One day during the cold winter season, my mother caught a cold and fell ill. “Something has been chilling me all day today,” she complained to her little daughter. The girl was terribly surprised and asked: “Mom, who can make you feel cold?” “Nobody, just chilling,” she smiled. “It’s strange,” said the girl, “how can it be?” "Maybe. There are such actions that, as in a fairy tale, are done by themselves or by some unknown force... We don’t know this, we don’t see and don’t know the one who acts, so we say this: it’s chilling, it’s getting dark, it’s dozing...” “What What kind of fairy tale is this?”, you ask. We answer: “Impersonal verbs.”
Definition
In the Russian language there are some verbs that denote actions by themselves, that is, without any actor. We are talking about a group called “impersonal verbs”. What is their feature? If personal verbs are conjugated, then the latter cannot change according to persons and numbers. They are used exclusively in impersonal sentences. For example: “It got dark. Along the alleys, over the sleepy ponds, I wander at random” (Ivan Bunin), “By midnight it’s slightly frosty” (Kuprin), “It’s shallow, it’s shallow throughout the whole earth, to all its limits...” (Pasternak). Now let's figure out what these unusual verbs mean and in what grammatical forms they can be used.
Lexical meanings
Their lexical meaning is quite diverse. In general, it determines general meaning impersonal offer. So, impersonal verbs can have following values. The first and most common are the phenomena and states of nature. For example: it’s getting dark, it’s getting light, it’s drizzling, it’s blizzarding, etc.
The second is the psychophysical states of a person or a living creature (nauseous, freezing, unwell, dozing, vomiting and many others).
Third, the actions of natural forces (she was unlucky, everything was covered with snow).
The fourth is the presence or absence of something (lacking, sufficient). And the last one is ought (proper, proper, follows, befits, appears, ought).
Use
Impersonal verbs (examples follow) can be used in different grammatical forms. Firstly, this is the indefinite, or initial form of the verb (to freeze, become, get dark). They can also be used in the indicative and conditional moods. In the indicative mood they tend to change over time. The impersonal form of the verb can coincide in form with verbs in the 3rd person singular of the present or future tense (it is drizzling, it will drizzle; it is chilling, it is chilling; it is getting dark, it will get dark), as well as with neuter verbs of the past tense (it is frozen, it is blowing, it is sad) .
Please note that in general, the category of person in these verbs is a pure formality, since the third person form (or neuter form) is in a kind of “frozen” state, and there simply cannot be another. In the conditional mood, the sign of which is the particle “would/b”, they are used, respectively, with these particles (it would thaw, it would warm up, it would warm up). We remember that the particle “would/b” is always written separately with verbs. And finally, in imperative mood- with a hint of desirability (let it get warmer). The topic “Impersonal verbs: examples of use” does not end there. Let's move on...
Kinds
There are several types of impersonal verbs. These, strictly speaking, are the impersonal verbs themselves, which do not correlate with any subject (it is dawning, it is chilling, it is getting dark). Next are the impersonal forms of verbs, which are formed from personal ones using the suffix -sya (I think he hears it). Also, some personal verbs can also have an impersonal meaning. In this case, a sentence can often be constructed in two ways: either one predicate, expressed by an impersonal verb, without a subject, or with a subject, which names the subject of the action, and with the same predicate verb, but already used in a personal form. Consider the following sentences with impersonal verbs: “the hail destroyed the entire harvest” or “the hail destroyed the entire harvest”; “I don’t write” or “I don’t write”; “there was a whiff of dampness from the apartment” - “there was a whiff of dampness from the apartment.” As you can see, a sentence using an impersonal verb and a sentence with the same verb, but in a personal form, differ from each other only in expressive and semantic shades.
Fiction
This is especially noticeable in examples from fiction, in poetry: “My whole chest was filled with a chill, filled with a feeling of joy, delight” (Paustovsky), “I was with good friend, - where better to be, - but sometimes we didn’t have time to talk to him” (Simonov). Sentences constructed according to the formula “subject plus predicate, expressed by a personal verb” convey a more specific, unambiguous picture of the world, without any undercurrents. And phrases with verbs in an impersonal meaning, describing certain actions, processes or phenomena, appear to the reader more vague, and therefore more mysterious and mysterious. In this regard, impersonal verbs in the hands of a writer or poet become a real tool capable of creating unknown worlds and distances.
What are called verbs in Russian? This is a part of speech that in its initial form answers the questions “What should I do?” ( drink, sing, paint, walk) or “What should I do?” ( drink, sing, paint, go). Verbs most often denote an action, sometimes a state. They can be personal, i.e. denoting an action performed by a specific person.
Examples. Blooms bird cherry. Her scent circles head. Here's someone from the hill went down. IN in this case the verbs “blooms” and “went down” name an action performed by a specific person (cherry blooms, somebody went down), which is why they are called personal.
Impersonal verbs express an action that occurs without its producer.
Examples. It's getting dark. It's getting colder. There's not much of me has a fever.
Impersonal verbs can be combined into semantic groups.
First group.
It includes verbs expressing actions occurring in nature. It’s getting dark, getting cold, blizzarding, freezing.
Second group.
Verbs that express a state or sensation. Chills, feverish, unwell.
Third group.
Impersonal verbs that capture desire, necessity, possibility or measure of action. Enough, should, must.
Impersonal and personal verbs are inextricably linked in language. In particular, the personal form often plays the role of an impersonal one.
Examples. Rings(l.ch.) call, the holidays have arrived. In my head rings(bl.ch.) from an excess of emotions.
In the first sentence, the personal form of the verb "rings" denotes an action that is performed by a specific manufacturer (bell). In the second case, the action takes place (occurs) regardless of the producer, in itself, it denotes a state, therefore, in this case it does not and cannot have a producer. (Can anyone ring in their head?) This is impersonal
Impersonal verbs freeze (are used) only in certain, fixed forms.
If they are in then they can be used exclusively:
- in the third person singular;
- in the present or future tense;
- in past tense, neuter form
Example. Soon it will get dark too early. (Ch. is used in the future tense, singular, third person). in autumn it's getting dark early. (Present tense, singular, third person). Today froze. middle genus, units number).
If verbs are in then they are used in the neuter gender.
Example. Quicker I'd freeze O.
In an indefinite form.
Example. Soon it will start to get dark.
Impersonal verbs are always the main member (predicate) in the meaning of these sentences is determined by the meaning of the impersonal verbs. Some of them record the state of living nature ( How early it gets dark in autumn!). Others are the state of a living being, including humans. ( It's easy to breathe in spring. His heart sank with fear.) Finally, sentences of this kind can have the semantic meaning of obligation or necessity. ( He pronounced the words clearly, as befits a good teacher.).
There are much more personal verbs that can appear in an impersonal form (in our language). The structures of such sentences and their meanings are very diverse. They decorate speech, give it imagery and emotionality.
Example. Sky laid dark clouds.
Verb tenses in Russian are an important morphological category. This is not a permanent sign. It denotes the moment of performing a certain action in relation to the moment of speech. This feature varies depending on the context.
Examples. I I'm drawing, I you I'm drawing. The action takes place in the present moment.
I you drew, that's the only way did not recognize. The action took place in the past.
I I'll draw you as queen. I I'll draw tomorrow morning. The action will take place in the future.
To determine the tense of a verb, just ask a question.
In addition to personal forms of verbs in modern Russian there are also impersonal verbs , which denote an action that occurs on its own, without any relation to the subject (i.e. to the person). 2. Predicate verbs in an impersonal sentence have the 3rd person singular form or the neuter singular form - in both cases without indicating the producer of the action: I don't sleeping something. In the morning I was feverish.
The predicate of impersonal sentences is most often expressed by the following verbs:
- 1) Personal verbs in impersonal use (these are verbs that lose their inflectional forms and become frozen in the 3rd person singular or past tense form): Senom smells ; Wave smashed boat(cf. Hay smells ; Wave broke boat -- the same verbs are used in the personal form).
- 2) Personal verbs in impersonal use, which acquired a new lexical meaning and turned into impersonal verbs: To you lucky (about happiness, luck). Works enough (enough). Their personal forms lucky (Horse lucky ), grabs (Fish enough bait) have a completely different meaning.
- 3) Actually impersonal verbs that do not have homonyms among personal verbs: It's getting dark. It's getting light.
- 4) The impersonal predicate is often expressed by a special impersonal form of verbs, formed from the 3rd person form or the neuter form by adding a suffix -sya: not sleeping - not sleepingXia ; didn't believe - didn't believesya . This predicate denotes various states of people that do not depend on their will: Two o'clock in the morning... Can't sleep .
- 5) A verb can also be used as an impersonal verb was - will be(in the meaning of “there was” - “there is”): Works was for two weeks. The present tense of a statement is indicated by a pause in place of the omitted verb: Work - for two weeks, and in case of negation - in an impersonal form No: Not there was time.--No time.
Composite verbal predicate: Noticeably it started to get lighter . It was starting to get dark . To me I wanted to sleep .
A compound predicate, which includes adverbs of state category (it is possible, it should, it is necessary, it is necessary, it is necessary, it is impossible, ashamed, afraid, sickening, sorry, time, sad, fun, gratifying, warm, painful, dry, damp, cold, cozy and etc.), bunch and often indefinite form verb, For example: Was already dark . To you Cold a little bit. To me was it's a pity old man. Necessary rebuild all life. Us it's time to go . It was fun to hear the tinkling of a Russian bell. It was a pity to me part with an old man. It was terrible to stay in the dark. About the trip it was impossible to even think .
Verbs can also express:
- 1. Natural phenomena ( evening, dusk, dawn).
- 2. Physical and mental state of a person ( chills, unwell, feverish, nauseated, (not) hungry).
- 3. The action of some elemental force ( fields were flooded with water, roads were covered with snow, a tree was broken by lightning).
- (Such impersonal verbs are usually combined with nouns in the form instrumental case with the meaning of an instrument of action).
Impersonal verbs always act as a predicate in a one-part impersonal sentence in which there is not and cannot be a subject.
For example: It's getting dark outside. I'm not feeling well
In modern Russian it is customary to distinguish two types impersonal verbs.
- 1. Proper impersonal verbs , which always act as a predicate in a one-part personal sentence. These are the verbs: dawn, evening, darkness, nausea, tickle, unwell, can’t sleep and etc.
- 2. Personal verbs in impersonal meaning (use). Such verbs can act as a predicate in both a two-part sentence and a one-part impersonal one.
Verbs in Russian can be divided into many types. One of these types is impersonal verbs, which are, as it were, the opposite of verbs that have persons. Let's see how to recognize the impersonal form, what is characteristic of it, and in what sentences it is used.
Verbs to denote actions without a subject
First, let's remember what personal verbs are. Usually, when we talk about a certain person or thing performing an action, the phrase sounds like this - “he did”, “she said”, “they did”, “we decided” and so on. The verb in such a sentence is closely related to the noun - it describes the action that we ourselves, the people around us, animals or even inanimate objects perform.
However, it also happens differently. It happens that verbs talk about actions that occur as if by themselves - no one performs them, there is no person who would be responsible for the process. It is precisely such verbs that are called impersonal.
Here are some examples:
- It was getting dark outside.
- I'm usually lucky in the lottery.
- There was a storm outside the window.
- In the evening he felt sad.
- There was a chill coming from the window.
Impersonal verbs are characterized by certain common features. In particular, they are not inflected by gender and number, of course, they do not have persons, and participles or gerunds cannot be formed from them.
What are the types of impersonal verbs?
- Indefinite form, or infinitive. For example - “getting dark, getting dark, wanting.”
- Conditional mood. For example - “it would have dawned sooner”, “it would have covered all traces”, “with time everything would have passed.”
- Indicative. In it, the impersonal verb can take the 3rd person singular form in the present tense - for example, “it’s getting dark outside the window,” “it’s stormy outside.” In addition, there are verbs in the future tense - “it will get dark” or “it will be stormy” - and in the past. But in the latter case masculine changes to medium - “it got dark”, “it started to snow”.
There are also impersonal verbs formed from personal verbs of the 3rd person and singular using the particle “sya”. For example - “I can’t sleep.” In this case, the personal verb would sound like “is not sleeping” and would be tied to the subject - “he is not sleeping,” “she is not sleeping.” But in its modified form, the verb denotes a physical or emotional state that can apply to anyone - and is therefore impersonal.