Participle Clauses

Participle clauses are a useful construct in Czech that can be used to express reason, condition, result, time, contrast, and purpose. They allow us to add additional information to our sentences in a concise and efficient manner.

Reason

To express reason using participle clauses, we use the present active participle (přítomný slovesný příčestí) followed by the conjunction protože (because).

Example:

• Kvůli tomu, že jsem neměl čas, jsem nestihl přijít. (Because I didn't have time, I didn't manage to come.)

Condition

To express condition using participle clauses, we use the past active participle (minulý slovesný příčestí) followed by the conjunction kdyby (if).

Example:

• Kdybych byl bohatý, cestoval bych po celém světě. (If I were rich, I would travel around the world.)

Result

To express result using participle clauses, we use the present active participle (přítomný slovesný příčestí) combined with the adverb až (that).

Example:

• Kuchařka je tak dobrá, až olizujeme talíře. (The cook is so good that we lick the plates.)

Time

To express time using participle clauses, we use the present active participle (přítomný slovesný příčestí) and combine it with the conjunction když (when).

Example:

• Když jsem šel ven, začalo pršet. (When I went outside, it started raining.)

Contrast

To express contrast using participle clauses, we use the present active participle (přítomný slovesný příčestí) followed by the conjunction zatímco (while).

Example:

• On pracuje, zatímco já odpočívám. (He is working while I am resting.)

Purpose

To express purpose using participle clauses, we use the present active participle (přítomný slovesný příčestí) followed by the conjunction aby (in order to).

Example:

• Dělám to, abych uspěl. (I am doing it in order to succeed.)

Remember that the participle clauses should agree in gender, number, and case with the subject of the main clause.

These are just some examples of how to use participle clauses in Czech. Practice using them in different contexts to become more comfortable with their usage.