An Overview of Participles in Armenian Grammar

Armenian grammar comprises a rich and intricate system, within which participles play a crucial role. Delving into the depth of participles in Armenian grammar, one discovers their extensive use, encompassing both verbal and nominal characteristics. In this article, we explore the different types of participles, how to form them, and their various applications within Armenian grammar.

Different Types of Participles in Armenian

There are three primary types of participles in Armenian grammar: the Present Active Participle, the Past Active Participle, and the Past Passive Participle. While each of these participles shares a connection with verbs, they exhibit unique features, helping to construct more complex and nuanced sentences.

The Present Active Participle

Armenian’s Present Active Participle conveys an ongoing or simultaneous action pertaining to the subject. It denotes the “doer” of the action and takes an –ուն (-un) or –ուկ (-uk) suffix, depending on the verb. For example:

Verb: գրել (grel)  – to write
Participle: գրուն (grun) – writing

The Past Active Participle

The Past Active Participle in Armenian grammar indicates a completed action by the subject. It commonly employs an –ել (-el) or –ալ (-al) suffix, conjugating with the verb group. An example of such a participle is:

Verb: կարդալ (kardal) – to read
Participle: կարդած (kardac) – having read

The Past Passive Participle

Past Passive Participles reflect the resultant condition of a subject after an action’s completion. It is usually formed by using the suffix -ված (-vats) along with the verb’s root. Here is an example:

Verb: բացել (batsel) – to open
Participle: բացված (batsvats) – having been opened

Usage of Participles in Armenian Sentences

Participles serve various functions within Armenian grammar. Let us consider their use in diverse contexts:

Adjective Function

Participles can act as adjectives, modifying nouns or pronouns in a sentence. For instance:

գրուն գիրք (grun girk) – a writing book
բացված պատուհան (batsvats patuhan) – an opened window

Formation of Gerunds

Armenian grammar employs participles to form gerunds, converting verbs into nouns that denote action or the result of that action. Here are some examples:

սիրելիք (sirelik) – the act of loving, love
մեկնաբանություն (meknabanutyun) – interpretation

Formation of Compound Tenses

Participles contribute to the formation of compound tenses in Armenian, specifically the Past Perfect and Future Perfect. Such compound tenses offer a more nuanced expression of time. Consider these examples:

ես էի գրել (yes ei grel) – I had written
նա է գրելու (na e grelu) – he will have written

Relative Clauses

Lastly, participles are employed to form relative clauses in Armenian, connecting actions and their respective subjects:

այդ գործիքը, որին տեղադրել եմ (ayd gortsik'y, orin tekhadrel em) – the tool which I placed
այն մարդը, որ կարդաց (ayn mard-y, or kardats) – the person who read

Conclusion

Participles are an integral element of Armenian grammar, with their wide-ranging applications fostering richer, more intricate expression. By learning the different types and uses of participles, one can significantly enhance their understanding of the Armenian language as a whole, constructing more detailed and accurate sentences.