant is also palatized, provided it is one of the eligible consonants. Only the consonants дз, з, л, н, с, and ц are eligible to be palatized in this way. The orthographic convention does not explicitely put ь between the two palatized consonants, but it is intended. For the purposes of both assimilation and pronunciation, the letter combination дз is treated as a single letter. The consonants б, в, м, and ф are not palatized this way, but if they are followed by an iotized vowel, consonants that precede one of these letters can be palatized by assimilation. The invariably hard consonants cannot be palatized, and will prevent those consonants preceding them from being palatized by assimilation. See Section 1.5 for more on invariably non-palatized consonants.

Orthography	Pronunciation	Meaning
`дзве́ры`	`/дзьве́ры/`	‘door’
`ё́сць`	`/ё́сьць/`	‘there is’
`пе́сня`	`/пе́сьня/`	‘song’

1.8 Rules for `в`, `у`, and `ў`

If the letter у occurs after a vowel, even if the vowel ends the previous word, it is written as an ў. This letter is pronounced like the English w.

Яна́ пайшла́ ў хлеў. ‘She went into the shed.’

Яна́ стаі́ць у хляве́. ‘She is standing in the shed.’

Гэ́та ўсё, што ё́сць. ‘That’s all there is.’

Увайшлі́ яны́ ў ха́ту. ‘They went into the house.’

Я ўвайшо́ў у ха́ту. ‘I went into the house.’

The letter в cannot occur, unless it is immediately followed by a vowel, otherwise, it must change to a ў. The letter ў can precede iotized vowels, but is changed to a в if it precedes a non-iotized vowel. When preceding an iotized vowel, it is not always clear whether the consonant should be a в or an ў.

любо́ў ‘love’ → любо́ўю ‘with love’

спра́ва ‘affair’ → спра́ў ‘of the affairs’

хле́ў ‘shed’ → за хляво́м ‘behind the shed’, у хляве́ ‘in the shed’

Belarusan words cannot normally begin with an о. Many words which would otherwise begin with an оinstead have the letter в added to the beginning. If the о changes to an а due to an accent shift, the initial в often drops off.

во́зера ‘lake’ → азё́ры ‘lakes’

во́кны ‘windows’ → акно́ ‘window’

There are exceptions to this rule, but they are all loan words.

о́дум ‘profound thought’

о́пера ‘opera’

о́рган ‘organ’

о́рдэн ‘ceremonial order’

о́рдэр ‘warrant’

2. Noun Declension Patterns

Belarusan declension patterns are quite straghtforward and follow several basic patterns. The orthographic convention might make them look more complex.

It is extremely common for a noun with accented endings in the singular to have unaccented endings in the plural, and vice-versa.

2.1 Masculine declension: basic pattern

The basic pattern of masculine declension is that for nouns 1) ending in a non-palatalized consonant appending 2) the accented set of endings like the work блі́н ‘pancake’, ву́гал ‘corner’, лоб ‘forehead’. In this case the stem alternates between its accentuated and non-accentuated version split for palatalization: блі́н vs блін- and блінь-.

	Singular	Plural
Nominative	`блі́н`	`бліны́`
Accusative	`блі́н`	`бліны́`
Genitive	`бліна́`	`бліно́ў`
Dative	`бліну́`	`бліна́м`
Instrumental	`бліно́м`	`бліна́мі`
Prepositional	`на бліне́`	`на бліна́х`

Many other masculine nous take non-accentuated version of the same endings. So do план ‘plan’, аўто́бус ‘bus’, клас ‘class’. In this case as well, the noun’s stem is split for palatalization but is always accented: аўто́бус vs аўто́бусь-.

	Singular	Plural
Nominative	`аўто́бус`	`аўто́бусы́`
Accusative	`аўто́бус`	`аўто́бусы́`
Genitive	`аўто́буса́`	`аўто́бусаў`
Dative	`аўто́бусу́`	`аўто́бусам`
Instrumental	`аўто́бусам`	`аўто́бусамі`
Prepositional	`у аўто́бусе́`	`у аўто́бусах`

Stems ending in -д or -т form their palatalized forms with дзь- and ць- respectively (суд ‘judgment’: су́д vs суд- and судзь-, куст ‘bush’, ліст ‘leaf’ for accented endings, otherwise по́гляд ‘outlook’, асфа́льт‘asphalt’).

Masculine nouns in -г, -к, or -х with accented endings decline like кула́к ‘fist. The stem is still split into three variants: кула́к, кулак-, кулакь-, but they are used to form different cases. бок ‘side’, мех ‘sack’.

	Singular	Plural
Nominative	`кула́к`	`кулакі́`
Accusative	`кула́к`	`кулакі́`
Genitive	`кулака́`	`кулакоў`
Dative	`кулаку́`	`кулака́м`
Instrumental	`кулако́м`	`кулака́мі`
Prepositional	`у кулаку́`	`у кулака́х`

In the of non accented ending as well, the noun’s stem is split for palatalization but is always accented: во́жык vs во́жык-. гук ‘sound’, луг ‘meadow’, страх ‘fear’.

Masculine nouns with accented endings in -ж, -р, -ц, -ч, or -ш decline like мяч ‘ball’ receive ы́ in Prepositional Singular, the stem in plit in two: мя́ч vs мяч- (двор ‘yard’, нож ‘knife’, кане́ц ‘end’, кош ‘basket’), with unaccented endings decline like катэ́дж ‘cottage’: receive ы in Prepositional Singular, the stem in not plit: катэ́дж-. (ро́вар ‘bicycle’, харч ‘food’, па́лец ‘finger’, а́ркуш ‘sheet of paper’)

Masculine nouns ending in a palatalized consonant (marked with -ь or -й) follow the general pattern either with stem or ending accentuation, but forming the Prepositional Singular with і or і́ (пень ‘stump’, аго́нь ‘fire’, руча́й ‘stream’ ending-accentuated, партфе́ль ‘briefcase’, аўтамабі́ль ‘automobile’ stem-accentuated). The non-accented Instrumental Singular is formed with э sound instead of *а: -ем instead of *-ам (партфе́лем instead of *партфе́лям).

2.2 Neuter nouns follow the same pattern

Most neuter nouns end in accentuated -о́ (like крыло́ wing, акно́ ‘window’, пісьмо́ ‘letter’) or non-accentuated -а (like ко́ла ‘wheel’, дрэ́ва ‘tree’). Their stem is obtained by dropping the laste phoneme -о́ or -а and follows the basic masculine pattern. The Nominative and Accusative forms conserve this final -о́ or -а.

Is exactly the same, as described for masculine nouns, the mechanics of д-т (гняздо́ → гняздзе́ ‘nest’, жы́та → жы́це ‘rye’, ле́та → ле́це ‘summer’), -га, -ка, or -ха (во́блака ‘cloud’, рэ́ха ‘echo’), -жо, -ро, -цо, -чо, or -шо (вядро́ bucket, ружжо́ ‘gun’, яйцо́ ‘egg’, плячо́ ‘shoulder’), -жа, -ра, -ца, -ча, or -ша (аке́нца small window, мо́ра ‘sea’, аблі́чча ‘countenance’, падстрэ́шша ‘eaves’).

Neuter nouns ending in accentuated -ё (пачуццё́ ‘sense’, галлё́ ‘piece of firewood’, жыццё́ ‘life’) or non-accentuated -е (пакале́нне ‘generation’, выключэ́нне ‘exception’) have their stems not split and always palatalized: пачуцць-, пакале́ннь-. They follow the same neuter patterns for accentuated and non-accentuated nouns.

Palatalized stem make them follow the same adjustments the masculine palatalized stems undergo: Prepositional Singular in і or і́, the non-accentuated Instrumental Singular is formed with э sound instead of *а: -ем instead of *-ам (пакале́ннем instead of *пакале́нням).

Neuter nouns ending in -мя (they are 7) бярэ́мя ‘armful’, вы́мя ‘udder’, пле́мя ‘tribe’, по́лымя ‘flame’, се́мя ‘seed’, це́мя ‘top of head’, стрэ́мя ‘stirrup’ follow the general pattern. Many of these nouns have no plural form. Some use augmentative suffix -ен-, -ян-, -ён- in stem formation.

Neuter for animal youngs like цялё̐ ‘calf’ follow the general pattern. They accept variation -ё́ / -я́ in Nominative and Accusative Singular. In Genitive, Dative, and Prepositional Singular they use specific form with augmentative suffix in -я́ці, identical for the three cases (парася́ ‘piglet’, жарабя́ ‘foal’, дзіця́ ‘child’):

	Singular	Plural
Nominative	`цялё́` & `цяля́`	`цяля́ты`
Accusative	`цялё́` & `цяля́`	`цяля́т`
Genitive	`цяля́ці`	`цяля́т`
Dative	`цяля́ці`	`цяля́там`
Instrumental	`цялё́м`	`цяля́тамі`
Prepositional	`аб цяля́ці`	`аб цяля́тах`

2.3 Feminine pattern nouns ending in -а

The basic pattern of feminine declension is that for nouns 1) ending in a non-palatalized consonant appending 2) the accented set of endings like the work галіна́ ‘branch’ (сцяна́ ‘wall’, галава́ ‘head’, сасна́ ‘pine tree’). In this case the stem alternates between its accentuated and non-accentuated version split for palatalization: галін- vs галінь- and галі́н-.

	Singular	Plural
Nominative	`галіна́`	`галіны́`
Accusative	`галіну́`	`галіны́`
Genitive	`галіны́`	`галі́н`
Dative	`галіне́`	`галіна́м`
Instrumental	`галіно́й`	`галіна́мі`
Prepositional	`на галіне́`	`на галіна́х`

Feminine nouns 1) ending in a non-palatalized consonant appending using the 2) non-accented set of endings behave жанчы́на ‘woman’ (бу́льба ‘potatoe’, кра́ма ‘store’). Their stem is split for palatalization and is always accentuated: жанчы́н- vs жанчы́нь-. The endings are the unaccented version of the previous ones with the Instrumental Singular being -ай: жанчы́най.

The stems ending in д or т form the Dative and Prepositional Singular stems with ць or дзь respectively: пліта́ → пліце́ ‘slab’, ха́та → ха́це ‘home’, вада́ → вадзе́ ‘water’, бясе́да → бясе́дзе ‘discussion’.

The stems ending in г, к, х like рука́ ‘arm’ form Dative and Prepositional Singular with a stem version in зь, ц, сь respectively. The Genitive Singular and Nominative Plural use palatalized version of the stem and an і-colored ending instead of ы. Their stem is split for palatalization and second palatalization: рук-, рукь-, руц-, ру́к- (страха́ → страсе́ ‘roof’, нага → назе ‘leg’).

The stems ending in ж, р, ч, ц, ш form Dative and Prepositional Singular with endings ы and ы́ in accented and non-accented ending paradigms: мяжа́ ‘boundary’, гара́ ‘mountain’, душа́ ‘soul’, мара́ ‘dream’, ве́жа ‘spire’, ра́ніца ‘morning’, ану́ча ‘rag’, ка́ша ‘porridge’.

Feminined nouns with stem in a palatalized consonant (marked with -я) follow the general pattern either with stem or ending accentuation, but forming the Dative, Prepositional Singular and Nominative Plural with і or і́ (зямля́‘land’, сям'я́ ‘family’, лі́нія ‘line’, ку́ля ‘bullet’, па́ртыя ‘party’).

2.4 Feminine nouns ending in consonant

The Inst. Singular may double the last consontant or insert a sound й (written as apostroph ’). The Genitive Plural uses -ей or -эй for accented endings, -аў, -яў for unaccented: су́вязь ‘connection’ (ра́дасць ‘joy’, соль ‘salt’):

	Singular	Plural
Nominative	`су́вязь`	`су́вязі`
Accusative	`су́вязь`	`су́вязі`
Genitive	`су́вязі`	`су́вязяў`
Dative	`су́вязі`	`су́вязям`
Instrumental	`су́вяззю`	`су́вязямі`
Prepositional	`на су́вязі`	`на су́вязях`

Nouns of this group with the endings -ж, -р, -ч, or -ш decline like ноч ‘night’ (ву́праж ‘bridled horse’, мыш ‘mouse’).

	Singular	Plural
Nominative	`ноч`	`но́чы`
Accusative	`ноч`	`но́чы`
Genitive	`но́чы`	`начэ́й`
Dative	`но́чы`	`нача́м`
Instrumental	`но́ччу`	`нача́мі`
Prepositional	`у но́чы`	`у нача́х`

3. Advanced Noun Declension

3.1 Accusative form of animate nouns

The accusative form of plural animate nouns is identical the genitive, not the nominative case. adjectives describing these nouns take the genitive ending.

Пасту́х збіра́е сваі́х каро́ў ‘The herdsman gathers his cows’, Туды́ дзяўча́т пасыла́лі ‘That’s where we sent the girls’, Прасі́ў у яго́, не за сябе́, за двух ма́ленькіх дзе́так ‘I asked him, not for myself, but for two little kids’

The accusative case is identical to the genitive for singular masculine animate nouns as well. Corresponding adjectives take the genitive ending.

Яна́ прыдба́е но́вага му́жа ‘She will get a new husband’, ён перажыва́ў за старэ́йшага бра́та ‘He was worried about his older brother’, Пава́жанага пешахо́да ігнару́юць і прыгнята́юць по́шлыя вадзі́целі ‘The respected pedestrian is ignored and oppressed by common drivers’

3.2 Masculine genitive singular endings `а`/`я` versus `у`/`ю`

There are two groups of masculine nouns. One of these groups has genitive singular endings of а and я, the other group has genitive singular endings of у, and ю. There is no easy way to tell to which group any given noun belongs.

Nouns with the genitive singular endings -а or -я are typically words that can be described in English with the word “many.” These nouns are often concrete, countable objects.

Nouns denoting people, animals, and body parts
Units of measurement and currency
Geographical concepts

бра́та ‘of the brother’; малатка́ ‘of the hammer’, гра́ма ‘of the gram’; па́льца ‘of the finger’, дня ‘of the day’; перашы́йка ‘of the isthmus’, кантынэ́нта ‘of the continent’; рубля́ ‘of the ruble’, каня́ ‘of the horse’; чалаве́ка ‘of the person’

Nouns with the genitive singular endings -у or -ю are typically words that are used in the partitive sense. In other words, some portion of a whole is implied. Typically, such words represent more abstract ideas. They can usually be described in English with the word “much.” If a word in English cannot have an article like “the” applied to it, it will have the -у or -ю genitive ending in Belarusan.

Nouns that denote a group, gathering, or collection of other things
Natural phenomena, characteristics, actions, and spatial directions
Substances and other nouns that can be described in English by the word “much”

вы́гляду ‘of the glance’; ро́ду ‘of the type’, дажджу́ ‘of rain’; сну ‘of sleep’, ко́леру ‘of color’; усхо́ду ‘of the east’, набо́ру ‘of the collection’; хо́ладу ‘of the cold’, нато́ўпу ‘of the crowd’; цу́кру ‘of sugar’

3.3 Genitive plural endings

It is often very difficult to predict the genitive plural endings of nouns. The genitive plural form must be memorized for every feminine noun, and for masculine nouns ending in -ь.

Feminine nouns ending in -а or -я are the most problematic.


`ве́жа`	`ве́жаў`	of the spires	`зямля́`	`зе́мляў`	of the lands
`галава́`	`гало́ў`	of the heads	`кра́ма`	`кра́маў`	of the shops
`галі́на`	`галі́н`	of the branches	`лі́нія`	`лі́ній`	of the lines
`зо́рка`	`зо́рак`	of the stars	`сям'я́`	`се́м'яў`	of the families

Masculine nouns ending in -ь also have this issue.


`госць`	`гасце́й`	of the guests	`ло́каць`	`ло́кцяў`	of the elbows
`конь`	`ко́ней`	of the horses	`пень`	`пнёў`	of the stumps

me nouns can have either ending.


`мяжа́`	`меж` or `ме́жаў`	of the boundaries
`сасна́`	`со́сен` or `со́снаў`	of the pine-trees
`ха́та`	`хат` or `ха́таў`	of the cottages

3.4 Irregular prepositional endings

Many maculine and neuter nouns with unaccented endings whose final consonant г or х, have irregular prepositional singular endings. The final consonant morphs into з or с respectively.


`бе́раг`	`на бе́разе`	on the shore
`верх`	`на ве́рсе`	on top
`кажу́х`	`у кажу́се`	in the leather jacket
`луг`	`на лу́зе`	in the field
`начле́г`	`на начле́зе`	in the lodgings
`паро́г`	`на паро́зе`	on the threshold
`снег`	`на сне́зе`	on the snow
`стог`	`на сто́зе`	on the haystack

*The form у кажуху́ is equally common.

The following masculine and neuter nouns have irregular prepositional forms.


`брат`	`аб бра́ту`	about the brother
`горб`	`на гарбу́`	on the hump
`меч`	`на мячы́`	on the sword
`пост`	`на пасту́`	at the watch-post
`ход`	`на хаду́`	in motion

`гнядзо`	`у гняздзе́`	in the nest
`малако`	`у малацэ́`	in milk
`рэ́ха`	`у рэ́се`	in the echo

3.5 Feminine Instrumental Ending Variation

There exists a variation of the instrumental ending for feminine nouns ending in -а or -я. This alternate ending is created by replacing the final -й with a -ю. This variation is common, but is non-standard and should be avoided by the non-native speaker. This variation extends to adjectives and pronouns as well.

Бабу́ля то́лькі галаво́ю паківа́ла ‘The old lady just shook her head’, Я пайду́ з табо́й ра́зам ‘I will go together with you’, З пэ́ўнаю перасцяро́гай ў душы́, Бу́раў пераступі́ў і другі́ паро́г ‘With definite caution in his soul, Burau crossed the second doorway also’

3.6 Gender and declension disagreement

Masculine animate nouns ending in -а or -я do not decline like other masculine nouns. If the accent falls on the ending, the word declines exactly as though it were feminine. If the accent falls on the stem, the word has feminine endings for the nominative, accusative, and genitive singular cases, but has masculine endings for all remaining cases. Note the examples of ба́цька ‘father’, and та́та ‘dad’.

	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
Nominative	`ба́цька`	`ба́цькі`	`та́та`	`та́ты`
Accusative	`ба́цьку`	`ба́цькоў`	`та́ту`	`та́таў`
Genitive	`ба́цькі`	`ба́цькоў`	`та́ты`	`та́таў`
Dative	`ба́цьку`	`ба́цькам`	`та́ту`	`та́там`
Instrumental	`ба́цькам`	`ба́цькамі`	`та́там`	`та́тамі`
Prepositional	`аб ба́цьку`	`аб ба́цьках`	`аб та́це`	`та́тах`

саба́ка ‘dog’, слуга́ ‘servant’, суддзя́ ‘judge’

3.7 Declension misfits

Some nouns do not fit well in the normal declension patterns. These include the neuter noun дзіця́ ‘child’, and the feminine nouns любо́ў ‘love’, and кро́ў ‘blood’.

	Singular	Plural
Nominative	`дзіця́`	`дзе́ці`	`любо́ў`	`кроў`
Accusative	`дзіця́`	`дзяце́й`	`любо́ў`	`кроў`
Genitive	`дзіця́ці`	`дзяце́й`	`любо́ві`	`крыві́`
Dative	`дзіця́ці`	`дзе́цям`	`любо́ві`	`крыві́`
Instrumental	`дзіцё́м`	`дзе́цьмі`	`любо́ўю`	`крывё́й`
Prepositional	`аб дзіця́ці`	`аб дзе́цях`	`аб любо́ві`	`у крыві́`

There are many nouns, mostly foreign words, which do not decline. They have the same form, regardless of case or number.

ма́ці ‘mother’, па́ні ‘Mrs’

3.8 Words with no plural form

Many words have only a singular form. Most of these words have no plural in English either. Included are things like substances, proper nouns, and ideas.

бу́льба ‘potato’; со́нца ‘sun’, ве́цер ‘wind’; спако́й ‘stillness’, лі́ха ‘evil’; сярэ́дзіна ‘middle’

Most neuter nouns ending in -мя have no plural form.

бярэ́мя ‘armful’; се́мя ‘seed’, вы́мя ‘udder’; це́мя ‘top of head’, по́лымя ‘flame’

3.9 Words with no singular form

Many words have only a plural form.

абцугі́ ‘pincers’; кано́плі ‘hemp’, акуля́ры ‘eyeglasses’; кпі́ны ‘laughter’, арэ́лі ‘child’s swing’; кру́пы ‘porridge’, вы́бары ‘election’; лю́дзі ‘people’, гро́шы ‘money’; не́тры ‘depths’, гру́дзі ‘chest’; паво́дзіны ‘behavior’, джу́нглі ‘jungle’; прысма́кі ‘hors d’oeuvres’, дзве́ры ‘door’; са́ні ‘sled’, дро́вы ‘firewood’; су́ткі ‘twenty-four hours’, забабо́ны ‘superstition’; ша́хматы ‘chess’, зно́сіны ‘relations’; шта́ны ‘pants’

3.10 Irregular plurals

The plural forms of these words have different stems than the singular forms.

Gender	Singular	Meaning	Plural	Genitive Plural
Masculine	`пан`	gentleman	`пано́ве`	`пано́ў`
Masculine	`сусе́д`	neighbor	`сусе́дзі`	`сусе́дзяў`
Masculine	`чорт`	devil	`чэ́рці`	`чарце́й`
Neuter	`во́ка`	eye	`во́чы`	`вачэ́й`
Neuter	`ву́ха`	ear	`ву́шы`	`вушэ́й`
Neuter	`зе́рне`	grain	`зярня́ты`	`зярня́т`
Neuter	`кале́на`	knee	`кале́ні`	`кале́няў`
Neuter	`не́ба`	sky/heaven	`нябё́сы`	`нябё́саў`
Feminine	`дзяўчы́на`	girl	`дзяўча́ты`	`дзяўча́т`
Feminine	`ку́рыца`	chicken	`ку́ры`	`курэ́й`

3.11 Nouns ending in `-ін`

These animate nouns denote types of people. Other than the nominative plural ending, the rest of the plural endings are the same as for other nouns. The genitive plural ending is -аў and is unaccented.

Masculine	Feminine	Meaning	Plural
`гараджа́нін`	`гараджа́нка`	townsperson	`гараджа́не`
`грамадзя́нін`	`грамадзя́нка`	citizen	`грамадзя́не`
`мешчані́н`	`мяшча́нка`	aristocrat	`мяшча́не`
`палача́нін`	`палача́нка`	courtier	`палача́не`
`селяні́н`	`сяля́нка`	villager	`сяля́не`
`славяні́н`	`славя́нка`	Slav	`славя́не`
`хрысціяні́н`	`хрысція́нка`	Christian	`хрысція́не`
`тата́рын`	`тата́рка`	Tatar	`тата́ры`

4. Syntax: The Use of Cases

4.1 Use of the nominative case

This case is taken by the subject of the sentence. If the verb of the sentence is ёсць, or if there is no verb, then the object of the sentence also takes the nominative case.

Белару́сь — прыго́жы кут ‘Belarus is a beautiful land’, але́ ён дурны́, а я разу́мны ‘But he is foolish, and I am wise’

The direct objects of verbs such as зваць, to call, and its derivatives, often take the nominative case.

Яго́ заву́ць Са́ша. His name is Sasha*

The direct object of the verbs быць, to be, and стаць, to become, can take the nominative case if the direct object is an adjective that is being used as a predicate.

Яна́ ста́ла цяпе́р жва́вая ‘She’s now become lively’, Ра́на ці по́зна бу́дуць назва́ныя злачы́нцамі і пракла́тыя ‘Sooner or later, they will be labeled criminals and damned’

4.2 Use of the accusative case

The direct object of most verbs usually takes the accusative case. Certain prepositions are followed by nouns in the accusative case, often when motion is implied. a period of time placed in the accusative case, with no preposition preceding it, indicates that an action was carried out over the course of that time.

Скажы́ мне, ты запра́ўды мяне́ каха́еш? ‘Tell me, do you really love me?’, Я жыў з і́мі ме́сяц ‘I lived with them for a month’

Prepositions with the accusative case

The following prepositions can be followed by the accusative case. Often, the meaning of the prefix revolves around a sense of motion. The meaning of each preposition in that context is given.

Preposition	Meaning	Example	Translation
`аб`	against	`Ло́дка стукну́лася аб бе́раг`.	The boat bumped against the shore.
`з`	about	`Прайшо́ў з кіламе́тр`.	I walked about a kilometer.
`за`	behind	`Ён пайшо́ў за ха́ту`.	He went behind the house.
`за`	at	`Саджу́ся за стол`.	I sit down at the table.
`за`	after	`Гавары́лі далё́ка за по́ўнач`.	They talked well past midnight.
`за`	[not translated, expresses distance]	`Жыве́ за 40 кіламе́траў за го́рада`.	He lives 40 kilometers from the city.
`за`	in	`Гэ́та мо́жна зрабі́ць за два дні`.	This can get done in two days.
`на`	on	`Паста́віць яго́ на стол`.	He will put it on the table.
`на`	to	`Ідзё́м на Магілё́ў`.	We’re going to Mohilyou.
`на`	[not translated, similar to ‘per’]	`Два разы́ на ты́дзень`.	Twice a week.
`на`	by	`Дыван тры на шэсць ме́траў`.	The carpet is three by six meters.
`па`	up to	`Стаі́ць у вадзе́ па по́яс`.	He stands in water up to his waist.*
`па`	for	`Пайдзі́ пад сту́дню па ваду́`.	Go to the well for water.*
`па`	along	`Людзі ішлі́ па той бок`.	People were walking along that side.*
`пад`	under	`Схава́ў яго́ пад паду́шку`.	He hid it under the pillow.*
`пад`	about	`Гадо́ў пад со́рак`.	About forty years.*
`пад`	to	`Пайдзі́ пад сту́дню па ваду́`.	Go to the well for water.
`паўз`	by	`Праязджа́лі паўз лес`.	We drove by the forest.*
`пра`	about	`Мы гавары́лі пра яго́`.	We were talking about him.*
`праз`	through	`Прайсці́ праз нато́ўп`.	To pass through a crowd.*
`праз`	after	`Прыйшло́ праз дзве гадзі́ны`.	It arrived after two hours.*
`праз`	because of	`Праз гэ́та я мно́гае стра́ціў`.	I suffered a lot because of this.*
`скрозь`	‘through’ [implying difficulty]	`Промні прабіва́ліся скрозь галі́ны`.	Sunbeams broke through the branches.*
`це́раз`	across	`Пераступі́ць це́раз паро́г`.	To step across the threshold.*
`це́раз`	through	`Дождж ішо́ў це́раз по́ўнач`.	It rained right through midnight.*
`у`	to	`Дзе́ці хо́дзяць ў шко́лу`.	The children go to school.*
`у`	in	`Запіса́ў гэ́та ў сшы́так`.	He wrote it down in his notebook.*
`у`	into	`Яны́ ўвайшлі́ ў лес`.	They walked into the forest.*
`у`	on	`Стука́ць у дзве́ры`.	To knock on the door.*
`у`	at	`Страля́ць у праці́ўніка`.	To shoot at the enemy.*
`у`	up to	`Намяло́ сне́гу ў по́яс`.	Snow drifted up to waist height.*
`у`	[not translated, similar to ‘per’]	`адзі́н раз у год`.	Once a year.
`у`	on	`Не працу́ю ў выхадны́я`.	I don’t work on weekends.*
`у`	[used to denote multiplication]	`Два ў тры` — `шэсць`.	Two times three is six.*

4.3 Use of the genitive case

This case is used both by certain prepositions and also to express ownership and relationship. Some verbs, like бая́цца, to fear, and хаце́ць, to want, require that the direct object be placed in the genitive case. To negate a sentence, the particle не is placed before the direct object, and the direct object is placed in the genitive case. a lack of something can be expressed by the word няма́, followed by the noun in the genitive plural, or genitive singular if the noun has no plural form.

Раслі́ны бая́цца маро́зу. ‘Plants fear frost’

Я сама́ гэ́тага хаце́ла. ‘I wanted this myself’

Невядо́ма, хто гаспада́р гэ́тага катэ́джа. ‘No one knows who the owner of this cottage is’

Я не ма́ю ча́су. ‘I do not have any time’

Я нічо́га не разуме́ю. ‘I do not understand anything’

Шкада, але і ў мяне нічога няма. ‘It is sad, but I do not have anything either’

Prepositions with the genitive case

The following prepositions can be followed by the genitive case. The meaning of each preposition in that context is given.

Preposition	Meaning	Example	Translation
`ад`	from	`Ад сасны́ адлама́лася галі́нка.`	A branch broke off from the tree.
`ад`	from	`Схава́ліся ад дажджу́.`	They hid from the rain.
`ад`	from	`Ад вясны́ да во́сені.`	From spring to fall.
`ад`	than	`Мацне́й ад гро́му.`	Stronger than thunder.
`акрамя́`	but	`Там ніко́га не было́ акрамя́ мяне́.`	No one was there but me.
`апрача́`	besides	`Там ніко́га не было́ апрача́ мяне́.`	No one was there besides me.
`без`	without	`Без усяля́кай прычы́ны.`	Without any excuse.
`вакол`	around	`Вако́л яго́ сабра́ліся лю́дзі.`	People gathered around him.
`воддаль`	far from	`Во́ддаль даро́гі стая́ла вё́ска.`	Far from the road stood a village.
`да`	until	`Яшчэ́ не́калькі дзён да жніва́.`	It is still a few days until harvest.
`да`	to	`Дада́ць пяць да трох.`	Add five to three.
`да`	to	`Ужо́ да бе́рага падплыва́ў.`	He had already swam to the bank.
`дзеля`	for someone’s benefit	`Зраблю́ гэ́та дзе́ля цябе́.`	I will do this for you.
`для`	for	`Для яго́ гэ́та лё́гкая спра́ва.`	It is an easy thing for him.
`з`	off of	`Прыбра́ў ліст з акна́.`	He removed the leaf off of the window.
`з`	out of	`Вы́йшаў з вады́.`	He got out of the water.
`заме́ст`	instead	`Хо́чаш вады́ заме́ст ча́ю?`	Do you want water instead of tea?
`звыш`	more than	`Набра́ў звыш двух дзеся́ткаў.`	He gathered more than twenty.
`каля́`	near	`Дрэ́ва расце́ каля́ пло́ту.`	The tree grows near the fence.
`каля́`	about	`Каля́ пяці́ гадзі́н.`	About five o’clock.
`ля`	near	`Ён там ля лазьні блізка жыў.`	He lived there, close near the bathhouse.
`між`	among	`Спрэ́чка між сябра́ў.`	An argument among friends.
`паво́дле`	in accordance with	`Апрану́тая паво́дле апо́шняй мо́ды.`	Dressed according to the latest fashions.
`памі́ж`	between	`Стая́ць памі́ж двух агне́й.`	To stand between two fires.
`пасля́`	after	`Пасля́ аб'ядна́ння, яны́ вы́бралі старэ́йшага.`	After the unification, they selected an elder.
`пасля́`	after	`Наста́ўніца, яка́я прые́дзе пасля́ вучы́лішча.`	The teacher, who will come after the school.
`су́праць`	across	`Ха́та стаі́ць су́праць шко́лы.`	The house is across from the school.
`су́праць`	against	`Плысці́ су́праць цячэ́ння.`	To swim against the current.
`су́праць`	against	`Хто «за» і хто «су́праць»?`	Who is “for” and who is “against”?
`су́праць`	against	`Здары́лася су́праць маёй во́лі.`	It happened against my will.
`сяро́д`	in the middle of	`Дрэ́ва стаі́ць сяро́д по́ля.`	A tree stands in the middle of a field.
`у`	used to show possession	`Няўжо́ ў іх няма́ саба́кі?`	Do they really not have a dog?
`у`	used to show possession	`У яго́ балі́ць галава́.`	His head hurts.
`у`	at	`Шыць паліто́ ў краўца́.`	To have the coat mended at the tailor’s.

4.4 Use of the dative case

This case is used to signify indirect objects, and is also used by certain prepositions. Very often, words in the dative case can be translated into English as having the word ‘to’ placed before them. There are also certain constructions with predicates that use the dative case.

Вы даяце́ прыкла́д усі́м на́шым калга́снікам ‘You give an example to all our workers’, Мне трэ́ба вы́йсці ‘I have to leave’, Адстава́ць жа не́льга нам! ‘We must not fall behind!’, Не два́ццаць табе́ ле́таў! ‘You are not even twenty years old!’

Prepositions with the dative case

The preposition most commonly used with the dative case is па. There are many different meanings of па + dative, but a few examples are given below. For these usages, the preposition па only takes the dative when the indirect object is singular. If the object is plural, it must take the prepositional case.

Я даў дзе́цям па я́блыку ‘I gave the children one apple apiece’, Паляўні́чы ідзе́ па сляда́х зве́ра ‘The hunter went along the animal’s tracks’, Спабо́рніцтвы па футбо́лу ‘Soccer competition’, Не прые́хаў па хваро́бе ‘He did not come because he was sick’, Тава́рыш па ўніверсітэ́ту ‘A friend from college’

The preposition к is also used with the dative case. This preposition is not as common in Belarusan as it is in Russian. Often, the preposition да is used in Belarusan in situations where Russian uses к.

к ‘[used to indicate movement towards]’; Тра́вы цягну́ліся к со́нцу ‘The plants strained towards the sun’, к ‘for’; Спякла́ піро́г к свя́ту ‘She baked a pie for the holiday’, к ‘just before’; Прышо́ў на сход к дзвюм гадзі́нам ‘I came to the meeting just before two o’clock’

4.5 Use of the instrumental case

This case is used by certain prepositions and also to signify that the noun functions as some means for an action. The direct object of some verbs, especially those that translate as to be, also takes this case. a word in the instrumental case can often be translated into English by preceding it with the preposition “with.”

Гало́ўнай іх сі́лай былі́ грана́ты. ‘Their main weapon was grenades’

Мы дава́й пае́дзем маші́най. ‘Let’s take the car’

Ты паві́нна вало́даць гэ́тай мо́вай так, каб чу́лася як удо́ма між людзе́й, які́я па-белару́ску гаво́раць. ‘You should have such control of this language that you feel at home among people who speak Belarusan’

Prepositions with the instrumental case

The following prepositions can be followed by the instrumental case. The meaning of each preposition in that context is given.

Preposition	Meaning	Example	Translation
`з`	with	`Я пайшо́ў з і́мі.`	I went with them.
`за`	behind	`Ідзі́ за мно́ю.`	Walk behind me.
`між`	between	`Даро́га ўе́цца між паля́мі.`	The road winds between fields.
`над`	over	`Над ле́сам наві́сла хма́ра.`	A stormcloud hung over the forest.
`над`	exceeding	`Маро́з над усі́мі мараза́мі.`	A frost exceeding all frosts.
`пад`	beneath	`Жыта́ зало́ціцца пад со́нцам.`	The rye ripened beneath the sun.
`пад`	under	`Быць пад стро́гай ахо́вай.`	To be under heavy guard.
`памі́ж`	between	`Памі́ж не́бам і зямлё́ю.`	Between heaven and earth.
`пе́рад`	in front of	`Не адступа́ць пе́рад ця́жкасцямі.`	Do not retreat in the face of difficulty.
`пе́рад`	before	`Пе́рад тым, трэ́ба паду́маць.`	Before that, one must think.
`пе́рад`	compared to	`Яны́ нішто́ пе́рад ім.`	They are nothing compared to him.

4.6 Use of the prepositional case

This case is only used when following prepositions, hence the name. The following prepositions can be followed by the prepositional case. The meaning of each preposition in that context is given.

Preposition	Meaning	Example	Translation
`аб`	about	`Гавары́лі аб усі́м`.	We spoke of everything.*
`на`	on	`Кні́га ляжы́ць на стале́`.	The book lies on the table.
`на`	in	`На вайне́ куды́ бо́лей патрэ́бна така́я вось ду́жасць`.	In war, such strength is needed much more.*
`па`	movement all over or around	`Е́хаць на саня́х па лё́дзе`.	To ride a sleigh over the ice.*
`па`	among	`Чу́ткі хадзі́лі па вё́сках`.	The rumors circulated among the villages.*
`па`	after	`Па абе́дзе`.	After dinner.*

For the usages of па given below, the prepositional case can only be used if the object is plural. If it is singular, the dative case must be used, see 24.2 for examples.

Пайшлі́ па яго́ных сляда́х ‘They followed in his steps’, Снабо́рніцтва па лы́жах ‘Skiing competition’

пры ‘near’; Ён быў пры сме́рці ‘He was near death’, пры ‘with’; Я заста́ўся пры сваё́й ду́мцы ‘I was left with my opinion’, у ‘in’; Стаі́ць у пако́і ‘He is standing in the room’

5. Adjective Declension Patterns

Adjectives generally match the gender and case of the noun they describe. As mentioned in Section 3.1, the accusative case of animate masculine nouns and plural nouns is identical to the genitive case. Consistent with this, adjectives describing these nouns also have accusative endings identical with the genitive case.

5.1 Non-palatized stem adjectives

These adjectives with accented endings decline like малады́ ‘young’.

	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
Nominative	`малады́`	`маладо́е`	`малада́я`	`малады́я`
Accusative	`малады́` (`-о́га`)	`маладо́е`	`маладу́ю`	`малады́я` (`-ы́х`)
Genitive	`маладо́га`	`маладо́га`	`маладо́й`	`малады́х`
Dative	`маладо́му`	`маладо́му`	`маладо́й`	`малады́м`
Instrumental	`малады́м`	`малады́м`	`маладо́й`	`малады́мі`
Prepositional	`аб малады́м`	`аб малады́м`	`аб маладо́й`	`аб малады́х`

These adjectives with unaccented endings decline like чырво́ны ‘red’.

	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
Nominative	`чырво́ны`	`чырво́нае`	`чырво́ная`	`чырво́ныя`
Accusative	`чырво́ны` (`-ага́`)	`чырво́нае`	`чырво́ную`	`чырво́ныя` (`-ых`)
Genitive	`чырво́нага`	`чырво́нага`	`чырво́най`	`чырво́ных`
Dative	`чырво́наму`	`чырво́наму`	`чырво́най`	`чырво́ным`
Instrumental	`чырво́ным`	`чырво́ным`	`чырво́най`	`чырво́нымі`
Prepositional	`аб чырво́ным`	`аб чырво́ным`	`аб чырво́най`	`аб чырво́ных`

adjectives with accented endings of -гі, -кі, or -хі decline like другі́ ‘second’.

	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
Nominative	`другі́`	`друго́е`	`друга́я`	`другі́я`
Accusative	`другі́` (`-о́га`)	`друго́е`	`другу́ю`	`другі́я` (`-і́х`)
Genitive	`друго́га`	`друго́га`	`друго́й`	`другі́х`
Dative	`друго́му`	`друго́му`	`друго́й`	`другі́м`
Instrumental	`другі́м`	`другі́м`	`друго́й`	`другі́мі`
Prepositional	`аб другі́м`	`аб другі́м`	`аб друго́й`	`аб другі́х`

adjectives, with unaccented endings of -гі, -кі, or -хі, decline like ху́ткі ‘fast’.

	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
Nominative	`ху́ткі`	`ху́ткае`	`ху́ткая`	`ху́ткія`
Accusative	`ху́ткі` (`-ага`)	`ху́ткае`	`ху́ткую`	`ху́ткія` (`-іх`)
Genitive	`ху́ткага`	`ху́ткага`	`ху́ткай`	`ху́ткіх`
Dative	`ху́ткаму`	`ху́ткаму`	`ху́ткай`	`ху́ткім`
Instrumental	`ху́ткім`	`ху́ткім`	`ху́ткай`	`ху́ткімі`
Prepositional	`аб ху́ткім`	`аб ху́ткім`	`аб ху́ткай`	`аб ху́ткіх`

5.2 Palatized stem adjectives

adjectives, whose stem ends in a palatized consonant, decline like апо́шні ‘last’.

	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
Nominative	`апо́шні`	`апо́шняе`	`апо́шняя`	`апо́шнія`
Accusative	`апо́шні` (`-яга`)	`апо́шняе`	`апо́шнюю`	`апо́шнія` (`-іх`)
Genitive	`апо́шняга`	`апо́шняга`	`апо́шняй`	`апо́шніх`
Dative	`апо́шняму`	`апо́шняму`	`апо́шняй`	`апо́шнім`
Instrumental	`апо́шнім`	`апо́шнім`	`апо́шняй`	`апо́шнімі`
Prepositional	`аб апо́шнім`	`аб апо́шнім`	`аб апо́шняй`	`аб апо́шніх`

5.3 Adjective ending variation

The adjectives declined above have the most current and accepted endings, but variations do exist. One common variation replaces the final -й of the feminine prepositional ending with a -ю. See Section 3.5 for more on how this variation affects nouns. another variation replaces the final -й of the feminine genitive ending with a -е. although these variations do exist, they are non-standard and should be avoided by the non-native speaker.

5.4 Short adjectives

The use of short adjectives is much more rare in Belarusan than in Russian, being used almost exclusively for the neuter third person impersonal. as in Russian, such adjectives are only used predicatively. The neuter form of the short adjective is identical to the adverb. See Chapter 21 for more on adverb formation. Only a very few adjectives can take a short form for anything other than the third person impersonal. These include гато́вы ‘ready’, and ра́ды ‘glad’. The word паві́нен, which translates as ‘should’, has no long form and can only be used as a short adjective.

The forms of the most common short adjectives are given below, along with some examples.

Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
`гато́ў`	`гато́ва`	`гато́ва`	`гато́вы`
`паві́нен`	`паві́нна`	`паві́нна`	`паві́нны`
`рад`	`ра́да`	`ра́да`	`ра́ды`

Будзь гато́ў! — Заўжды́ гато́ў! ‘Be prepared! — always prepared!’, Я ра́да, што пакі́нуў ‘I am glad that he left’, Яна́ паві́нна адра́зу сказа́ць ім ‘She should immediately tell him’, Было́ марко́тна, калі́ ён не прыйшо́ў ‘It was sad when he did not come’, Мы ду́жа працава́лі, каб усё было́ зро́блена ў час ‘We worked hard so that everything was done on time’

The long adjective is usually used if the subject is not the neuter third person impersonal.

Пакой поўны людзей ‘The room is full of people’, Яна не абавязаная дапамагчы яму ‘She is not obligated to help him’

6. Comparative and Superlative Degrees

Only qualitative adjectives can have a superlative or comparative form. If an English adjective can be used comparatively or superlatively, the equivalent Belarusan adjective most likely can as well. By the same token, if the English adjective cannot be used comparatively or superlatively, the Belarusan adjective probably cannot also.

6.1 Short comparative adjective formation

The short comparative form of an adjective is identical to the comparative adverb. The comparative adverb is formed by removing the final –ы or –і and replacing it with an accented –ей. See 29.4 for more on the comparative adverb.

Adjective pattern	Meaning
`бе́дны` → `бядне́й`	‘poor’ → ‘poorer’
`бе́лы` → `бяле́й`	‘white’ → ‘whiter’
`ва́жны` → `важне́й`	‘important’ → ‘more important’
`вольны` → `вальней`	‘free’ → ‘more free’
`вясё́лы` → `весяле́й`	‘fun’ → ‘more fun’
`дакла́дны` → `дакладне́й`	‘precise’ → ‘more precise’
`ра́нні` → `ране́й`	‘early’ → ‘earlier’

If the last consonant of the adjective is invariably non-palatized, the final –ы is replaced with –эй.

Adjective pattern	Meaning
`му́дры` → `мудрэ́й`	‘wise’ → ‘wiser’
`прыго́жы` → `прыгажэ́й`	‘beautiful’ → ‘more beautiful’
`хі́тры` → `хітрэ́й`	‘cunning’ → ‘more cunning’

For adjectives ending in –ты or –ды, the ending is removed and replaced with one of the accented endings –цей or –дзей respectively.

Adjective pattern	Meaning
`бага́ты` → `багаце́й`	‘rich’ → ‘richer’
`густы́` → `гусце́й`	‘thick, viscous’ → ‘thicker, more viscous’
`жо́ўты` → `жаўце́й`	‘yellow’ → ‘more yellow’
`малады́` → `маладзе́й`	‘young’ → ‘younger’
`про́сты` → `прасце́й`	‘simple’ → ‘simpler’
`то́ўсты` → `таўсце́й`	‘thick, fat’ → ‘thicker, fatter’
`цвё́рды` → `цвярдзе́й`	‘hard, firm’ → ‘harder, firmer’
`чы́сты` → `чысце́й`	‘clean’ → ‘cleaner’

There are a number of irregular comparative adjectives.

6.2 Short comparative adverb usage

Because short comparative adjectives are adverbs, they do not decline and can only be used predicatively.

Я маладзе́й за яго́. ‘I am younger than him’

Ко́жнаму хаце́лася стаць бліжэ́й да вады́. ‘Each wanted to get closer to the water’

6.3 Irregular short comparative adjectives

a small number of adjectives have unique short comparative adjective forms, separate from their short comparative adverb form. These adjectives all end in –шы, decline like other adjectives, and are not limited to predicate usage.

Adjective pattern	Meaning
`вялі́кі` → `бо́льшы`	‘big’ → ‘bigger’
`до́бры` → `ле́пшы`	‘good’ → ‘better’
`дрэ́нны` → `го́ршы`	‘bad’ → ‘worse’
`малы́` → `ме́ншы`	‘small’ → ‘smaller’

Some examples of usage of short comparative adjectives are given.

Сам быў не ў ле́пшым ста́не. ‘I myself was not in any better shape’

Там былі́ яблы́кі бо́лшыя, чым тут. ‘The apples were bigger over there than here’

The adjective малады́ ‘young’, has the normal short comparative form маладзе́й, but it also has an additional short comparative form мало́дшы, which has the specialized meaning of junior. The adjective ста́ры does not have a normal short comparative form, but there is the specialized word ста́ршы, which means ‘older’, or ‘senior’. Both мало́дшы and ста́ршы are used like any normal adjective.

Мало́дшы лейтэна́нт камандава́ў мінамё́тнай ро́тай. ‘The junior lieutenant commanded the mortar company’

Апро́ч мяне́ была́ ў ма́ці яшчэ́ дачка́, мая́ сястра́ ста́ршая. ‘Besides me, my mother had another daughter, my older sister’

6.4 Long comparative adjectives

adjectives that do not have a short comparative form can be used comparatively by placing either больш, ‘more’, or менш, ‘less’, before the word.

Я больш паліты́чны, чым вы ра́зам узя́тыя. ‘I am more tactful than both of you combined’

Беражо́к ля я́мы стаў больш зру́чны. ‘The rim around the hole became more convenient’

6.5 Superlatives ending in –`ейшы` or –`эйшы`

any adjective which has a short comparative form can form a superlative by appending the ending –шы to that short comparative form. adjectives without a short comparative form that ends in –ей or –эй do not have a unique superlative form.

Comparative pattern	Meaning
`бядне́й` → `бядне́йшы`	‘poorer’ → ‘poorest’
`бяле́й` → `бяле́йшы`	‘whiter’ → ‘whitest’
`даражэ́й` → `даражэ́йшы`	‘more expensive’ → ‘most expensive’
`караце́й` → `караце́йшы`	‘shorter’ → ‘shortest’
`мякчэ́й` → `мякчэ́йшы`	‘softer’ → ‘softest’
`ране́й` → `ране́йшы`	‘earlier’ → ‘earliest’

The adjective ста́ры ‘old’, has no short comparative form, but does have the superlative старэ́йшы ‘oldest’.

6.6 Superlatives using the adverb `са́мы`

The superlative form of any qualitative adjective can be formed by placing the adjective са́мы ‘most’, before the adjective and by then declining са́мы to agree with the adjective. This is the form used for adjectives that do not have a superlative form ending in –ейшы or –эйшы, like the adjectives discussed in Section 6.3.

Яны́ стая́лі пе́рад са́мым круты́м узго́ркам. ‘They stood in front of the steepest hill’

А ўво́гуле ро́зум — не са́мае гало́ўнае ў чалаве́ку. ‘Generally, the mind is not the most important thing to a person’

6.8 Superlatives with the prefix най-

This prefix can be appended to ordinary superlatives, the comparative adjectives mentioned in Section 6.3, or to adjectives that normally has no special superlative form. The prefix най- slightly changes the meaning of the word. a normal superlative indicates that the characteristic of the noun is the extreme when compared to others. When the prefix най- is appended, the meaning indicates that the characteristic of the adjective is extreme, regardless of whether it is compared to others or not.

Гэ́та — найбо́льшы знак для гарадка́, што за́ўтра вайна́. ‘This is a really big sign for the town that war is tomorrow’

Гэ́тую даве́дку, бы найдаражэ́йшы дакуме́нт, яна загарну́ла ў папе́рку. ‘She buried this affidavit in the papers, as if it were a most valuable document’

Я калі́сьці бу́ду найпе́ршы. ‘Someday I will be the very first’

7. Personal Pronouns

7.1 Personal pronouns

	1^st Person Singular	2^nd Person Singular	1^st Person Plural	2^nd Person Plural
Nominative	`я`	`ты`	`мы`	`вы`
Accusative	`мяне́`	`цябе́`	`нас`	`вас`
Genitive	`мяне́`	`цябе́`	`нас`	`вас`
Dative	`мне`	`табе́`	`нам`	`вам`
Instrumental	`мной`*	`табо́й`*	`на́мі`	`ва́мі`
Prepositional	`аба мне`	`аб табе́`	`аб нас`	`аб вас`

| | 3^rd Person Masculine | 3^rd Person Neuter | 3^rd Person Feminine | 3^rd Person Plural | | — | — | — | — | — | | Nominative | ён | яно́ | яна́ | яны́ | | Accusative | яго́ | яго́ | яе́ | іх | | Genitive | яго́ | яго́ | яе́ | іх | | Dative | яму́ | яму́ | ёй | ім | | Instrumental | ім | ім | ёй* | і́мі | | Prepositional | аб ім | аб ім | аб ёй | аб іх |

7.2 The reflexive personal pronoun

The reflexive pronoun is a direct synonym for the subject of the sentence. This means that it cannot be the subject of a sentence and does not have a nominative form. This pronoun is used when the subject of the sentence is also some other part of the sentence, such as the direct or indirect object.

	Reflexive
Accusative	`сябе́`
Genitive	`сябе́`
Dative	`сабе́`
Instrumental	`сабо́й`*
Prepositional	`аб сабе́`

*The variations мно́ю, табо́ю, ё́ю, and сабо́ю are very common, but are non-standard and should be avoided by the non-native speaker. See 3.5 for how this variation effects nouns.

7.3 The pronoun сам

This pronoun is used to emphasize part of the sentence, either the subject, an object, or indirect object. When not used with the subject of the sentence, the pronoun сам simply imparts emphasis and is not actually translated. When used with the subject of the sentence, however, its meaning can be roughly translated as ‘myself’, ‘yourself’, ‘himself’, etc… The pronoun сам is used like an adjective, matching the case and gender of the noun it describes.

	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
Nominative	`сам`	`само́`	`сама́`	`са́мі`
Accusative	`сам` (`-о́га`)	`само́`	`саму́`	`са́мі` (`-іх`)
Genitive	`само́га`	`само́га`	`само́й`	`са́міх`
Dative	`само́му`	`само́му`	`само́й`	`са́мім`
Instrumental	`самі́м`	`самі́м`	`само́й`	`са́мімі`
Prepositional	`аб самі́м`	`аб самі́м`	`аб само́й`	`аб са́міх`

Ён вы́рашыў сам прыйсці́. ‘He decided to come himself’

Адно́йчы нава́т вы́ратаваў саму́ карале́ву. ‘Once he even rescued the queen’

Але́ гавары́ў ён то́лькі з са́мімі сусе́дзьмі. ‘But he only spoke with the neighbors’

8. Possessive and Demonstrative Pronouns

These pronouns follow the same rules as adjectives, declining for gender and case to match the nouns they modify, see Chapter 5 for more details on adjectives.

8.1 Possessive pronouns

The first person singular possessive pronoun мой ‘my’, declines as follows.

	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
Nominative	`мой`	`маё́`	`мая́`	`мае́`
Accusative	`мой` (`майго́`)	`маё́`	`маю́`	`мае́` (`маі́х`)
Genitive	`майго́`	`майго́`	`маё́й`	`маі́х`
Dative	`майму́`	`майму́`	`маё́й`	`маі́м`
Instrumental	`маі́м`	`маі́м`	`маё́й`	`маі́мі`
Prepositional	`аб маі́м`	`аб маі́м`	`аб маё́й`	`аб маі́х`

The second person singular possessive pronoun твой ‘your’, declines as follows.

	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
Nominative	`твой`	`тваё́`	`твая́`	`твае́`
Accusative	`твой` (`твайго́`)	`тваё́`	`тваю́`	`твае́` (`тваі́х`)
Genitive	`твайго́`	`твайго́`	`тваё́й`	`тваі́х`
Dative	`твайму́`	`твайму́`	`тваё́й`	`тваі́м`
Instrumental	`тваі́м`	`тваі́м`	`тваё́й`	`тваі́мі`
Prepositional	`аб тваі́м`	`аб тваі́м`	`аб тваё́й`	`аб тваі́х`

The first person plural possessive pronoun наш ‘our’, declines as follows.

	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
Nominative	`наш`	`на́ша`	`на́ша`	`на́шы`
Accusative	`наш` (`на́шага`)	`на́ша`	`на́шу`	`на́шы` (`на́шых`)
Genitive	`на́шага`	`на́шага`	`на́шай`	`на́шых`
Dative	`на́шаму`	`на́шаму`	`на́шай`	`на́шым`
Instrumental	`на́шым`	`на́шым`	`на́шай`	`на́шымі`
Prepositional	`аб на́шым`	`аб на́шым`	`аб на́шай`	`аб на́шых`

The second person plural possessive pronoun ваш ‘your’, declines as follows.

	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
Nominative	`ваш`	`ва́ша`	`ва́ша`	`ва́шы`
Accusative	`ваш` (`ва́шага`)	`ва́ша`	`ва́шу`	`ва́шы` (`ва́шых`)
Genitive	`ва́шага`	`ва́шага`	`ва́шай`	`ва́шых`
Dative	`ва́шаму`	`ва́шаму`	`ва́шай`	`ва́шым`
Instrumental	`ва́шым`	`ва́шым`	`ва́шай`	`ва́шымі`
Prepositional	`аб ва́шым`	`аб ва́шым`	`аб ва́шай`	`аб ва́шых`

8.2 Third person possessive pronouns

The words яго́ны ‘his’, е́йны ‘her’, and і́хны ‘their’, are the most common way of indicating possession. They decline like normal adjectives and their usage is extremely common, however there are some who feel that their usage is colloquial and that possession should be indicated by preceding the noun with the genitive form of the third person pronoun.

8.3 The reflexive pronoun

The pronoun свой roughly translates as one’s own, and declines as follows.

	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
Nominative	`свой`	`сваё́`	`свая́`	`свае́`
Accusative	`свой` (`свайго́`)	`сваё́`	`сваю́`	`свае́` (`сваі́х`)
Genitive	`свайго́`	`свайго́`	`сваё́й`	`сваі́х`
Dative	`свайму́`	`свайму́`	`сваё́й`	`сваі́м`
Instrumental	`сваі́м`	`сваі́м`	`сваё́й`	`сваі́мі`
Prepositional	`аб сваі́м`	`аб сваі́м`	`аб сваё́й`	`аб сваі́х`

8.4 The interrogative possessive pronoun

The pronoun чый roughly translates as ‘whose’, and declines as follows.

	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
Nominative	`чый`	`чыё́`	`чыя́`	`чые́`
Accusative	`чый` (`чыйго́`)	`чыё́`	`чыю́`	`чые́` (`чыі́х`)
Genitive	`чыйго́`	`чыйго́`	`чыё́й`	`чыі́х`
Dative	`чыйму́`	`чыйму́`	`чыё́й`	`чыі́м`
Instrumental	`чыі́м`	`чыі́м`	`чыё́й`	`чыі́мі`
Prepositional	`аб чыі́м`	`аб чыі́м`	`аб чыё́й`	`аб чыі́х`

8.5 The demonstrative pronouns

The pronouns гэ́ты ‘this’, and той ‘that’, decline as follows.

	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
Nominative	`гэ́ты`	`гэ́та`	`гэ́та`	`гэ́тыя`
Accusative	`гэ́ты` (`гэ́тага`)	`гэ́та`	`гэ́ту`	`гэ́тыя` (`гэ́тых`)
Genitive	`гэ́тага`	`гэ́тага`	`гэ́тай`	`гэ́тых`
Dative	`гэ́таму`	`гэ́таму`	`гэ́тай`	`гэ́тым`
Instrumental	`гэ́тым`	`гэ́тым`	`гэ́тай`	`гэ́тымі`
Prepositional	`аб гэ́тым`	`аб гэ́тым`	`аб гэ́тай`	`аб гэ́тых`

	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
Nominative	`той`	`тое`	`тая`	`тыя`
Accusative	`той` (`-аго́`)	`тое`	`тую`	`тыя` (`-ых`)
Genitive	`таго́`	`таго́`	`той`	`тых`
Dative	`таму́`	`таму́`	`той`	`тым`
Instrumental	`тым`	`тым`	`той`	`тымі́`
Prepositional	`аб тым`	`аб тым`	`аб той`	`аб тых`

The pronoun гэ́ны ‘that’, declines just like гэ́ты. It is not very common.

Гэ́ны ўсё мо́жа ‘That guy can do anything’, Усе́ пра гэ́на даве́даліся ‘Everybody found out about that’

8.6 The pronoun `уве́сь`

The pronoun уве́сь ‘all’, declines as follows.

	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
Nominative	`уве́сь`	`усё́`	`уся́`	`усе́`
Accusative	`уве́сь` (`усяго́`)	`усё́`	`усю́`	`усе́` (`усі́х`)
Genitive	`усяго́`	`усяго́`	`усё́й`	`усі́х`
Dative	`усяму́`	`усяму́`	`усё́й`	`усі́м`
Instrumental	`усі́м`	`усі́м`	`усё́й`	`усі́мі`
Prepositional	`аба ўсім`	`аба ўсім`	`аба ўсё́й`	`аба ўсіх`

9. Interrogative and Relative Pronouns

These pronouns follow the same rules as adjectives, declining for gender and case to match the nouns they modify, see Chapter 5 for more details on adjectives.

9.1 The interrogative pronouns

The pronouns што ‘what’, and хто ‘who’, decline as follows.

	`што`	`хто`
Nominative	`што`	`хто`
Accusative	`што`	`каго́`
Genitive	`чаго́`	`каго́`
Dative	`чаму́`	`каму́`
Instrumental	`чым`	`кім`
Prepositional	`аб чым`	`аб кім`

9.2 The pronouns `нішто́` and `ніхто́`

The pronouns нішто́ ‘nothing’, and ніхто́ ‘nobody’, decline like што and хто except for the genitive case, for which the accent lies on the middle syllable.

Гэ́та нішто́ ‘It’s nothing’, Я нічо́га не сказа́ў ‘I didn’t say anything’, Год таму́ зразуме́ў, што ў жыцці́ я ніхто́ і нішто́ ‘A year ago I realized that in life, I am a nobody and a nothing’, У пако́і ўжо ніко́га не было́ ‘There was already no one in the room’

9.3 The pronoun `які`

The pronoun які declines just like the adjective другі́ ‘second’, see 5.1 for the complete declension. The pronoun is used as the conjunction which or what. It is also used as an exclamation.

Яку́ю кні́гу чыта́еш? ‘Which book are you reading?’, Вось кні́га, яку́ю чыта́ю ‘This is the book, which I am reading’, Яка́я да́та сё́ння? ‘What is the date today?’, Яка́я прыго́жая дзяўчы́на! ‘What a pretty girl!’

10. Numerals

10.1 Numerals and case governance

The numeral адзі́н ‘one’, is used just like an adjective, following the same rules. It declines to match the case and gender of the noun it describes. See Chapter 5 for more details. The numerals два ‘two’, тры ‘three’, and чаты́ры ‘four’, as well as або́два ‘both’, all decline to agree with the case of the noun that they govern. Два and або́два also decline to match the gender of their corresponding nouns. Like adjectives, the accusative animate forms of these numerals coincide with the genitive forms for masculine objects.

У мяне́ застае́цца адна́ ру́чка ‘I have one pen left’, У нас два но́выя сталы́ ‘We have two new tables’, Я прые́хаў з дзвюма́ гарма́тамі ‘I arrived with two cannons’, ён тры дні не падніма́ўся з гніло́й сало́мы ‘For three days, he did not get up off of the moldy hay’, ён узя́ўся абе́дзвюма рука́мі за ву́гал ‘He grabbed the corner with both hands’

When the numerals два, тры, чаты́ры, and або́два are used as either the subject or the inanimate direct object of a clause, the nouns that they govern take a special form. For feminine nouns, this form is identical to the genitive singular. For masculine and neuter nouns, it is formed by appending either ы or і to the root, depending on whether the root has a palatized or non-palatized ending and on other spelling rules. any modifying adjectives are declined for the nominitive plural.

У селяні́на ёсць два кані́ ‘The villager has two horses’, Дзве дзяўчы́ны прыйшлі́ ‘Two young ladies came’, Вось гэ́тыя тры акны́ ‘Look at these three windows’, Чаты́ры чалаве́кі стая́ць там ‘Four people are standing over there’, або́два сы́ны слу́жаць у а́рміі ‘Both sons are serving in the army’, абе́дзве да́ты ве́льмі прыблі́зныя ‘Both dates are very close’

10.2 The number ‘one’

The number адзі́н ‘one’, declines as follows.

	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
Nominative	`адзі́н`	`адно́`	`адна́`	`адны́`
Accusative	`адзі́н` (`-аго́`)	`адно́`	`адну́`	`адны́` (`-ы́х`)
Genitive	`аднаго́`	`аднаго́`	`адно́й`	`адны́х`
Dative	`аднаму́`	`аднаму́`	`адно́й`	`адны́м`
Instrumental	`адны́м`	`адны́м`	`адно́й`	`адны́мі`
Prepositional	`аб адны́м`	`аб адны́м`	`аб адно́й`	`аб адны́х`

The plural form адны́ is used with nouns that have no singular form, as well as with certain idiomatic constructions.

Там былі́ адны́ хло́пцы ‘There were only boys there’, Ён там быў то́лькі адны́ су́ткі ‘He was here for only twenty-four hours’

The word адзі́н is also used in certain constructions to mean each other.

Мы разуме́ем адзі́н аднаго́ ‘We understand each other’, Падмо́ргвалі адзі́н аднаму́ зайздро́сным калю́чым во́кам ‘They winked at each other with prickly envious eyes’

10.3 The number ‘two’ and the word ‘both’

The number два ‘two’, declines as follows.

	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine
Nominative	`два`	`два`	`дзве`
Accusative	`два` (`двух`)	`два`	`дзве`
Genitive	`двух`	`двух`	`дзвюх`
Dative	`двум`	`двум`	`дзвюм`
Instrumental	`двума́`	`двума́`	`дзвюма́`
Prepositional	`аб двух`	`аб двух`	`аб дзвюх`

The word або́два ‘both’, declines as follows.

	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine
Nominative	`або́два`	`або́два`	`абе́дзве`
Accusative	`або́два` (`або́двух`)	`або́два`	`абе́дзве` (`абе́дзвюх`)
Genitive	`або́двух`	`або́двух`	`абе́дзвюх`
Dative	`або́двум`	`або́двум`	`абе́дзвюм`
Instrumental	`або́двума`	`або́двума`	`абе́дзвюма`
Prepositional	`аб або́двух`	`аб або́двух`	`аб абе́дзвюх`

10.4 ‘Three’ and ‘four’

The numbers тры ‘three’, and чаты́ры ‘four’, decline as follows.

	`тры`	`чаты́ры`
Nominative	`тры`	`чаты́ры`
Accusative	`тры` (`трох`)	`чаты́ры` (`чатыро́х`)
Genitive	`трох`	`чатыро́х`
Dative	`тром`	`чатыро́м`
Instrumental	`трыма́`	`чатырма́`
Prepositional	`аб тром`	`аб чатыро́х`

10.5 ‘Five’ and up

These numbers all decline like сувя́зь, as shown in Chapter 2, including сем ‘seven’, and во́сем ‘eight’, even though they do not end in a ь.

пяць ‘five’; чатырна́ццаць ‘fourteen’, шэсць ‘six’; пятна́ццаць ‘fifteen’, сем ‘seven’; шасна́ццаць ‘sixteen’, во́сем ‘eight’; семна́ццаць ‘seventeen’, дзе́вяць ‘nine’; васемна́ццаць ‘eighteen’, дзе́сяць ‘ten’; дзевятна́ццаць ‘nineteen’, адзіна́ццаць ‘eleven’; два́ццаць ‘twenty’, двана́ццаць ‘twelve’; тры́ццаць ‘thirty’, трына́ццаць ‘thirteen’

10.6 ‘Forty’, ‘ninety’, and ‘one hundred’

The words со́рак ‘forty’, дзевяно́ста ‘ninety’, and сто ‘one’ ‘hundred’, decline as follows.

	`со́рак`	`дзевяно́ста`	`сто`
Nominative	`со́рак`	`дзевяно́ста`	`сто`
Accusative	`со́рак`	`дзевяно́ста`	`сто`
Genitive	`сарака́`	`дзевяно́ста`	`ста`
Dative	`сарака́`	`дзевяно́ста`	`ста`
Instrumental	`сарака́`	`дзевяно́ста`	`ста`
Prepositional	`аб сарака́`	`аб дзевяно́ста`	`аб ста`

10.7 ‘Fifty’, ‘sixty’, ‘seventy’, and ‘eighty’

These numbers decline like пяцьдзеся́т ‘fifty’. These words have two roots, both of which decline. Because of this, although the main accent falls on the final syllable, there is a quieter accent on the end of the first root.

	fifty	sixty	seventy	eighty
Nominative	`пяцьдзеся́т`	`шэсцьдзеся́т`	`семдзеся́т`	`восемдзеся́т`
Accusative	`пяцьдзеся́т`	`шэсцьдзеся́т`	`семдзеся́т`	`восемдзеся́т`
Genitive	`пяцідзесяці́`	`шасцідзесяці́`	`сямідзесяці́`	`васьмідзесяці́`
Dative	`пяцідзесяці́`	`шасцідзесяці́`	`сямідзесяці́`	`васьмідзесяці́`
Instrumental	`пяццюдзесяццю́`	`шасцідзесяццю́`	`сямідзесяццю́`	`васьмідзесяццю́`
Prepositional	`аб пяцідзесяці́`	`аб шасцідзесяці́`	`аб сямідзесяці́`	`аб васьмідзесяці́`

10.8 Two hundred and beyond

These numbers also have two roots, which both decline. The number дзве́сце, two hundred, has only one accent. The numbers тры́ста, three hundred, чаты́рыста, four hundred, and пяцьсо́т, five hundred, have only one accent in the nominative and accusative cases, but two accents in the rest of the cases. The numbers шэсцьсо́т, six hundred, семсо́т, seven hundred, восемсо́т, eight hundred, and дзевяцьсо́т, nine hundred, have two accents throughout all their forms.

	`дзве́сце`	`тры́ста`	`чаты́рыста`	`пяцьсо́т`
Nominative	`дзве́сце`	`тры́ста`	`чаты́рыста`	`пяцьсо́т`
Accusative	`дзве́сце`	`тры́ста`	`чаты́рыста`	`пяцьсо́т`
Genitive	`дзвюхсо́т`	`тро́хсо́т`	`чатыро́хсо́т`	`пяці́со́т`
Dative	`дзвюмста́м`	`тро́мста́м`	`чатыро́мста́м`	`пяці́ста́м`
Instrumental	`дзвюмаста́мі`	`трыма́ста́мі`	`чатырма́ста́мі`	`пяці́ста́мі`
Prepositional	`аб дзвюхста́х`	`аб тро́хста́х`	`аб чатыро́хста́х`	`аб пяці́ста́х`

	`шэ́сцьсо́т`	`се́мсо́т`	`во́семсо́т`	`дзе́вяцьсо́т`
Nominative	`шэ́сцьсо́т`	`се́мсо́т`	`во́семсо́т`	`дзе́вяцьсо́т`
Accusative	`шэ́сцьсо́т`	`се́мсо́т`	`во́семсо́т`	`дзе́вяцьсо́т`
Genitive	`шасці́со́т`	`сямі́со́т`	`васмі́со́т`	`дзевяці́со́т`
Dative	`шасці́ста́м`	`сямі́ста́м`	`васмі́стам`	`дзевяці́ста́м`
Instrumental	`шасцю́ста́мі`	`сямю́ста́мі`	`васмю́ста́мі`	`дзевяццю́ста́мі`
Prepositional	`аб шасці́ста́х`	`аб сямі́ста́х`	`аб васмі́ста́х`	`аб дзевяці́ста́х`

10.9 Collective numerals

These numbers are used with nouns that do not have a singular form, and in certain cases with animate nouns. The collective numerals have adjectival endings for the oblique cases. When a collective numeral is in the nominative or accusative case, the noun that it governs takes the genitive plural case. For oblique cases, the noun takes the same case as the numeral. as always, the accusative animate form is the same as the genitive.

	`дво́е`	`тро́е`	`чацвё́ра`	`пяцё́ра`
Nominative	`дво́е`	`тро́е`	`чацвё́ра`	`пяцё́ра`
Accusative	`дво́е`	`тро́е`	`чацвё́ра`	`пяцё́ра`
Genitive	`дваі́х`	`траі́х`	`чацвяры́х`	`пяцяры́х`
Dative	`дваі́м`	`траі́м`	`чацвяры́м`	`пяцяры́м`
Instrumental	`дваі́мі`	`траі́мі`	`чацвяры́мі`	`пяцяры́мі`
Prepositional	`аб дваі́х`	`аб траі́х`	`аб чацвяры́х`	`аб пяцяры́х`

	`шасцё́ра`	`сямё́ра`
Nominative	`шасцё́ра`	`сямё́ра`
Accusative	`шасцё́ра`	`сямё́ра`
Genitive	`шасцяры́х`	`семяры́х`
Dative	`шасцяры́м`	`семяры́м`
Instrumental	`шасцяры́мі`	`семяры́мі`
Prepositional	`аб шасцяры́х`	`аб семяры́х`

The words дво́е, тро́е, and чацвё́ра can be used with nouns that only have a plural form.

У нас дво́е сане́й ‘We have two sleds’, Зага́дана ўзяць е́жы на трое су́так ‘It was ordered that enough food be taken for three days’

These numerals can also be used to denote a number of people. They are especially used with men, workers, children, and words that decline like the neuter nouns discussed in Chapter 2.

У яго́ тро́е дзяце́й ‘He has three children’, Чацвё́ра мана́хаў-дамініка́наў не́слі вялі́зны чо́рны крыж ‘For Dominican monks carried a large black cross’, Сем прыйшлі́, а пяцё́ра з іх спазні́ліся ‘Seven came, but five of them were late’

There is along with these words the word або́е, which means ‘both’.

Сцяпа́н мо́ўчкі пазіра́ў на абаі́х ‘Stsyapan silently glanced at both of them’, абла́піў дзяўчы́ну і або́е павалі́ліся ў мя́ккую канюшы́ну ‘He hugged the girl and both fell into the soft clover’

10.10 Ordinal numerals

These adjectives are used as ordinal numbers.

пе́ршы ‘first’; пятна́ццаты ‘fifteenth’, другі́ ‘second’; шасна́ццаты ‘sixteenth’, трэ́ці ‘third’; семна́ццаты ‘seventeenth’, чацвё́рты ‘fourth’; васемна́ццаты ‘eighteenth’, пя́ты ‘fifth’; дзевятна́ццаты ‘nineteenth’, шо́сты ‘sixth’; двацца́ты ‘twentieth’, сё́мы ‘seventh’; трыцца́ты ‘thirtieth’, во́сьмы ‘eighth’; саракавы́ ‘fortieth’, дзевя́ты ‘ninth’; пяцідзеся́ты ‘fiftieth’, дзеся́ты ‘tenth’; шасцідзеся́ты ‘sixtieth’, адзіна́ццаты ‘eleventh’; сямідзеся́ты ‘seventieth’, двана́ццаты ‘twelfth’; васьмідзеся́ты ‘eightieth’, трына́ццаты ‘thirteenth’; дзевяно́сты ‘ninetieth’, чатырна́ццаты ‘fourteenth’; со́ты ‘hundredth’

11. 1st Conjugation Verbs

Most of the difficulty involved with Belarusan verbs comes from the spelling rules, which distort the ending of the verb. Careful attention to spelling rules predicts and explains the different variations of conjugation. Verbs of the 1st conjugation are called type 1 verbs. Unless otherwise noted, all verbs here are imperfective.

11.1 The root ends in a vowel and the ending is accented

In general, type 1 verbs conjugate like дава́ць, to give.


`даю́`	`даё́м`
`дае́ш`	`даяце́`
`дае́`	`даю́ць`

Infinitive	Meaning	1st Person Singular	2nd Person Singular
`жава́ць`	to chew	`жую́`	`жуе́ш`
`пець`	to sing	`пяю́`	`пяе́ш`

This group also incudes verbs whose stem ends in ь or the apostrophe. an example of these is біць, to hit.


`б'ю`	`б'ём`
`б'еш`	`б'яце́`
`б'е`	`б'юць`


`ліць`	to pour	`лью`	`льеш`
`піць`	to drink	`п'ю`	`п'еш`

11.2 The root ends in a vowel and the root is accented

Verbs of this type conjugate like чака́ць, to wait.


`чака́ю`	`чака́ем`
`чака́еш`	`чака́еце`
`чака́е`	`чака́юць`


`гада́ць`	to guess*	`гада́ю`	`гада́еш`
`шыць`	to sew*	`ы́ю`	`ы́еш`

11.3 The root ends in a consonant and the ending is accented

Most verbs of this type conjugate like жыць, to live.


`жыву́`	`жывё́м`
`жыве́ш`	`жывяце́`
`жыве́`	`жыву́ць`

Infinitive	Meaning	1st Person Singular	2nd Person Singular
`зваць`	to call*	`заву́`	`заве́ш`
`гры́зці`	to gnaw*	`грызу́`	`грызе́ш`

For verbs of this type, roots ending in д or т in the first person singular have дз or ц for the other persons. They conjugate like кла́сці, to put.


`кладу́`	`кладзё́м`
`кладзе́ш`	`кладзяце́`
`кладзе́`	`кладу́ць`


`ісці́`	to go	`іду́`	`ідзе́ш`
`цвісці́`	to bloom*	`цвіту́`	`цвіце́ш`

For verbs of this type, roots ending in г or к in the first person singular have ж or ч for the other persons. They conjugate like пячы́, to bake.


`пяку́`	`пячо́м`
`пячэ́ш`	`пячаце́`
`пячэ́`	`пяку́ць`


`сячы́`	to cut up	`сяку́`	`сячэ́ш`
`берагчы́`	to safeguard	`берагу́`	`беражэ́ш`

Verbs of this type, whose root ends in an invariable non-palatized consonant conjugate like бра́ць, to take.


`бяру́`	`бяро́м`
`бярэ́ш`	`бераце́`
`бярэ́`	`бяру́ць`


`пе́рці`	to make one’s way	`пру`	`прэш`
`це́рці`	to rub	`тру`	`трэш`

11.4 The root ends in a consonant and the root is accented

Verbs like these conjugate like цягну́ць, to pull.


`цягну́`	`ця́гнем`
`ця́гнеш`	`ця́гнеце`
`ця́гне`	`ця́гнуць`

Infinitive	Meaning	1st Person Singular	2nd Person Singular
`прыня́ць`	to accept*	`прыму́`	`пры́меш`
`узя́ць`	to take*	`вазму́`	`во́змеш`

Verbs of this type, whose root ends in д, conjugate like быць, to be.


`бу́ду`	`бу́дзем`
`бу́дзеш`	`бу́дзеце`
`бу́дзе`	`бу́дуць`


`е́хаць`	to go [by vehicle]	`е́ду`	`е́дзеш`
`кра́сці`	to steal*	`кра́ду`	`кра́дзеш`

Verbs of this type, whose root ends in г, conjugate like магчы́, to be able.


`магу́`	`мо́жам`
`мо́жаш`	`мо́жаце`
`мо́жа`	`мо́гуць`

ле́гчы to lie down лягу́ ля́жаш

Verbs of this type, whose root ends in an invariably non-palatized consonant, conjugate like рэ́заць, to cut.


`рэ́жу`	`рэ́жам`
`рэ́жаш`	`рэ́жаце`
`рэ́жа`	`рэ́жуць`


`каза́ць`	to say	`кажу́`	`ка́жаш`
`пла́каць`	to cry	`пла́чу`	`пла́чаш`

12. 2nd Conjugation Verbs

Most of the difficulty involved with Belarusan verbs comes from the spelling rules, which distort the ending of the verb. Careful attention to spelling rules predicts and explains the different variations of this conjugation. Unless otherwise noted, all verbs here are imperfective. Verbs of this conjugation are called type 2 verbs.

12.1 The root ends in a vowel

accent placement of type 2 verbs has no effect. Some examples of these verbs are стая́ць, to stand, стро́іць, to prepare, and таі́ць, to hide.


`стаю́`	`стаі́м`	`стро́ю`	`стро́ім`	`таю́`	`то́ім`
`стаі́ш`	`стаі́це`	`стро́іш`	`стро́іце`	`то́іш`	`то́іце`
`стаі́ць`	`стая́ць`	`стро́іць`	`стро́яць`	`то́іць`	`то́яць`

12.2 The root ends in a consonant

These verbs conjugate very similarly to the verbs in 12.1, but there are variations on the endings, depending on what consonant the root ends in. Verbs, whose root ends in л or н have the same endings as the verbs shown above.


`по́мню`	`по́мнім`
`по́мніш`	`по́мніце`
`по́мніць`	`по́мняць`

Infinitive	Meaning	1st Person Singular	2nd Person Singular
`валі́ць`	to knock down	`валю́`	`ва́ліш`
`гнаць`	to chase (determinate)	`ганю́`	`го́ніш`

Verbs of this type, whose root ends in б, в, м, п, or ф, have a л added between the root and the ending for the first person singular.


`раблю́`	`ро́бім`
`ро́біш`	`ро́біце`
`ро́біць`	`ро́бяць`


`ста́віць`	to put*	`ста́ўлю`	`ста́віш`
`кармі́ць`	to feed*	`кармлю́`	`ко́рміш`
`купі́ць`	to buy (perfective)	`куплю́`	`ку́піш`

If the final letters of the root are дз, з, с, сц, or ц, they change for the first person singular as shown below. an example of these verbs is хадзі́ць, to walk.


`дз`	→	`дж`
`з`	→	`ж`
`с`	→	`ш`
`сц`	→	`шч`
`ц`	→	`ч`


`хаджу́`	`хо́дзім`
`хо́дзіш`	`хо́дзіце`
`хо́дзіць`	`хо́дзяць`

Infinitive	Meaning	1st Person Singular	2nd Person Singular
`вазі́ць`	to transport	`важу́`	`во́зіш`
`ляце́ць`	to fly*	`лячу́`	`ля́ціш`
`насі́ць`	to carry	`нашу́`	`но́сіш`
`пе́сціць`	to pamper*	`пе́шчу`	`пе́сціш`

Verbs of this type, whose root ends in an invariably non-palatized consonant, conjugate like ба́чыць, to see.


`ба́чу`	`ба́чым`
`ба́чыш`	`ба́чыце`
`ба́чыць`	`ба́чаць`


`гавары́ць`	to speak*	`гавару́`	`гаво́рыш`
`служы́ць`	to serve*	`служу́`	`слу́жыш`
`рашы́ць`	to decide	`рашу́`	`рэ́шыш`

13. Miscellaneous Verbs and Verb Irregularities

13.1 Three miscellaneous verbs

The verbs бе́гчы, to run, даць, to give, and е́сці, to eat, conjugate as follows.


`бягу́`	`бяжы́м`	`дам`	`дадзі́м`	`ем`	`ядзі́м`
`бяжы́ш`	`бяжыце́`	`дасі́`	`дасце́`	`еш`	`ясце́`
`бяжы́ць`	`бягу́ць`	`дасць`	`даду́ць`	`е́сць`	`яду́ць`

13.2 Shifting stress

For many verbs, the accent is on the ending for the first person singular, but is the root for all other persons. This happens most often when the final syllable of the infinitive is accented.

Infinitive	Meaning	1st Person Singular	2nd Person Singular
`вазі́ць`	to transport	`важу́`	`во́зіш`
`гавары́ць`	to speak*	`гавару́`	`гаво́рыш`
`прыня́ць`	to receive*	`прыму́`	`пры́меш`
`хаце́ць`	to want	`хачу́`	`хо́чаш`

13.3 Verb ending variation

The verbs conjugated above have the most current and accepted endings, but variations do exist. One common variation that effects verbs of the types discussed in Sections 11.1 and 11.3 is to replace the ending of the 1st person plural, -ём or -ом, with the endings -ем or -эм, respectively. another common variation, which effects all verbs with accented endings, replaces the final -е of the 2nd person plural with a -ё́. although these variations do exist, they are non-standard and should be avoided by the non-native speaker.

14. Reflexive Verbs

14.1 Use of reflexive verbs

The one characteristic that all reflexive verbs have in common is that they cannot take a direct object in the accusative case. Very often, the fact that the verb is reflexive means that the subject of the sentence is what is being acted upon.

Мяч кіда́ецца ім ‘The ball is thrown by him’, Яны́ бая́цца ‘They are afraid’

14.2 Conjugation of reflexive verbs

Reflexive verbs in general are all formed from non-reflexive verbs in the same way. Below are given examples of both type 1 and type 2 reflexive verbs. The reader will notice that they are formed in the exact same way. an example of a type 1 reflexive verb is стара́цца, to try, and an example of a type 2 reflexive verb is тулі́цца, to press against.


`стара́юся`	`стара́емся`	`тулю́ся`	`ту́лімся`
`стара́ешся`	`стара́ецеся`	`ту́лішся`	`ту́ліцеся`
`стара́ецца`	`стара́юцца`	`ту́ліцца`	`ту́ляцца`

Infinitive	Meaning	1st Person Singular	2nd Person Singular
`падаба́цца`	to be pleasing*	`падаба́юся`	`падаба́ешся`
`спадзява́цца`	to hope*	`спадзяю́ся`	`спадзяе́шся`
`бая́цца`	to fear*	`баю́ся`	`баі́шся`
`нарадзі́цца`	to be born*	`нараджу́ся`	`наро́дзішся`

14.3 Reflexive past tense, participles, and gerunds

all other parts of the verb are formed like normal verbs, with the suffix -ся placed on the end.

ён стара́ўся дапамага́ць ‘He tried to help’, Ляжа́лі абня́ўшыся і маўча́лі ‘They lay hugging and were quiet’, Міха́сь бы́стра падня́ўся з зямлі́, не агляда́ючыся вако́л ‘Michael quickly got up off the ground, not looking around’

15. Past Tenses

15.1 Past tense formation

Belarusan verbal aspect is similar to Russian and Ukrainian. Consult a text on one of these languages for more information on verbal aspect. Belarusan has two past tenses, the past perfect and the past imperfect. The past tense form is conjugated for gender and number, but not for person. The past tense is formed from the infinitive of the appropriate aspect.

Мы шмат рабі́лі, калі́ жы́лі там ‘We were getting a lot done while we were living there’, Я пазнаё́міўся з ім, калі́ прые́хаў ‘I met him when I arrived’, Густа́я і чо́рная вада́ цякла́ ці́ха і спако́йна ‘The thick and black water flowed quietly and peacefully’

Infinitives with the ending -ць form the past tense by replacing the final -ць with -ў to form the masculine, -ло to form the neuter, -ла to form the feminine, or -лі to form the plural. If unaccented, the neuter ending is -ла.

Infinitive	Meaning	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
`быць`	to be	`быў`	`было́`	`была́`	`былі́`
`жыць`	to live	`жыў`	`жыло́`	`жыла́`	`жылі́`
`чыта́ць`	to read	`чыта́ў`	`чыта́ла`	`чыта́ла`	`чыта́лі`

15.2 Past tense of verbs ending in `-чы` or `-ці`

The past tense of these verbs really just have to be memorized. If the masculine form ends in -ў, the verb is conjugated for the other genders by replacing the final -ў with the proper ending, either -ло, -ла, or -лі.

Infinitive	Meaning	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
`ве́сці`	to bring	`вёў`	`вяло́`	`вяла́`	`вялі́`
`е́сці`	to eat	`еў`	`е́ла`	`е́ла`	`е́лі`
`ісці́`	to go	`ішо́ў`	`ішло́`	`ішла́`	`ішлі́`
`кла́сці`	to put	`клаў`	`кла́ла`	`кла́ла`	`кла́лі`
`кра́сці`	to steal	`краў`	`кра́ла`	`кра́ла`	`кра́лі`
`се́сці`	to sit	`сеў`	`се́ла`	`се́ла`	`се́лі`
`цвісці́`	to bloom	`цвіў`	`цвіло́`	`цвіла́`	`цвілі́`

If the masculine past tense form ends in a consonant, the other genders are formed by simply adding the appropriate ending to the end of the masculine form.

Infinitive	Meaning	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
`бе́гчы`	to run	`бег`	`бе́гла`	`бе́гла`	`бе́глі`
`берагчы́`	to take care of	`бяро́г`	`берагло́`	`берагла́`	`бераглі́`
`валачы́`	to drag	`вало́к`	`валакло́`	`валакла́`	`валаклі́`
`ле́гчы`	to lie down	`лёг`	`лягло́`	`лягла́`	`ляглі́`
`магчы́`	to be able to	`мог`	`магло́`	`магла́`	`маглі́`
`пячы́`	to bake	`пёк`	`пякло́`	`пякла́`	`пяклі́`
`сячы́`	to cut up	`сек`	`се́кла`	`се́кла`	`се́клі`
`стры́гчы`	to cut [hair]	`стрыг`	`стрыгло́`	`стрыгла́`	`стрыглі́`
`ве́зці`	to transport	`вёз`	`вязло́`	`вязла́`	`вязлі́`
`ле́зці`	to climb	`лез`	`ле́зла`	`ле́зла`	`ле́злі`
`не́сці`	to carry	`нёс`	`не́сла`	`не́сла`	`не́слі`
`паме́рці`	to die	`памё́р`	`паме́рла`	`паме́рла`	`паме́рлі`
`пе́рці`	to make one’s way	`пёр`	`пе́рла`	`пе́рла`	`пе́рлі`
`це́рці`	to rub	`цёр`	`це́рла`	`це́рла`	`це́рлі`

15.3 Past tense of verbs ending in -нуць

Most verbs ending in -нуць form the past tense normally, but there are a few irregular ones that just have to be memorized. These ones form the masculine past tense by removing the -нуць ending. The other genders are formed by adding the appropriate ending.

Infinitive	Meaning	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
`глу́хнуць`	to go deaf	`глух`	`глу́хла`	`глу́хла`	`глу́хлі`
`зні́кнуць`	to disappear	`знік`	`зні́кла`	`зні́кла`	`зні́клі`
`ме́рзнуць`	to freeze	`мёрз`	`ме́рзла`	`ме́рзла`	`ме́рзлі`
`прані́кнуць`	to penetrate	`прані́к`	`прані́кла`	`прані́кла`	`прані́клі`
`прывы́кнуць`	to get used to	`прывы́к`	`прывы́кла`	`прывы́кла`	`прывы́клі`
`со́хнуць`	to become dry	`сох`	`со́хла`	`со́хла`	`со́хлі`
`узні́кнуць`	to arise	`узні́к`	`узні́кла`	`узні́кла`	`узні́клі`

16. Present and Future Tenses

Belarusan verbal aspect is similar to Russian and Ukrainian. Consult a text on one of these languages for more information on verbal aspect.

16.1 Present tense

Belarusan has one present tense and two future tenses, the future perfect and the future imperfect. The present tense is formed by conjugating the infinitive of the imperfect aspect of a verb for the correct person.

Я тут жыву́. ‘I live here’

Я жыву́ цяпе́р у сябро́ў. ‘I am living with friends right now’

Я жыву́ з і́мі ме́сяц. ‘I have lived with them for a month’

The verb быць, to be, has no present tense conjugation. The verb to be is often rendered in the present tense as a pause, represented as a dash when written. It is dropped completely in third person impersonal constructions. Some of the functions of the verb to be can also be filled by other verbs like быва́ць, to occur, and стаць, to become.

Я — амерыка́нец, а ты — белару́с. ‘I am an american, and you are a belarusan’

Хло́пчык — ве́льмі гало́дны. ‘The young man is very hungry’

Ця́жка вы́вучыць но́вую мо́ву. ‘It is difficult to learn a new language’

The word ёсць is also used to fulfill some of the functions of the verb to be. It is used either to emphasis the existence of the subject, or as a predicate meaning there is. The word ёсць is etymologically descended from the obsolete present tense conjugation of the Common Slavonic verb byti, to be.

Ён з’яві́ўся такі́м, які́м ён і ёсць па сваё́й нату́ры. ‘He appeared as that person, whom he is by his nature’

Ёсць які́-не́будзь ста́ры, што да вайны́ тут жыў? ‘Is there anyone old that lived here before the war?’

16.2 Future imperfect formation

The future imperfect tense is formed by conjugating the verb быць for the correct person, and following that with the infinitive of a verb’s imperfective aspect.

Што бу́дзеш рабі́ць? ‘What will you be doing?’

Я бу́ду мно́га чыта́ць. ‘I will be reading a lot’

16.3 Future perfect formation

The future perfect tense is formed by conjugating the infinitive of a verb’s perfective aspect for the correct person.

Што зро́біш? ‘What will you do?’

Я ско́нчу гэ́ту кні́гу. ‘I will finish this book’

17. The Imperative

17.1 Formation of the imperative

In the case of the vast majority of Belarusan verbs, the imperative is formed as follows. Conjugate the verb for the 2nd person singular and remove the final two letters. If the stem ends in a vowel, add an -й. If the stem ends in an invariably non-palatized consonant, nothing is added, otherwise add either an -і or a -ь. The ending –і is added either if the infinitive is more than one syllable and the accent falls on the last syllable, or if the root ends in two or more consonants (note that the letter combinations дз and дж are each treated as a single letter). If neither of these two conditions is met, then a -ь is added. This forms the singular form of the imperative. To form the plural imperative, the suffix -це is appended to the singular form.

Infinitive	Meaning	2nd Person Singular	Stem	Imperative Singular	Imperative Plural
`браць`	to take	`бярэ́ш`	`бяр`-	`бяры́`	`бяры́це`
`глядзець`	to look	`глядзі́ш`	`глядз`-	`глядзі́`	`глядзі́це`
`глянуць`	to glance	`гля́ніш`	`глян`-	`глянь`	`гля́ньце`
`жыць`	to live	`жыве́ш`	`жыв`-	`жыві́`	`жыві́це`
`легчы`	to lie down	`ля́жаш`	`ляж`-	`ляж`	`ля́жце`
`мыць`	to wash	`мы́еш`	`мы`-	`мый`	`мы́йце`
`ехаць`	to drive	`е́дзеш`	`едз`-	`едзь`	`е́дзьце`
`рабіць`	to do	`ро́біш`	`роб`-	`рабі́`	`рабі́це`
`рэзаць`	to slice	`рэ́жаш`	`рэж`-	`рэж`	`рэ́жце`
`сячы`	to cut up	`сячэ́ш`	`сяч`-	`сячы́`	`сячы́це`
`стаць`	to become	`ста́неш`	`стан`-	`стань`	`ста́ньце`
`стукнуць`	to knock	`сту́кнеш`	`стукн`-	`сту́кні`	`сту́кніце`
`чакаць`	to wait	`чака́еш`	`чака́`-	`чака́й`	`чака́йце`

17.2 Vowel changes due to spelling rules

There are several verbs, which seem to be irregular, but the changes of their vowels are really just manifestions of spelling rules.


`бая́цца`	to fear	`баі́шся`	`бо`-	`бо́йся`	`бо́йцеся`
`смяя́цца`	to dare	`смяе́шся`	`сме`-	`сме́йся`	`сме́йцеся`
`стая́ць`	to stand	`стаі́ш`	`сто`-	`стой`	`сто́йце`

17.3 Verbs beginning with `вы`-

If imperative form of verb ends in an -і (or -ы due to spelling rules) the verb formed by adding the prefix вы- to the verb also has an imperative that ends in -і, even though the accent will fall on the prefix.

Infinitive	Meaning	Imperative Singular	Infinitive	Meaning	Imperative Singular
`ве́сці`	to lead	`вядзі́`	`вы́весці`	to lead away	`вы́ведзі`
`каза́ць`	to say	`кажы́`	`вы́казаць`	to state something	`вы́кажы`
`рваць`	to tear	`рві`	`вы́рваць`	to tear away	`вы́рві`

17.4 Irregular imperatives

Certain verbs have irregular imperatives. a few of these are given below.

Infinitive	Meaning	2nd Person Singular	Imperative Singular	Imperative Plural
`дава́ць`	to give	`дае́ш`	`дава́й`	`дава́йце`
`даць`	to give* (Perf.)	`дасі́`	`дай`	`да́йце`
`е́сці`	to eat	`еш`	`еш`	`е́шце`
`біць`	to hit	`б'еш`	`бі`	`бі́це`
`ліць`	to pour	`льеш`	`лі`	`лі́це`
`піць`	to drink	`пьеш`	`пі`	`пі́це`

17.5 1st person plural imperative

The most common way of forming the 1st person plural imperative is by using the word дава́йце. If the verb is imperfective, дава́йце is followed by the verb’s infinitive. If the verb is perfective, the word дава́йце is followed by the verb conjugated for the 1st person plural.

Дава́йце яшчэ́ нальё́м ‘Let’s pour in some more’, Дава́йце крыча́ць: хто слабе́й кры́кне, таго́ зьядзё́м ‘Let’s yell: Whoever yells the weakest, him we will eat’

alternatively, verbs do have a special form for the 1st person plural imperative.

Бярэ́м мана́ткі і марш! ‘Let’s grab our gear and move out!’, Уцяка́йма, паку́ль не по́зна ‘Let’s get out of here, while it’s not to late’, Е́дзем на база́р, каб купі́ць е́жу на за́ўтра ‘Let’s go to the market to buy food for tomorrow’

If the 2nd person singular imperative ends in -й, the 1st person plural imperative is formed by adding the letters -ма to the end of the imperative.

Infinitive	Meaning	Imperative Singular	1st Person Plural Imperative
`будава́ць`	to build	`буду́й`	`буду́йма`
`мы́цца`	to wash oneself	`мы́йся`	`мы́ймася`
`чыта́ць`	to read	`чыта́й`	`чыта́йма`

If the 2nd person singular imperative ends in an accented -ы or -і, the 1st person plural imperative uses -эм or -ем respectively.


`бе́гчы`	to run	`бяжы́`	`бяжэ́м`
`бра́цца`	to wrap around something	`бяры́ся`	`бярэ́мся`
`крыча́ць`	to yell	`крычы́`	`крычэ́м`
`сарва́ць`	to tear* (Perf.)	`сарві́`	`сарве́м`
`спаць`	to sleep	`спі`	`спем`
`хадзі́ць`	to walk	`хадзі́`	`хадзе́м`

Otherwise, the 1st person plural imperative is identical to the 1st person plural indicative form.


`быць`	to be*	`будзь`	`бу́дзем`
`се́сці`	to sit down* (Perf.)	`сядзь`	`ся́дзем`
`ле́гчы`	to lie down* (Perf.)	`ляж`	`ля́жам`

17.6 3rd person imperative

The third person imperative is formed by placing either the particle хай or няха́й before the verb, conjugated for the third person, either singular or plural.

Хай гаво́рыць ‘Let him speak’, Не чапа́й, хай ляжы́ць ‘Don’t disturb him, let him lie’, Хай бу́дзе святло́ ‘Let there be light’

18. Verbs of Motion

There is a set of verbs expressing motion, whose imperfective aspect has two distinct parts, the indeterminate form and the determinate form. The determinate form is used when expressing a distinct progression from one point to another. The indeterminate form is used in all other instances.

Meaning	Form	1st Singular	1st Plural	2nd Singular	2nd Plural	3rd Singular	3rd Plural	Masculine Past	Plural Past	Neuter Past	Feminine Past
to walk, indet.	`хадзі́ць`	`хаджу́`	`хо́дзім`	`хо́дзіш`	`хо́дзіце`	`хо́дзіць`	`хо́дзяць`	`хадзі́ў`	`хадзі́лі`	`хадзі́ла`	`хадзі́ла`
to walk, deter.	`ісці́`	`іду́`	`ідзё́м`	`ідзе́ш`	`ідзяце́`	`ідзе́`	`іду́ць`	`ішо́ў`	`ішлі́`	`ішло́`	`ішла́`
to go by transport, indet.	`е́здзіць`	`е́зджу`	`е́здзім`	`е́здзіш`	`е́здзіце`	`е́здзіць`	`е́здзяць`	`е́здзіў`	`е́здзілі`	`е́здзіла`	`е́здзіла`
to go by transport, deter.	`е́хаць`	`е́ду`	`е́дзем`	`е́дзеш`	`е́дзеце`	`е́дзе`	`е́дуць`	`е́хаў`	`е́халі`	`е́хала`	`е́хала`
to run, indet.	`бе́гаць`	`бе́гаю`	`бе́гаем`	`бе́гаеш`	`бе́гаеце`	`бе́гае`	`бе́гаюць`	`бе́гаў`	`бе́галі`	`бе́гала`	`бе́гала`
to run, deter.	`бе́гчы`	`бягу́`	`бяжы́м`	`бяжы́ш`	`бяжы́це`	`бяжы́ць`	`бягу́ць`	`бег`	`бе́глі`	`бе́гла`	`бе́гла`
to lead, indet.	`вадзі́ць`	`ваджу́`	`во́дзім`	`во́дзіш`	`во́дзіце`	`во́дзіць`	`во́дзяць`	`вадзі́ў`	`вадзі́лі`	`вадзі́ла`	`вадзі́ла`
to lead, deter.	`ве́сці`	`вяду́`	`вядзё́м`	`вядзе́ш`	`ведзяце́`	`вядзе́`	`вяду́ць`	`вёў`	`вялі́`	`вяло́`	`вяла́`
to transport, indet.	`вазі́ць`	`важу́`	`во́зім`	`во́зіш`	`во́зіце`	`во́зіць`	`во́зяць`	`вазі́ў`	`вазі́лі`	`вазі́ла`	`вазі́ла`
to transport, deter.	`ве́зці`	`вязу́`	`вязё́м`	`вязе́ш`	`везяце́`	`вязе́`	`вязу́ць`	`вёз`	`ве́злі`	`ве́зла`	`ве́зла`
to chase, indet.	`ганя́ць`	`ганя́ю`	`ганя́ем`	`ганя́еш`	`ганя́еце`	`ганя́е`	`ганя́юць`	`ганя́ў`	`ганя́лі`	`ганя́ла`	`ганя́ла`
to chase, deter.	`гнаць`	`ганю́`	`го́нім`	`го́ніш`	`го́ніце`	`го́ніць`	`го́няць`	`гнаў`	`гна́лі`	`гна́ла`	`гна́ла`
to roll, indet.	`кача́ць`	`кача́ю`	`кача́ем`	`кача́еш`	`кача́еце`	`кача́е`	`кача́юць`	`кача́ў`	`кача́лі`	`кача́ла`	`кача́ла`
to roll, deter.	`каці́ць`	`качу́`	`ко́цім`	`ко́ціш`	`ко́ціце`	`ко́ціць`	`ко́цяць`	`каці́ў`	`каці́лі`	`каці́ла`	`каці́ла`
to climb, indet.	`ла́зіць`	`ла́жу`	`ла́зім`	`ла́зіш`	`ла́зіце`	`ла́зіць`	`ла́зяць`	`ла́зіў`	`ла́зілі`	`ла́зіла`	`ла́зіла`
to climb, deter.	`ле́зці`	`ле́зу`	`ле́зем`	`ле́зеш`	`ле́зеце`	`ле́зе`	`ле́зуць`	`лез`	`ле́злі`	`ле́зла`	`ле́зла`
to fly, indet.	`лята́ць`	`лята́ю`	`лята́ем`	`лята́еш`	`лята́еце`	`лята́е`	`лята́юць`	`лята́ў`	`лята́лі`	`лята́ла`	`лята́ла`
to fly, deter.	`ляце́ць`	`лячу́`	`ляці́м`	`ляці́ш`	`ляці́це`	`ляці́ць`	`ляця́ць`	`ляце́ў`	`ляце́лі`	`ляце́ла`	`ляце́ла`
to carry, indet.	`насі́ць`	`нашу́`	`но́сім`	`но́сіш`	`но́сіце`	`но́сіць`	`но́сяць`	`насі́ў`	`насі́лі`	`насі́ла`	`насі́ла`
to carry, deter.	`не́сці`	`нясу́`	`нясё́м`	`нясе́ш`	`несяце́`	`нясе́`	`нясу́ць`	`нёс`	`не́слі`	`не́сла`	`не́сла`
to pull, indet.	`цяга́ць`	`цяга́ю`	`цяга́ем`	`цяга́еш`	`цяга́еце`	`цяга́е`	`цяга́юць`	`цяга́ў`	`цяга́лі`	`цяга́ла`	`цяга́ла`
to pull, deter.	`цягну́ць`	`цягну́`	`ця́гнем`	`ця́гнеш`	`ця́гнеце`	`ця́гне`	`ця́гнуць`	`цягну́ў`	`цягну́лі`	`цягну́ла`	`цягну́ла`

19. Verbal Prefixes

19.1 Prefix usage

adding a prefix to an imperfective verb usually creates a perfective verb with a modified meaning. adding a prefix to an imperfective verb of motion does not create a perfective verb, but a new imperfective verb with a modified meaning. The same prefix is attached to the perfective aspect of the verb of motion to form the perfective form of the new verb. When a prefix ending in a consonant is attached to a verb beginning in an iotized vowel, a buffer symbol ‘ is placed between them. When хадзі́ць has a prefix attached to it, the accent moves to the root for all forms. When ісці́ has a prefix attached to it, the initial і- changes to an й- and the accent falls on the prefix for all persons in the present tense except the 1st person singular. The exception to this is the prefix вы-, for which the accent always falls on this prefix, irrespective of person or tense. When either хадзі́ць or ісці́ has a prefix attached, which ends in a consonant, an ы is placed as a buffer between the prefix and root.

аб'яві́ць ‘to announce’; пад'е́хаць ‘to drive up’, прыхо́джу ‘I am coming’; прыхо́дзіў ‘I came’, по́йдзе ‘he will go’; пайшо́ў ‘he went’, разышлі́ся ‘they dispersed’; адыхо́джу ‘I am leaving’

19.2 Directional prefix meanings

Each of these prefixes has additional meanings that have nothing to do with direction, but for now I have only listed the meanings which imply a direction of motion. Prefixes can be added to verbs to create new verbs. adding a prefix to the indeterminate form of a verb of motion creates the imperfective infinitive of a verb, and adding the prefix to the determinate form creates the perfective infinitive of the same verb. The exception to this rule is the verb е́хаць and е́здзіць, to go [by transport]. The perfective aspect of a verb can be formed by adding a prefix to е́хаць, but the imperfective aspect of the same verb is formed by adding the prefix to the verb язджа́ць. The form язджа́ць rarely occurs on its own, without a prefix. These prefixes can also be added to other, non-motion verbs.

па- This prefix is added to the directional infinitive to form the perfective infinitive for all verbs of motion.

Verb	Meaning
`пайсці́`	to go [somewhere, on foot]
`пае́хаць`	to go [somewhere, by transport]
`пабе́гчы`	to run [somewhere]
`пане́сці`	to carry [something somewhere]

аб- This prefix implies encompassing or overtaking motion.

Indet.	Deter.	Meaning
`абыхо́дзіць`	`абыйсці́`	to walk around
`аб'язджа́ць`	`аб'е́хаць`	to drive around
`абганя́ць`	`абагна́ць`	to overtake
`абкла́дваць`	`абкла́сці`	to surround [with something]

ад- This prefix has the meaning of moving away.

Indet.	Deter.	Meaning
`адыхо́дзіць`	`адыйсці́`	to withdraw
`адно́сіць`	`адне́сці`	to carry off
`адбіра́ць`	`адабра́ць`	to take away
`адрыва́ць`	`адарва́ць`	to tear off

вы- This prefix has the meaning of going out of something.

Indet.	Deter.	Meaning
`выхо́дзіць`	`вы́йсці`	to exit [on foot]
`вы́насіць`	`вы́несці`	to carry out
`выбіра́ць`	`вы́браць`	to select
`вырыва́ць`	`вы́рваць`	to tear out

да- This prefix implies movement as far as, or up to, a certain point.

Indet.	Deter.	Meaning
`дахо́дзіць`	`дайсці́`	to reach
`дано́сіць`	`дане́сці`	to bring as far as
`даганя́ць`	`дагна́ць`	to catch up to
`дабіра́цца`	`дабра́цца`	to get as far as

з- This prefix has the meaning of coming off of, or coming out of.

Indet.	Deter.	Meaning
`зыхо́дзіць`	`зыйсці́`	to come off of
`з'язжа́ць`	`з'е́хаць`	to depart
`зно́сіць`	`зне́сці`	to take down from, to take out of
`зніма́ць`	`зняць`	to remove

за- Verbs with this prefix have the meanings of traveling far, or past something.

Indet.	Deter.	Meaning
`захо́дзіць`	`зайсці́`	to walk behind
`забе́гаць`	`забе́гчы`	to run ahead
`зано́сіць`	`зане́сці`	to carry [far] away
`закла́дваць`	`закла́сці`	to place behind

на- Verbs with this prefix have the meaning of collision with something.

Indet.	Deter.	Meaning
`нахо́дзіць`	`найсці́`	to come across, to walk into
`наязджа́ць`	`нае́хаць`	to run into [with a vehicle]
`напада́ць`	`напа́сці`	to fall into
`наступа́ць`	`наступі́ць`	to approach [a certain time]

пад- This prefix has the basic meaning of upward motion.

Indet.	Deter.	Meaning
`падыхо́дзіць`	`падыйсці́`	to approach [on foot]
`пад'язджа́ць`	`пад'е́хаць`	to drive up to
`падбяга́ць`	`падбе́гчы`	to run up to
`падніма́ць`	`падня́ць`	to lift

пера- This prefix has the meaning of crossing over something.

Indet.	Deter.	Meaning
`перахо́дзіць`	`перайсці́`	to walk across
`перано́сіць`	`перане́сці`	to carry across
`перадава́ць`	`перада́ць`	to pass along
`перакла́дваць`	`перакла́сці`	to transfer, to translate

пра- This prefix gives verbs the meaning of passing by something.

Indet.	Deter.	Meaning
`прахо́дзіць`	`прайсці́`	to pass by
`праязджа́ць`	`прае́хаць`	to drive past
`прабяга́ць`	`прабе́гчы`	to run by
`прано́сіць`	`пране́сці`	to carry by

раз- This prefix gives verbs the meaning of movement in various directions, or distribution.

Indet.	Deter.	Meaning
`разыхо́дзіцца`	`разыйсці́ся`	to disperse
`раз'язджа́цца`	`раз'е́хацца`	to drive away [in various directions]
`разбяга́цца`	`разбе́гчыся`	to run off, to scatter
`разлята́цца`	`разляце́цца`	to fly away, to scatter

у- This prefix gives verbs the meaning of entering. It changes to ува- with хадзі́ць and ісці́.

Indet.	Deter.	Meaning
`увахо́дзіць`	`увайсці́`	to enter
`уязджа́ць`	`уе́хаць`	to drive in
`убяга́ць`	`убе́гчы`	to run in
`уно́сіць`	`уне́сці`	to carry in

уз- This prefix gives verbs the meaning of upward motion.

Indet.	Deter.	Meaning
`узыхо́дзіць`	`узыйсці́`	to walk up
`узла́зіць`	`узле́зці`	to climb up
`узлята́ць`	`узляце́ць`	to take off
`узвыша́ць`	`узвы́сіць`	to elevate

20. Gerunds and Participles

Gerunds and participles are not commonly used in colloquial Belarusan, but they are found in literature.

20.1 Present imperfect gerunds

These gerunds are formed by conjugating an imperfect infinitive of a verb for the 3rd person plural, removing the final -ць, and appending the ending -чы. They are often also used as a present active participle, but they do not decline.

Infinitive	Meaning	3rd Person Plural	Gerund
`вярта́цца`	to turn	`вярта́юцца`	`вярта́ючыся`
`гавары́ць`	to speak	`гаво́раць`	`гаво́рачы`
`піса́ць`	to write	`пі́шуць`	`пі́шучы`
`хадзі́ць`	to walk	`хо́дзяць`	`хо́дзячы`
`чыта́ць`	to read	`чыта́юць`	`чыта́ючы`

Яго́ ву́сны заварушы́ліся, нібы́ тво́рачы святу́ю малі́тву ‘His lips moved, as though forming a sacred prayer’, Нава́т бу́дучы пара́неным, ён не меў пра́ва на спако́йнае жыццё́ ‘Even being wounded, he didn’t have the right to a peaceful life’

20.2 Past perfect gerunds

These gerunds are formed from perfective verbs by conjugating the verb for the past tense masculine singular and adding the ending -шы.

Infinitive	Meaning	Masculine Past	Gerund
`напіса́ць`	to write	`напіса́ў`	`напіса́ўшы`
`зрабі́ць`	to do	`зрабі́ў`	`зрабі́ўшы`
`вярну́цца`	to return	`вярну́ўся`	`вярну́ўшыся`
`прыне́сці`	to bring	`прынё́с`	`прынё́сшы`
`пабе́гчы`	to run	`пабе́г`	`пабе́гшы`

Напіса́ўшы, што трэ́ба было́, ён пача́ў по́ркацца ў папе́рах ‘Having written what was necessary, he began to pore over the papers’, Перанё́сшы яго́, ры́бы до́ўга не вярта́ліся ‘Having carried him over, the fish did not return for a long time’

20.3 Past passive participles

Participles are adjectives, obeying all the same rules that other adjectives do. Most of them are formed by attaching –аны, or –ены to the root of the infinitive. There really isn’t much rhyme or reason to the formation, each participle needs to be memorized. These participles can be formed from either aspect, but they are formed much more often from the perfective aspect.

Infinitive	Meaning	Past Pass. Part.
`піса́ць`	to write	`пі́саны`
`звяза́ць`	to bind (perfective)	`звя́заны`
`купі́ць`	to buy (perfective)	`ку́плены`
`зрабі́ць`	to do, to make (perfective)	`зро́блены`
`скла́сці`	to stack (perfective)	`скла́дзены`

Monosyllable infinitives form the past passive participle by removing the suffix -ць and appending -ты.

Infinitive	Meaning	Past Pass. Part.
`мыць`	to wash	`мы́ты`
`біць`	to hit	`бі́ты`
`шыць`	to sew	`шы́ты`

У вы́стаўцы ёсць кара́н белару́скі, пі́саны тата́рскімі лі́тарамі ‘In the exhibit there is a Belarusan Koran, written with the Tatar alphabet’, Яна́ была́ падо́бна да зро́бленай з ка́меню фігу́ркі ‘She was like a statue wrought from stone’, Давяло́ся-б яму́ за́раз выціра́ць свой твар ад слядо́ў, а галаве́ прышло́ся-б пазнаё́міцца з бі́тым шклом ‘He just happened to peel his face away from the footprints, and his head happened to become aquainted with the smashed glass’

21. Adverbs

21.1 Adverbs formed from adjectives

Most adverbs are formed by removing the final -ы or -і from the adjective and adding -а to the ending. If the stress in the adjective falls on the last or next to the last syllable, it shifts to the first syllable for the adverb.

Adjective pattern	Meaning
`блі́зкі` → `блі́зка`	‘close’ → ‘closely’
`ва́жны` → `ва́жна`	‘important’ → ‘importantly’
`вясё́лы` → `ве́села`	‘happy’ → ‘happily’
`дакла́дны` → `дакла́дна`	‘precise’ → ‘precisely’
`ра́нні` → `ра́нна`	‘early’ → ‘early’
`ці́хі` → `ці́ха`	‘quiet’ → ‘quietly’

21.2 Compound adverbs

These adverbs are formed by adding ‘па-‘ to the front of the adjective. When certain possesive adjectives are formed from animate nouns, they can be made into adverbs indicating similarity of behavior to the animate noun.

Adjective pattern	Meaning
`дзіця́чы` → `па-дзіця́чы`	‘child’s’ → ‘childishly’
`во́ўчы` → `па-во́ўчы`	‘wolf’s’ → ‘like a wolf’

Ordinal numbers form adverbs by declining the adjective for the nominative neuter case and adding the prefix.

Adjective pattern	Meaning
`пе́ршы` → `па-пе́ршае`	‘first’ → ‘firstly’
`другі́` → `па-друго́е`	‘second’ → ‘secondly’
`трэ́ці` → `па-трэ́цяе`	‘third’ → ‘thirdly’

Some adjectives, especially ones denoting language or nationality, form an adverb by appending the prefix and changing the final -і to an -у.

Adjective pattern	Meaning
`белару́скі` → `па-белару́ску`	‘Belarusan’ → ‘in Belarusan’
`бра́цкі` → `па-бра́цку`	‘brother’s’ → ‘like a brother’
`англі́йскі` → `па-англі́йску`	‘English’ → ‘in English’

21.3 The adverbs `бо́лей`, `ме́ней, больш` and `менш`

The adverbs бо́лей and больш mean more, and ме́ней and меньш mean less. See Section 6.4 for more on the usage of these adverbs.

Сястры́ ён бо́лей не ўба́чыць ‘He will not see his sister anymore’, Куды́ бо́лей за іх бая́ўся І́зяслаў свайго́ наро́да ‘Izyaslau feared his own people much more than them’, У жыцці́, адна́к, усё́ ста́лася бо́лей скла́дана і ме́ней шча́сліва ‘In life, however, everything became more complicated and less happy’, Ко́жны з які́х збіў больш за 100 на́шых самалё́таў ‘Each of which destroyed more than 100 of our planes’, Я памкну́ўся бліжэ́й, і Фра́ні больш не паба́чыў ‘I strove closer, and I did not see Franya any more’, Яна́, тым не менш, таі́ла ў сабе́ неразга́даную зага́дку ‘She nevertheless concealed within herself an unsolved riddle’, ён пача́ў менш успаміна́ць было́е ‘He started to remember the past less’

21.4 Comparative and superlative adverbs

There are two ways to form the comparative and two ways to form the superlative form of an adverb. The short comparative form is the more common of the two. It is identical to the short comparative adjective. Section 6.1 covers its formation thoroughly. Not all adverbs have a short comparative form, but all adverbs can also form a comparative by preceding the adverb with бо́лей or больш.

На вайне́ куды́ бо́лей патрэ́бна така́я вось ду́жасць ‘In war, such strength is much more necessary’, Рабі́лася ўсё́ бо́лей сцюдзё́на на гэ́тым ве́траным узле́ску ‘It became much colder at this windy forest-edge’, «Размо́ва пра пахо́ды ско́чана» сказаў больш лаго́дна ‘”all talk of the march is finished,” he said good-naturedly’, Гэ́та ідэ́я бу́дзе больш вы́гадна ‘This idea will be more profitable’

There are two ways of forming the superlative adverb. The first is to precede the adverb with either найбо́льш, most. The second way is to follow the adverb by the phrase за ўсё or за ўсіх.

Нас маглі́ накірава́ць куды́ заўго́дна, але́ найбо́льш вераго́дна - ў стралко́вы батальё́н ‘They could place us wherever is convenient, but most likely, it will be into a rifle battalion’, Але́ найбо́льш заця́та я не хаце́ў стаць кампазіта́рам ‘But most stubbornly, I did not want to become a composer’, Але́ бо́лей за ўсё́ яму́ дакуча́ла адчува́нне го́ладу ‘But mostly, he felt cravings of hunger’, Бо́лей за ўсё́ вераго́дна, што ён адчу́ў непажада́ную пэрспэкты́ву адзіно́ты ‘It was most likely that he felt the unwanted perspective of loneliness’

21.5 Miscellaneous adverbs

There are many important adverbs that are not derived from adjectives. a very few of them are listed here.

Adverb	Meaning	Adverb	Meaning
`дзе`	where	`куды́`	to where
`тут`	here	`сюды́`	to here
`там`	there	`туды́`	to there
`нідзе́`	nowhere	`нікуды́`	not to anywhere
`усю́ды`	everywhere	`адку́ль`	from where
`до́ма`	at home	`адсю́ль`	from here
`дадо́му`	to home	`адту́ль`	from there
`ніадку́ль`	not from anywhere	`калі́`	when
`цяпе́р`	now	`сё́ння`	today
`за́раз`	immediately	`за́ўтра`	tomorrow
`тады́`	then	`учо́ра`	yesterday
`по́тым`	after that	`ніко́лі`	never
`ве́льмі`	very	`заўсё́ды`	always
`зноў`	again	`ле́дзь`	barely
`як`	how	`на́дта`	significantly
`так`	so/that way	`крыху́`	a little
`не́як`	some way	`шмат`	a lot
`нія́к`	no way	`мно́га`	much/many

22. Conjunctions and Particles

22.1 Coordinating conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions join two different phrases into one sentence.

Conjunction	Meaning	Example	Translation
`і`	and	`Ён прые́хаў і адра́зу пача́ў працава́ць`.	He arrived and immediately began to work.*
`і`	both	`Мне падаба́юцца і клубні́ца і малі́на`.	I like both strawberries and raspberries.*
`а`	and	`Ты шко́льнік, а ён студэ́нт`.	You are in grade school, and he is in college.*
`а`	but	`Ён пае́хаў, а я заста́лася`.	He went, but I stayed behind.*
`адна́к`	although	`Гэ́та не зусі́м лагі́чна, адна́к зна́чна больш нелагі́чна быў яго́ насту́пны ўчы́нак`.	This was not completely logical, although his next action was much more logical.*
`але́`	but	`Гало́ўнай іх сі́лай былі́ грана́ты, але́ кіда́ць іх было́ яшчэ́ далё́ка`.	Their main weapon was grenades, but it was still a long way to throw them.*
`ды`	and	`Каму́-ж, калі́ не ім, па фэ́стах валачы́цца, ды з бядне́йшых паке́пліваць`?	Who, if not they, should wander around the festival and make fun of poor people?*
`ды`	but	`Лю́дзі паміра́лі, ды не спыня́лі барацьбы́`.	People died, but they did not stop the fighting.*
`по́тым`	then	`Ліць пот за і́ншых в ўла́сна патрэ́бе, по́тым ад го́ладу зме́рці гато́вы`.	To pour sweat for others in their own need, then be prepared to die from hunger.*
`такса́ма`	also	`Дзе́ці працава́лі такса́ма як і даро́слыя`.	The children worked also, just like the adults.*
`то`	both	`Гэ́та ідзе́ то ўверх, то ўніз`.	It goes both up and down.*
`ці`	or	`Ці ра́на, ці по́зна, ці зусі́м не пры́йдзе`.	Either sooner, or later, or he will not come at all.*

22.2 Subordinating conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions join a clause to another clause, on which it depends.

Conjunction	Meaning	Example	Translation
`бо`	because	`Хадзе́м шпарчэ́й, бо спо́знімся`.	Let’s walk faster, because we are going to be late.*
`каб`	so that	`Ён хо́ча, каб яго́ сын быў ле́карам`.	He wants his son to be a doctor.*

22.3 Predicates

When these are used, the sentence will not have a noun in the nominative case as a subject. Often they are used in combination with the dative case.

Predicate	Meaning	Example	Translation
`мо́жна`	one may	`Гэ́та мо́жна зрабі́ць за два дні`.	This can get done in two days.*
`не́льга`	one must not	`Не́льга хадзі́ць па газо́нах`.	No walking on the grass.*
`не́льга`	one cannot	`Чалаве́ку не́льга жыць без любо́ві`.	Man cannot live without love.*
`няма́`	there is no	`У мяне́ няма́ гро́шай`.	I do not have any money.*
`трэ́ба`	it is necessary	`На ко́жны стрэл трэ́ба было́ браць дазво́л камадзі́ра`.	For each shot, they needed to get the commander’s permission.*
`шкада́`	it is sad	`Шкада́, што то́е да мяне́ яшчэ́ не дайшло́`.	It is too bad that it still has not come to me.*

22.4 Suffixes

There are suffixes that can be attached to any interrogative pronoun or adverb. Doing this is equivalant to appending “some” to the beginning of an interrogative pronoun or adverb in English.

Suffix	Example	Translation
`-сьці`	`Ён яшчэ́ дада́ў пра злачы́ннасць тае́ вайны́, за яку́ю калі́сьці пры́йдзецца не́каму адка́зваць`.	He again thought about the crimes of that war, for which sometime, someone would have to answer.
`-не́будзь`	`Што-не́будзь тлумачы́ць я не меў сі́лы`.	This was something that I did not have the strength to explain.
`-не́будзь`	`Ёсць які-не́будзь ста́ры`? `Што да вайны́ тут жыў`?	Is there someone who’s old? That lived here before the war?
`-ко́лечы`	`Ён пашука́ў чаго́-ко́лечы з'е́сці`.	He looked for something to eat.

Particle	Meaning	Example	Translation
`аж`	[indicates a limit or extremeness]	`Гна́лі нас аж да Ду́наю`.	They pursued us all the way to the Duna.*
`аж`	[indicates a limit or extremeness]	`Наво́кал зрабі́лася аж зана́дта ці́хмана`.	All around it became way too quiet.*
`але́`	yes	`Але́, я вас разуме́ю`.	Yes, I understand you.*
`абы́`	if only	`Абы́ яна́ пазвані́ла`…	If only she would call…*
`абы́`	just	`Хачу́ забі́ць яго́, абы́ ці́ха было́`.	I want to kill him, just so it would be quiet.*
`жа`	[adds emphasis]	`Ён жа вярну́ўся тайко́м, без дазво́лу`.	He returned secretly, without permission.
`так`	yes	`Так, але`… `У чым я магу́ вам памагчы́`?	Yes, but… How can I help you?*
`так`	so	`Так ду́маў я`.	I thought so.*
`так`	so [adds emphasis]	`Бо іх ужо́ так шмат на тым баку́`.	Because there are already so many of them on that side.
`ці`	[indicates a question]	`Ці размаўля́еш па-белару́ску`?	‘Do you speak Belarusan?’

23. Variation in Prepositions

23.1 Preposition variation

The prepositions listed below have a special form when preceding certain words.

Normal Form	auxiliary Form	When preceding the words `мне, ўсім`, and `ўсіх`.
`аб`	`а́ба`	When preceding the word `мне`.
`к`	`ка`	When preceding the word `мной`.
`пад`	`па́да`	When preceding the word `мной`.
`над`	`на́да`	When preceding the word `мной`.
`пе́рад`	`пе́рада`	When preceding the word `мной`.
`у`	`ва`	When preceding any word beginning with `ў`.
`у`	`ў`	Otherwise, if it follows a word ending in a vowel.
`з`	`са`	Preceding any word whose first letter is either `ж, з, м, с`, or `ш`, and whose second letter is a consonant.

23.2 Pronouns following prepositions

a characteristic unique to Belarusan of all the Slavic languages, the pronouns ён, яно́, яна́, and яны́ do not have a euphonic н appended to them when following a preposition.

аб ім ‘about it’, да яго́ ‘to him’, з ёй ‘with her’, над і́мі ‘over them’

23.3 Prepositional assimilation

Certain prepositions and particles are assimilated into the words that follow them. They and the words in front of them are pronounced as one word. For purposes of pronunciation, all spelling rules should be applied to the preposition as if it were part of the next word, for example, if the following word begins with a palatized consonant, the ending of the preposition is pronounced palatized. The orthographic spelling does not necessary reflect this assimilation, but it is always reflected in pronunciation.

Pronunciation	Orthography	Meaning
`Уста́ў зь зямлі́`.	`Уста́ў з зямлі́`.	‘I got up from the ground.’
`Як саро́ка бязь хваста`.	`Як саро́ка без хваста`.	‘Like a magpie without a tail.’

23.4 Prepositions with adverbs

Sometimes prepositions can be followed by an adverb, which is not declined.

Які́ прагно́з на сё́ння? ‘What is the forecast for today?’, Нам трэ́ба купі́ць е́жу на за́ўтра ‘We need to buy food for tomorrow’

24. Conditional Sentences

24.1 Real conditional sentences

Conditional sentences consist of two clauses, a condition, and the result of that condition. If the result is certain, given the condition, then the sentence is formed thus; the first clause begins with калі and states the condition. The second clause can optionally begin with the word дык, and then states the result.

Калі́ ён здаро́вы, дык ён мо́жа працава́ць ‘If he is healthy, then he can work’, Калі́ ён ве́даў, ён не ішо́ў ‘If he knew, then he did not go’

24.2 Hypothetical conditional sentences

If the result is uncertain, then the particle бы (б when preceded by a vowel) must be inserted into the result clause and any indicative verb must be changed to the past tense. If there is speculation involved, then the condition clause can also have бы added to it and the verb changed to the past tense.

Калі́ ён здаро́вы, ён мог бы працава́ць ‘If he is healthy, he might be able to work’, Калі́ б ён быў здаро́вы, то мог бы працава́ць ‘If he were healthy, then he might be able to work’, Калі́ ён ве́даў, ён не пайшо́ў бы ‘If he knew, he might not have gone’, Калі́ б ён ве́даў, то не пайшо́ў бы ‘If he had known, he might not have gone’