Serbian
Contributed by Daria Ryzhova (Academia.edu profile) & Miljka Stanković. The data were gathered in 2022.
How to cite
Ryzhova, Daria & Miljka Stanković. 2022. Nominal causal constructions in Serbian. In: Say, Sergey, Natalia Logvinova, Elizaveta Zabelina, and Natalia Zaika (eds.). 2022–. NoCaCoDa: Typological database of nominal causal constructions. St. Petersburg: Institute for Linguistic Studies, RAS. (Data first published on December 1, 2022; last revised on December 1, 2022). (Available online at https://nocacoda.info. Accessed on .)
1
Status: main; causal marker: od GEN
| maram-a | se | ovlaži-l-a | od | suz-a |
| handkerchief- nom . sg | refl | get_wet- pst . ptcp - f . sg | prep | tear- gen . pl |
| The handkerchief got soaked from tears. | ||||
1
Status: alternate; causal marker: n.a.
| maram-a | se | nakvasi-l-a | suz-ama |
| handkerchief- nom . sg | refl | get_wet- pst . ptcp - f . sg | tear- ins . pl |
| The handkerchief was soaked by tears. | |||
| Note: This translation is not included in the database because the expected causal noun phrase is expressed as the agent in passive construction. | |||
2
Status: main; causal marker: od GEN
| gran-a | se | slomi-l-a | od | težin-e. |
| branch- nom . sg | refl | break- pst . ptcp - f . sg | prep | weight- gen . sg |
| The branch broke from the weight. | ||||
2
Status: alternate; causal marker: pod INS
| gran-a | se | salomi-l-a | pod | težin-om |
| branch- nom . sg | refl | break- pst . ptcp - f . sg | prep | weight- ins . sg |
| The branch broke from the weight. | ||||
3
Status: main; causal marker: od GEN
| žen-a | kašlj-e | od | dim-a |
| woman- nom . sg | cough- prs .3 sg | prep | smoke- gen . sg |
| The woman is coughing because of the smoke. | |||
3
Status: alternate; causal marker: zbog GEN
| žen-a | kašlj-e | zbog | dim-a |
| woman- nom . sg | cough- prs .3 sg | prep | smoke- gen . sg |
| The woman is coughing because of the smoke. | |||
4
Status: main; causal marker: od GEN
| ne | vidi-mo | obal-u | od tam-e |
| neg | see- prs .1 pl | prep | darkness- gen . sg |
| We can’t see because of the darkness. | |||
4
Status: alternate; causal marker: zbog GEN
| ne | vidi-mo | obal-u | zbog tam-e |
| neg | see- prs .1 pl | prep | darkness- gen . sg |
| We can’t see because of the darkness. | |||
5
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
| muškarc-a | su | uhapsi-l-i | grešk-om |
| man- acc . sg | be. prs .3 pl | arrest- pst . ptcp - m . pl | mistake- ins . sg |
| The man was arrested by mistake. | |||
| Note: This translation is not included in the database because the causing event is expressed as an adverb, not a nominal phrase. | |||
5
Status: alternate; causal marker: po DAT
| muškarc-a | su | uhapsi-l-i | po | grešc-i |
| man- acc . sg | be. prs .3 pl | arrest- pst . ptcp - m . pl | prep | mistake- dat . sg |
| The man was arrested by mistake. | ||||
5
Status: alternate; causal marker: zbog GEN
| muškarc-a | su | uhapsi-l-i | zbog | grešk-e | [u | poternic-i] |
| man- acc . sg | be. prs .3 pl | arrest- pst . ptcp - m . pl | prep | mistake- gen . sg | [ prep | wanted_list- loc . sg ] |
| The man was arrested because of a mistake in the wanted list. | ||||||
6
Status: main; causal marker: od GEN
| drv-o | je | pa-l-o | od | vetr-a |
| tree- nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | fall- pst . ptcp - n . sg | prep | wind- gen . sg |
| The tree fell because of the wind. | ||||
6
Status: alternate; causal marker: pod INS
| drv-o | je | pa-l-o | pod | vetr-om |
| tree- nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | fall- pst . ptcp - n . sg | prep | wind- ins . sg |
| The tree fell because of the wind. | ||||
6
Status: alternate; causal marker: zbog GEN
| drv-o | je | pa-l-o | zbog | vetr-a |
| tree- nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | fall- pst . ptcp - n . sg | prep | wind- gen . sg |
| The tree fell because of the wind. | ||||
7
Status: main; causal marker: od GEN
| muškarac | je | poginu-o | od | strujn-og | udar-a |
| man. nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | die- pst . ptcp | prep | electric- gen . m . sg | shock- gen . sg |
| The man died from electric shock. | |||||
8
Status: main; causal marker: od GEN
| žen-a | se | probudi-l-a | od | buk-e |
| woman- nom . sg | refl | wake_up- pst . ptcp - f . sg | prep | noise- gen . sg |
| The woman woke up from the noise. | ||||
8
Status: alternate; causal marker: zbog GEN
| žen-a | se | probudi-l-a | zbog | buk-e |
| woman- nom . sg | refl | wake_up- pst . ptcp - f . sg | prep | noise- gen . sg |
| The woman woke up from the noise. | ||||
9
Status: main; causal marker: od GEN
| muškarc-a | bol-i | glav-a | od | piv-a |
| man- acc . sg | hurt- prs .3 sg | head- nom . sg | prep | beer- gen . sg |
| The man has a headache from the beer. | ||||
10
Status: main; causal marker: zbog GEN
| žen-a | se | zasmeja-l-a | zbog | t-oga |
| woman- nom . sg | refl | laugh- pst . ptcp - f . sg | prep | that- gen . n . sg |
| The woman laughed at it. | ||||
10
Status: alternate; causal marker: DAT
| žen-a | mu | se | smej-e |
| woman- nom . sg | he. dat | refl | laugh- prs .3 sg |
| The woman laughed at it. | |||
11
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
| muškarac | je | umr-o | od | trovanj-a | rib-om |
| man. nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | die- pst . ptcp | prep | poisoning- gen . sg | fish- ins . sg |
| The man died because of the poisoning of fish. | |||||
| Note: This translation is not included in the database because the noun phrase used in the nominal causal construction semantically deviates from the one intended by the stimulus sentence. | |||||
11
Status: alternate; causal marker: od GEN
| muškarac | je | umr-o | od | otrovn-e | rib-e |
| man. nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | die- pst . ptcp | prep | poisonous- gen . f . sg | fish- gen . sg |
| The man died from a poisonous fish. | |||||
12
Status: main; causal marker: INS
| devojčic-a | je | zadovoljn-a | svoj-om | ocen-om |
| girl- nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | satisfied- nom . f . sg | refl . pron - ins . f . sg | grade- ins . sg |
| The girl is satisfied with her grade. | ||||
13
Status: main; causal marker: zbog GEN
| žen-a | se | naljuti-l-a | zbog | muževljev-ih | reč-i |
| woman- nom . sg | refl | get_angry- pst . ptcp - f . sg | prep | husband’s- gen . pl | word- gen . pl |
| The wife was angered by her husband’s words. | |||||
14
Status: main; causal marker: INS
| dečak | je | oduševlj-en | t-om | idej-om |
| boy. nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | delight- pass . ptcp | this- ins . f . sg | idea- ins . sg |
| The boy was thrilled by this idea. | ||||
15
Status: main; causal marker: zbog GEN
| muškarac | je | oslabi-o | zbog | glad-i |
| man. nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | become_weak- pst . ptcp | prep | hunger- gen . sg |
| The man was weakened by hunger. | ||||
15
Status: alternate; causal marker: od GEN
| muškarac | je | oslabi-o | od | glad-i |
| man. nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | become_weak- pst . ptcp | prep | hunger- gen . sg |
| The man was weakened by hunger. | ||||
16
Status: main; causal marker: od GEN
| muškarac | je | umr-o | od | glad-i |
| man. nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | die- pst . ptcp | prep | hunger- gen . sg |
| The man died of starvation. | ||||
17
Status: main; causal marker: od GEN
| muškarac | vrišt-i | od | bol-a |
| man. nom . sg | scream- prs .3 sg | prep | pain- gen . sg |
| The man screamed from the pain. | |||
18
Status: main; causal marker: od GEN
| žen-a | drht-i | od | hladnoć-e |
| woman- nom . sg | tremble- prs .3 sg | prep | coldness- gen . sg |
| The woman is shivering from the cold. | |||
19
Status: main; causal marker: od GEN
| dete | je | zaplaka-l-o | od | strah-a |
| child | be. prs .3 sg | cry- pst . ptcp - n . sg | prep | fear- gen . sg |
| The child began to cry out of fear. | ||||
20
Status: main; causal marker: od GEN
| dete | se | nasmeja-l-o | od | radost-i |
| child | refl | laugh- pst . ptcp - n . sg | prep | joy- gen . sg |
| The child laughed with joy. | ||||
21
Status: main; causal marker: od GEN
| dete | se | od | strah-a | sakri-l-o | u | šup-i |
| child | refl | prep | fear- gen . sg | hide- pst . ptcp - n . sg | prep | shed- loc . sg |
| The child hid in the barn out of fear. | ||||||
22
Status: main; causal marker: iz GEN
| muškarac | je | iz | skromnost-i | prećuta-o |
| man. nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | prep | modesty- gen . sg | keep_silent- pst . ptcp |
| The man kept silent out of modesty. | ||||
23
Status: main; causal marker: u LOC
| žen-a | je | u | strah-u | uhvati-l-a | brat-a | za | ruk-u |
| woman- nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | prep | fear- loc . sg | grab- pst . ptcp - f . sg | brother- acc . sg | prep | hand- acc . sg |
| The woman grabbed her brother’s hand in fear. | |||||||
24
Status: main; causal marker: od GEN
| žen-a | se | umori-l-a | od | posl-a |
| woman- nom . sg | refl | get_tired- pst . ptcp - f . sg | prep | work- gen . sg |
| The woman is tired from work. | ||||
25
Status: main; causal marker: od GEN
| žen-a | ne | mož-e | da | zasp-i | od | komarac-a |
| woman- nom . sg | neg | can- prs .3 sg | compl | fall_asleep- prs .3 sg | prep | mosquito- gen . pl |
| The woman can’t fall asleep because of the mosquitoes. | ||||||
26
Status: main; causal marker: od GEN
| vod-a | se | čin-i | sjajn-om | od | mesečin-e |
| water- nom . sg | refl | seem- prs .3 sg | bright- ins . f . sg | prep | moonlight- gen . sg |
| The water looks bright because of the moonlight. | |||||
27
Status: main; causal marker: zahvaljujuchi DAT
| muškarc-u | je | uspe-o | lov | zahvaljujući | ps-u |
| man- dat . sg | be. prs .3 sg | succeed- pst . ptcp | hunting. nom . sg | prep | dog- dat . sg |
| The man had a successful hunt thanks to his dog. | |||||
27
Status: alternate; causal marker: zbog GEN
| muškarc-u | je | uspe-o | lov | zbog | ps-a |
| man- dat . sg | be. prs .3 sg | succeed- pst . ptcp | hunting. nom . sg | prep | dog- gen . sg |
| The man had a successful hunt thanks to his dog. | |||||
28
Status: main; causal marker: na ACC
| žen-a | se | naljuti-l-a | na | muž-a |
| woman- nom . sg | refl | get_angry- pst . ptcp - f . sg | prep | husband- acc . sg |
| The wife was angry at her husband. | ||||
28
Status: alternate; causal marker: DAT
| žen-a | se | naljuti-l-a | muž-u |
| woman- nom . sg | refl | get_angry- pst . ptcp - f . sg | husband- dat . sg |
| The wife was angry at her husband. | |||
29
Status: main; causal marker: zbog GEN
| žen-a | je | zakasni-l-a | na | posao | zbog | muž-a |
| woman- nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | be_late- pst . ptcp - f . sg | prep | work. acc . sg | prep | husband- gen . sg |
| The woman was late for work because of her husband. | ||||||
30
Status: main; causal marker: zbog GEN
| ljud-i | su | poginu-l-i | zbog | zemljotres-a |
| people- nom . pl | be. prs .3 pl | die- pst . ptcp - m . pl | prep | earthquake- gen . sg |
| The people died because of the earthquake. | ||||
31
Status: main; causal marker: zbog GEN
| sv-e | se | nevolj-e | događa-ju | zbog | čovek-a. |
| all- nom . f . pl | refl | trouble- nom . pl | happen- prs .3 pl | prep | man- gen . sg |
| All misfortunes happen because of humans/people. | |||||
32
Status: main; causal marker: zahvaljujuchi DAT
| čovek | (je | poče-o | da) | vid-i | bolje | zahvaljujući | operacij-i |
| man. nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | begin- pst . ptcp | compl | see- prs .3 sg | better | prep | operation- dat . sg |
| The man starts to see better now thanks to the operation. | |||||||
32
Status: alternate; causal marker: od GEN
| čovek | vid-i | bolje | od | operacij-e |
| man. nom . sg | see- prs .3 sg | better | prep | operation- gen . sg |
| The man starts to see better now thanks to the operation. | ||||
33
Status: main; causal marker: zahvaljujuchi DAT
| žen-a | je | živ-a | zahvaljujući | t-om | muškarc-u |
| woman- nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | alive- nom . f . sg | prep | that- dat . m . sg | man- dat . sg |
| The woman is alive thanks to that man. | |||||
34
Status: main; causal marker: iz GEN
| muškarac | je | t-o | ispriča-o | žen-i | iz | glupost-i |
| man. nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | that- acc . n . sg | tell- pst . ptcp | wife- dat . sg | prep | stupidity- gen . sg |
| The man told his wife about it out of stupidity. | ||||||
35
Status: main; causal marker: iz GEN
| žen-a | se | okliznu-l-a | iz | neopreznost-i |
| woman- nom . sg | refl | slip- pst . ptcp - f . sg | prep | carelessness- gen . sg |
| The woman slipped because of carelessness. | ||||
35
Status: alternate; causal marker: zbog GEN
| žen-a | se | okliznu-l-a | zbog | neopreznost-i |
| woman- nom . sg | refl | slip- pst . ptcp - f . sg | prep | carelessness- gen . sg |
| The woman slipped because of carelessness. | ||||
36
Status: main; causal marker: zahvaljujuchi DAT
| pilot | je | prizemlji-o | avion | zahvaljujući | sv-om | velik-om | bogat-om | iskustv-u |
| pilot. nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | land- pst . ptcp | plane. acc . sg | prep | refl . pron - dat . n . sg | big- dat . n . sg | rich- dat . n . sg experience- dat . sg | |
| The pilot was able to land the plane thanks to his experience. | ||||||||
37
Status: main; causal marker: zbog GEN
| pilot | ni-je | uspe-o | da | slet-i | zbog | sv-og | neiskustv-a |
| pilot. nom . sg | neg -be. prs .3 sg | manage- pst . ptcp | compl | land- prs .3 sg | prep | refl . pron - gen . n . sg | inexperience- gen . sg |
| The pilot couldn’t land the plane due to inexperience. | |||||||
38
Status: main; causal marker: od GEN
| tokom | rat-a | ljud-i | su | od | glad-i | je-l-i | trav-u |
| prep (during) | war- gen . sg | people- nom . pl | be. prs .3 pl | prep | hunger- gen . sg | eat- pst . ptcp - m . pl | grass- acc . sg |
| In wartime, people ate grass out of hunger. | |||||||
38
Status: alternate; causal marker: zbog GEN
| tokom | rat-a | ljud-i | su | zbog | glad-i | je-l-i | trav-u |
| prep (during) | war- gen . sg | people- nom . pl | be. prs .3 pl | prep | hunger- gen . sg | eat- pst . ptcp - m . pl | grass- acc . sg |
| In wartime, people ate grass due to hunger. | |||||||
39
Status: main; causal marker: iz GEN
| žen-a | je | unutra | uš-l-a | iz | radoznalost-i |
| woman- nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | inside | enter- pst . ptcp - f . sg | prep | curiosity- gen . sg |
| The woman went inside out of curiosity. | |||||
40
Status: main; causal marker: iz GEN
| muškarac | je | ubi-o | žen-u | iz | ljubomor-e |
| man. nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | kill- pst . ptcp | woman- acc . sg | prep | jealousy- gen . sg |
| The man killed the woman out of jealousy. | |||||
40
Status: alternate; causal marker: zbog GEN
| muškarac | je | ubi-o | žen-u | zbog | ljubomor-e |
| man. nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | kill- pst . ptcp | woman- acc . sg | prep | jealousy- gen . sg |
| The man killed his wife out of jealousy. | |||||
41
Status: main; causal marker: iz GEN
| muškarac | je | sv-ima | t-o | ispriča-o | iz | sujet-e |
| man. nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | all- dat . pl | that- acc . n . sg | tell- pst . ptcp | prep | vanity- gen . sg |
| The man told everyone about it out of vanity. | ||||||
41
Status: alternate; causal marker: zbog GEN
| muškarac | je | zbog | sujet-e | sv-ima | to | ispriča-o |
| man. nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | prep | vanity- gen . sg | all- dat . pl | that- acc . n . sg | tell- pst . ptcp |
| The man told everyone about it out of vanity. | ||||||
42
Status: main; causal marker: u LOC
| žen-a | je | u | bes-u | porazbija-l-a | sv-e | posuđ-e |
| woman- nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | prep | anger- loc . sg | break- pst . ptcp - f . sg | all- acc . f . pl | dish- acc . pl |
| The woman broke all the dishes out of anger. | ||||||
43
Status: main; causal marker: zbog GEN
| žen-a | je | leg-l-a | obuč-en-a | zbog | hladnoć-e |
| woman- nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | lay_down- pst . ptcp - f . sg | dress- pass . ptcp - nom . f . sg | prep | coldness- gen . sg |
| The woman went to sleep clothed because of the cold. | |||||
43
Status: alternate; causal marker: od GEN
| žen-a | je | od | hladnoć-e | leg-l-a | obuč-en-a |
| woman- nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | prep | coldness- gen . sg | lay_down- pst . ptcp - f . sg | dress- pass . ptcp - nom . f . sg |
| The woman went to sleep clothed because of the cold. | |||||
44
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
| učitelj | je | pohvali-o | kostim | učenik-a |
| teacher. nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | praise- pst . ptcp | costume. acc . sg | pupil- gen . sg |
| The teacher commended the student for his suit. | ||||
| Note: This translation is not included in the database because the caused event is not explicitly expressed. | ||||
44
Status: alternate; causal marker: zbog GEN
| učitelj | je | pohvali-o | učenik-a | zbog | njegov-og | kostim-a |
| teacher. nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | praise- pst . ptcp | pupil- gen . sg | prep | his- gen . m . sg | costume- gen . sg |
| The teacher commended the student for his suit. | ||||||
45
Status: main; causal marker: zbog GEN
| muškarac | je | prebi-o | sused-a | zbog | njegov-ih | reč-i |
| man. nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | beat_up- pst . ptcp | neighbourgh- gen . sg | prep | his- gen . pl | word- gen . pl |
| The man beated his neighbor because of his words. | ||||||
46
Status: main; causal marker: zbog GEN
| dec-a | su | se | pobi-l-a | zbog | lopt-e |
| children- nom . sg | be. prs .3 pl | refl | fight- pst . ptcp - f . sg | prep | ball- gen . sg |
| The children fought over the ball. | |||||
47
Status: main; causal marker: zbog GEN
| muškarac | se | posvađa-o | s | brat-om | zbog | nasledstv-a |
| man. nom . sg | refl | quarrel- pst . ptcp | prep | brother- ins . sg | prep | inheritance- gen . sg |
| The man argued with his brother over the inheritance. | ||||||
48
Status: main; causal marker: zbog GEN
| žen-a | je | kupi-l-a | t-u | knjig-u | zbog | crtež-a |
| woman- nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | buy- pst . ptcp - f . sg | that- acc . f . sg | book- acc . sg | prep | drawing- gen . pl |
| The woman bought the book because of the pictures. | ||||||
49
Status: main; causal marker: zbog GEN
| žen-a | ni-je | otiš-l-a | da | se | vid-i | s | drugaric-om | zbog | loš-eg | raspoloženj-a |
| woman- nom . sg | neg -be. prs .3 sg | go- pst . ptcp - f . sg | compl | refl | see- prs .3 sg | prep | friend- ins . sg | prep | bad- gen . n . sg | mood- gen . sg |
| The woman canceled plans with her friend because of her bad mood. | ||||||||||
50
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
| sude-ći | po | bar-ama, | noćas | je | pada-l-a | kiš-a |
| judge- cnv | prep | puddle- dat . pl | tonight | be. prs .3 sg | fall- pst . ptcp - f . sg | rain- nom . sg |
| Judging by the puddles, it rained last night. | ||||||
| Note: This translation is not included in the database because the causing event is expressed as a dependent clause, not a noun phrase. | ||||||
51
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
| sude-ći | po | mehurić-ima, | vod-a | je | već | provri-l-a |
| judge- cnv | prep | bubble- dat . pl | water- nom . sg | be. prs .3 sg | already | boil- pst . ptcp - f . sg |
| Judging by the bubbles, the water is already boiling. | ||||||
| Note: This translation is not included in the database because the causing event is expressed as a dependent clause, not a noun phrase. | ||||||
52
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
| bež-i | u | kuć-u | od | hladnoć-e |
| run- imp .2 sg | prep | house- acc . sg | prep | coldness- gen . sg |
| Come into the house [to escape] from cold. | ||||
| Note: This translation is not included in the database because the caused event is not explicitly expressed. | ||||
53
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
| gde | mi | je | džemper | za | zim-u |
| where | i . dat | be. prs .3 sg | sweater. nom . sg | prep | coldness- acc . sg |
| Where is my sweater for the cold weather? | |||||
| Note: This translation is not included in the database because the causing event is expressed as an adnominal dependent in the main clause. | |||||
54
Status: main; causal marker: zbog GEN
| taj | broj | ne | mož-e | bi-ti | manji | od | jedinic-e | zbog | zakon-a | matematik-e |
| that. nom . m . sg | number. nom . sg | neg | can- prs .3 sg | be- inf | less | prep | one- gen . sg | prep | law- gen . sg | mathematics- gen . sg |
| This number cannot be less than one per mathematical law. | ||||||||||