Syntax Question

[xxblackxsatinxx.livejournal.com]

I have a quick question. Trying to wrap my head around syntax components. We've covered subject, predicate, and object so far and we'll be covering attribute next week. What I understand so far is that an attribute is something that can qualify a noun, or verb such as an adjective, adverb, or participle. Are there any other aspects of speech that can qualify as an attribute within Russian language? 

Comments

[shota-kitten.livejournal.com]

attribute can not be used with a verb.
There's another kind of attribute called приложение, and it's a noun or some phrase, where the main word is a noun. For example, Врач Антонов ушел домой. Врач is приложение here. It's like apposition, but it can be a single noun, not only a phrase.

[xxblackxsatinxx.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I see! So an adverb wouldn't be considered an attribute? I wish the book my prof gave me had a section on attribute but it doesn't. Trying to figure out what constitutes one so I can look up THOSE in the book.

Thanks for mentioning приложение. I'll look it up. :)

[shota-kitten.livejournal.com]

No, attribute is just a word (or a phrase) that can be the answer for the question with "какой (какая, какое)"
For example, туча (какая?) синяя; мальчик (какой?), бегущий к саду.

If you mean something like бежит быстро, you have бежит (как?) быстро, it's an обстоятельство (like adverbial in english), not an attribute.

[xxblackxsatinxx.livejournal.com]

Okay, I understand. I guess I got myself confused by thinking that adverbs qualify the verb and could be attributes. I get it.

Am I right though in thinking that participles can be attributes? Or is that wrong also?

[shota-kitten.livejournal.com]

If you mean participle (причастие), that you're right: (какой?) бегущий мальчик. If you mean adverbal participle (деепричастие), then you're not right: говорил (как?) смеясь - it's an adverbial.
The rule for attribute is very simple - just try какой? If it sounds OK, then the word is an attribute. Anyway, almost always attibutes are adjectives or participles. Except приложение and some strange cases.

[mosopus.livejournal.com]

well, everything is quite correct mentioned above.

I may add that attrubite (in Russian "определение"), as a rule, is a word, ending with -ий(ый),-ая(яя),-ое(ее), and -ие (the latter ending is in plural regardless of the gender). It is an adjective (not adverb). The attribite describes the object or the subject in the sentence, having the same noun case, the same number and the same genger. The attribute often stands before the object/subject. The particular form of attribute "приложение" only has a post-position (i.e. stands after the object/subject). And приложение is not an adjective, but a noun.

In many cases in English we make adverbs (who perfom as adverbial modifier) out of adjectives (who perfom as attributes) with adding -ly (political (adj)-politically (adv), unilateral-unilaterally). So "a unulateral action"- is an attrubute with its object, and "to make something unilaterally"- is a verb (predicate) whith its adverbial modifier of manner (adverb).