Latvian
Contributed by Anna Daugavet. The data were gathered in 2021.
How to cite
Daugavet, Anna. 2022. Nominal causal constructions in Latvian. 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: no GEN
Lakatiņ-š | piemirk-a | no | asar-ām. |
handekerchief- nom . sg | get.soaked- pst .3 | from | tear- dat . pl |
The handkerchief got soaked from tears. |
2
Status: main; causal marker: no GEN
Zar-s | nolūz-a | no | smagum-a. |
branch- nom . sg | break- pst .3 | from | weight- gen . sg |
The branch broke from the weight. |
3
Status: main; causal marker: no GEN
Sieviet-e | klepo | no | dūm-iem |
woman- nom . sg | cough. prs .3 | from | smoke- dat . pl |
The woman is coughing because of the smoke. |
3
Status: alternate; causal marker: GEN del
Sieviet-e | klepo | dūm-u | dēļ. |
woman- nom . sg | cough. prs .3 | smoke- gen . pl | because.of |
The woman is coughing because of the smoke. |
4
Status: main; causal marker: GEN del
Tums-as | dēļ | ne-redz-am | krast-u. |
darkness- gen . sg | because.of | neg -see. prs -1 pl | shore- acc . sg |
We cannot see the shore because of the darkness. |
5
Status: main; causal marker: aiz GEN
Vīriet-i | arestēj-a | aiz | pārskatī-šan-ās. |
man- acc . sg | arrest. pst -3 | behind | err- nmlz - gen . sg - rfl |
The man was arrested by mistake. |
5
Status: alternate; causal marker: GEN del
Vīriet-i | arestēj-a | kļūd-as | dēļ. |
man- acc . sg | arrest. pst -3 | mistake- gen . sg | because.of |
The man was arrested because of a mistake. |
6
Status: main; causal marker: LOC
Kok-s | nolūz-a | vēj-ā. |
tree- nom . sg | break. pst -3 | wind- loc . sg |
The tree fell in the wind. |
6
Status: alternate; causal marker: no GEN
Kok-s | nolūz-a | no | vēj-a. |
tree- nom . sg | break. pst -3 | from | wind- gen . sg |
The tree fell due to the wind. |
7
Status: main; causal marker: no GEN
Vīriet-is | gāj-a | boj-ā | no | elektrīb-as. |
man- nom . sg | go. pst -3 | death- loc . sg | from | electricity- gen . sg |
The man died from electric shock. |
8
Status: main; causal marker: no GEN
Sieviet-e | pamod-ā-s | no | trokšņ-a. |
woman- nom . sg | wake. pst -3- rfl | from | noise- gen . sg |
The woman woke up from the noise. |
9
Status: main; causal marker: no GEN
Vīriet-im | no | al-us | sāp | galv-a. |
man- dat . sg | from | beer- gen . sg | ache. prs .3 | head- nom . sg |
The man has a headache from the beer. |
10
Status: main; causal marker: no GEN
Sieviet-e | sāk-a | smie-tie-s | no | kucēn-a |
woman- nom . sg | begin. pst -3 | laugh- inf - rfl | from | puppy- gen . sg |
The woman started to laugh at the puppy. |
10
Status: alternate; causal marker: n.a.
Sieviet-e | sāk-a | smie-tie-s | redz-ot | kucēnu. |
woman- nom . sg | begin. pst -3 | laugh- inf - rfl | see- cnv | puppy- acc . sg |
The woman started to laugh looking at the puppy. | ||||
Note: This translation is not included in the database because the causing event is expressed as a dependent clause, not a noun phrase. |
11
Status: main; causal marker: no GEN
Vīriet-is | nomir-a | no | indīg-ās | ziv-s. |
man- nom . sg | die. pst -3 | from | poisonous- gen . sg . f . def | fish- gen . sg |
The man died from a poisonous fish. |
12
Status: main; causal marker: ar INS
Meiten-e | ir | apmierināt-a | ar | sav-u | atzīm-i |
girl- nom . sg | be. prs .3 | satisfied- nom . sg . f | with | one’s- acc . sg | grade- acc . sg |
The girl is satisfied with her grade. |
13
Status: main; causal marker: par ACC
Siev-a | sadusmoj-ā-s | par | vīr-a | vārd-iem. |
wife- nom . sg | anger. pst -3. rfl | about | husband- gen . sg | word- dat . pl |
The wife got angry with her husband’s words. |
13
Status: alternate; causal marker: GEN del
Siev-a | sadusmoj-ā-s | vīra | vārdu | dēļ. |
wife- nom . sg | anger. pst -3. rfl | husband- gen . sg | word- gen . pl | because.of |
The wife got angry because of her husband's words. |
14
Status: main; causal marker: par ACC
Zēn-s | ir | sajūsm-ā | par | š-o | idej-u. |
boy- nom . sg | be. prs .3 | delight- loc . sg | about | this- acc . sg | idea- acc . sg |
The boy was delighted by this idea. |
15
Status: main; causal marker: no GEN
Vīriet-is | no | bad-a | kļuv-a | vārg-s. |
man- nom . sg | from | hunger- gen . sg | become. pst -3 | weak- nom . sg . m |
The man was weakened by hunger. |
15
Status: alternate; causal marker: GEN del
Vīriet-is | bad-a | dēļ | kļuv-a | vārg-s. |
man- nom . sg | hunger- gen . sg | because.of | become. pst -3 | weak- nom . sg . m |
The man was weakened by hunger. |
16
Status: main; causal marker: no GEN
Vīriet-is | nomir-a | no | bad-a. |
man- nom . sg | die. pst -3 | from | hunger- gen . sg |
The man died of starvation. |
16
Status: alternate; causal marker: LOC
Vīriet-is | nomir-a | bad-ā. |
man- nom . sg | die. pst -3 | hunger- loc . sg |
The man died of starvation. |
17
Status: main; causal marker: no GEN
Vīriet-is | kliedz | no | sāp-ēm. |
man- nom . sg | scream. prs .3 | from | pain- dat . pl |
The man is screaming from the pain. |
17
Status: alternate; causal marker: LOC
Vīriet-is | kliedz | sāp-ēs. |
man- nom . sg | scream. prs .3 | pain- loc . pl |
The man is screaming in pain. |
18
Status: main; causal marker: no GEN
Sieviet-e | trīc | no | aukstum-a |
woman- nom . sg | shiver. prs .3 | from | cold- gen . sg |
The woman is shivering from the cold. |
18
Status: alternate; causal marker: LOC
Sieviet-e | trīc | aukstum-ā. |
woman- nom . sg | shiver. prs .3 | cold- loc . sg |
The woman is shivering from the cold. |
19
Status: main; causal marker: no GEN
Bērn-s | ieraudāj-ā-s | no | bail-ēm. |
child- nom . sg | cry- pst -3- rfl | from | fear- dat . pl |
The child began to cry out of fear. |
19
Status: alternate; causal marker: LOC
Bērn-s | ieraudāj-ā-s | bail-ēs. |
child- nom . sg | cry- pst -3- rfl | fear- loc . pl |
The child began to cry in fear. |
20
Status: main; causal marker: no GEN
Bērn-s | iesmēj-ā-s | no | priek-a. |
child- nom . sg | laugh. pst -3- rfl | from | joy- gen . sg |
The child started to laugh out of joy. |
20
Status: alternate; causal marker: LOC
Bērn-s | iesmēj-ā-s | priek-ā. |
child- nom . sg | laugh. pst -3- rfl | joy- loc . sg |
The child started to laugh out of joy. |
21
Status: main; causal marker: no GEN
Bērn-s | no | bail-ēm | paslēp-ā-s | šķūn-ī. |
child- nom . sg | from | fear- gen . sg | hide. pst -3- rfl | barn- loc . sg |
The child hid in the barn out of fear. |
21
Status: alternate; causal marker: LOC
Bērn-s | bail-ēs | paslēp-ā-s | šķūn-ī. |
child- nom . sg | fear- loc . pl | hide. pst -3- rfl | barn- loc . sg |
The child hid in the barn in fear. |
22
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
Vīriet-is | kautri | klusēj-a. |
man- nom . sg | modestly | keep.silent. pst -3 |
The man was modetsly keeping silent. | ||
Note: This translation is not included in the database because the causing event is expressed as an adverb, not a nominal phrase. |
22
Status: alternate; causal marker: GEN del
Kautrīgum-a | dēļ | vīriet-is | klusēj-a. |
modesty- gen . sg | because.of | man- nom . sg | keep.silent. pst -3 |
The man was keeping silent out of modesty. |
23
Status: main; causal marker: LOC
Sieviet-e | bail-ēs | saķēr-a | brāl-i | aiz | rok-as. |
woman- nom . sg | fear- loc . pl | grab. pst -3 | brother- acc . sg | behind | hand- gen . sg |
The woman grabbed her brother’s arm in fear. |
23
Status: alternate; causal marker: no GEN
Sieviet-e | no | bail-ēm | saķēr-a | brāl-i | aiz | rok-as. |
woman- nom . sg | from | fear- dat . pl | grab. pst -3 | brother- acc . sg | behind | hand- gen . sg |
The woman grabbed her brother’s arm out of fear. |
24
Status: main; causal marker: no GEN
Sieviet-e | piekus-a | no | darb-a. |
woman- nom . sg | get.tired. pst -3 | from | work- gen . sg |
The woman got tired from work. |
25
Status: main; causal marker: GEN del
Sieviet-e | od-u | dēļ | ne-var | aizmig-t. |
woman- nom . sg | mosquito- gen . pl | because.of | neg -can. prs .3 | fall.asleep- inf |
The woman cannot fall asleep because of the mosquitoes. |
26
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
Ūden-s | mēnes-s | gaism-ā | šķiet | gaiš-s. |
water- nom . sg | moon- gen . sg | light- loc . sg | seem. prs .3 | bright- nom . sg . m |
The water looks bright in the moonlight. | ||||
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. |
26
Status: alternate; causal marker: n.a.
Ūden-s | no | mēnes-s | gaism-as | šķiet | gaiš-s. |
water- nom . sg | from | moon- gen . sg | light- gen . sg | seem. prs .3 | bright- nom . sg . m |
The water looks bright from the moonlight. | |||||
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. |
27
Status: main; causal marker: GEN del
Vīriet-im | veic-ā-s | medīb-ās | suņa | dēļ |
man- dat . sg | be.successful. pst -3- rfl | hunt- loc . pl | dog. gen . sg | because.of |
The man hunted successfully because of his dog. |
27
Status: alternate; causal marker: pateicoties DAT
Vīriet-im | veic-ā-s | medīb-ās | pateic-otie-s | sunim. |
man- dat . sg | be. | successful. pst -3- rfl | hunt- loc . pl | thank- cnv - rfl dog. dat . sg |
The man hunted successfully thanks to his dog. |
28
Status: main; causal marker: uz ACC
Siev-a | sadusmoj-ā-s | uz | vīr-u. |
wife- nom . sg | anger. pst -3- rfl | to | husband- acc . sg |
The wife got angry at her husband. |
29
Status: main; causal marker: GEN del
Sieviet-e | nokavēj-a | darb-u | vīr-a | dēļ. |
woman- nom . sg | be.late. pst .3 | work- acc . sg | husband- gen . sg | because.of |
The wife was late for work because of her husband. |
30
Status: main; causal marker: GEN del
Cilvēk-i | gāj-a | boj-ā | zemestrīc-es | dēļ. |
man- nom . pl | go. pst -3 | death- loc . sg | earthquake- nge . sg | because.of |
People died because of the earthquake. |
30
Status: alternate; causal marker: LOC
Cilvēk-i | gāj-a | boj-ā | zemestrīc-ē. |
man- nom . pl | go. pst -3 | death- loc . sg | earthquake- loc . sg |
People died in the earthquake. |
31
Status: main; causal marker: GEN del
Vis-as | nelaim-es | notiek | cilvēk-a | dēļ. |
all- nom . pl . f | misfortune- nom . pl | happen. prs .3 | man- gen . sg | because.of |
All misfortunes happen because of people. |
32
Status: main; causal marker: pateicoties DAT
Vīriet-is | sāk-a | labāk | redzē-t | pateic-otie-s | operācij-ai. |
man- nom . sg | begin. pst -3 | better | see- inf | thank- cnv - rfl | operation- dat . sg |
The man started to see better thanks to the operation. |
32
Status: alternate; causal marker: pec GEN
Vīriet-is | sāk-a | labāk | redzē-t | pēc | operācij-as. |
man- nom . sg | begin. pst -3 | better | see- inf | after | operation- gen . sg |
The man started to see better after the operation. |
33
Status: main; causal marker: pateicoties DAT
Sieviet-e | ir | dzīv-a | pateic-otie-s | š-im | vīriet-im. |
woman- nom . sg | be. prs .3 | alive- nom . sg . f | thank- cnv - rfl | this- dat . sg . m | man- dat . sg |
The woman is alive thanks to that man. |
34
Status: main; causal marker: GEN del
Vīriet-is | pastāstīj-a | t-o | siev-ai | muļķīb-as | dēļ. |
man- nom . sg | tell. pst -3 | this- acc | wife- dat . sg | stupidity- gen . sg | because.of |
The man told his wife about it out of stupidity. |
34
Status: alternate; causal marker: GEN pec
Vīriet-is | pastāstīj-a | t-o | siev-ai | muļķīb-as | pēc. |
man- nom . sg | tell. pst -3 | this- acc | wife- dat . sg | stupidity- gen . sg | after |
The man told his wife about it out of stupidity. |
35
Status: main; causal marker: GEN del
Sieviet-e | paslīdēj-a | neuzmanīb-as | dēļ. |
woman- nom . sg | slip. pst -3 | inattention- gen . sg | because.of |
The woman slipped because of carelessness. |
36
Status: main; causal marker: pateicoties DAT
Pilot-s | spēj-a | nosēs-tie-s | pateic-otie-s | liel-ajai | pieredz-ei. |
pilot- nom . sg | be.able. pst -3 | land- inf - rfl | thank- cnv - rfl | big- dat . sg . f . def | experience- dat . sg |
The pilot was able to land the plane thanks to his solid experience. |
37
Status: main; causal marker: GEN del
Pilot-s | ne-spēj-a | nosēs-tie-s | pieredz-es | trūkum-a | dēļ. |
pilot- nom . sg | neg -be.able. pst -3 | land- inf - rfl | experience- gen . sg | lack- gen . sg | because.of |
The pilot could not land the plane because of his inexperience. |
38
Status: main; causal marker: no GEN
Kar-a | laik-ā | cilvēk-i | no | bad-a | ēda | zāl-i. |
war- nom . sg | time- loc . sg | man- nom . pl | from | hunger- gen . sg | eat. pst -3 | grass- acc . sg |
During the war, people ate grass out of hunger. |
39
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
Sieviet-e | iegāj-a | iekšā, | ziņkārīb-as | dzī-t-a. |
woman | enter | inside | curiosity- gen . sg | drive- pst . pass . ptcp - nom . sg . f |
The woman went inside driven by curiosity. | ||||
Note: This translation is not included in the database because the causing event is expressed as a dependent clause, not a noun phrase. |
39
Status: alternate; causal marker: GEN del
Sieviet-e | iegāj-a | iekšā, | ziņkārīb-as | dēļ. |
woman | enter | inside | curiosity- gen . sg | because.of |
The woman went inside out of curiosity. |
40
Status: main; causal marker: GEN del
Vīriet-is | nogalināj-a | siev-u | greizsirdīb-as | dēļ. |
man- nom . sg | kill. pst -3 | wife- acc . sg | jealousy- gen . sg | because.of |
The man killed his wife out of jealousy. |
40
Status: alternate; causal marker: LOC
Vīriet-is | nogalināj-a | siev-u | greizsirdīb-ā. |
man- nom . sg | kill. pst -3 | wife- acc . sg | jealousy- loc . sg |
The man killed his wife out of jealousy. |
40
Status: alternate; causal marker: n.a.
Vīriet-is | nogalināj-a | siev-u | greizsirdīb-as | uzplūd-ā. |
man- nom . sg | kill. pst -3 | wife- acc . sg | jealousy- gen . sg | burst- loc . sg |
The man killed his wife in a jealous rage. | ||||
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. |
41
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
Vīriet-is | vis-iem | par | š-o | pastāstīj-a, | godkār-es | dzī-t-s. |
man- nom . sg | all- dat . pl . m | about | this- acc . sg | tell. pst -3 | vanity- gen . sg | drive- pst . pass . ptcp - nom . sg . m |
The man told everyone about it driven by vanity. | ||||||
Note: This translation is not included in the database because the causing event is expressed as a dependent clause, not a noun phrase. |
41
Status: alternate; causal marker: GEN del
Vīriet-is | vis-iem | par | š-o | pastāstīj-a, | godkār-es | dēļ. |
man- nom . sg | all- dat . pl . m | about | this- acc . sg | tell. pst -3 | vanity- gen . sg | because.of |
The man told everyone about it out of vanity. |
42
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
Sieviet-e | sadauzīj-a | vis-us | trauk-us, | niknum-a | dzī-t-a. |
woman- nom . sg | break. pst -3 | all- acc . pl . m | dish- acc . pl | anger- gen . sg | drive- pst . pass . ptcp - nom . sg . f |
The woman broke all the dishes driven by anger. | |||||
Note: This translation is not included in the database because the causing event is expressed as a dependent clause, not a noun phrase. |
42
Status: alternate; causal marker: LOC
Sieviet-e | sadauzīj-a | vis-us | trauk-us | niknum-ā. |
woman- nom . sg | break. pst -3 | all- acc . pl . m | dish- acc . pl | anger- loc . sg |
The woman broke all the dishes in a fit of rage. |
43
Status: main; causal marker: GEN del
Sieviet-e | iegāj-a | gulē-t | ar | vis-ām | drēb-ēm | aukstum-a | dēļ. |
woman- nom . sg | enter. pst -3 | sleep- inf | in | all- dat . pl . f | garment- dat . pl | cold- gen . sg | because.of |
The woman went to sleep dressed because of the cold. |
44
Status: main; causal marker: par ACC
Skolotāj-s | uzslavēj-a | skolēn-u | par | viņ-a | uzvalk-u. |
teacher- nom . sg | praise. pst -3 | pupil- acc . sg | about | 3- sg . gen | suit- acc . sg |
The teacher commended the student for his uniform. |
45
Status: main; causal marker: par ACC
Vīriet-is | piekāv-a | kaimiņ-u | par | viņa | vārdiem |
man- nom . sg | beat. pst -3 | neighbour- acc . sg | about | 3- sg . gen | word- dat . pl |
The man beat his neighbor for his words. |
46
Status: main; causal marker: par ACC
Bērn-i | sakāv-ā-s | par | bumb-u. |
child- nom . pl | fight. pst - a - rfl | about | ball- acc . sg |
The children fought over the ball. |
46
Status: alternate; causal marker: GEN del
Bērn-i | sakāv-ā-s | bumb-as | dēļ. |
child- nom . pl | fight. pst - a - rfl | ball- gen . sg | because.of |
The children fought because of the ball. |
47
Status: main; causal marker: GEN del
Vīriet-is | sastrīdēj-ā-s | ar | brāl-i | mantojum-a | dēļ. |
man- nom . sg | quarrell. pst -3- rfl | with | brother- acc . sg | inheritance- gen . sg | because.of |
The man argued with his brother because of the inheritance. |
47
Status: alternate; causal marker: par ACC
Vīriet-is | sastrīdēj-ā-s | ar | brāl-i | par | mantojum-u. |
man- nom . sg | quarrell. pst -3- rfl | with | brother- acc . sg | about | inheritance- acc . sg |
The man argued with his brother over the inheritance. |
48
Status: main; causal marker: GEN del
Sieviet-e | nopirk-a | š-o | grāmat-u | t-ās | zīmējum-u | dēļ. |
woman- nom . sg | buy. pst -3 | this- acc . sg | book- acc . sg | this- gen . sg . f | picture- gen . pl | because.of |
The woman bought the book because of the pictures. |
49
Status: main; causal marker: GEN del
Sieviet-e | ne-gāj-a | uz | tikšan-o-s | ar | draudzen-i | slikt-ā | noskaņojum-a | dēļ. |
woman- nom . sg | neg -go. pst -3 | to | meeting- acc . sg - rfl | with | friend- acc . sg | bad- gen . sg . m . def | mood- gen . sg | because.of |
The woman did not go to the meeting with her friend because of her bad mood. |
49
Status: alternate; causal marker: n.a.
Sieviet-e | ne-gāj-a | uz | tikšan-o-s | ar | draudzen-i | jo | bij-a | slikt-ā | noskaņojum-ā. |
woman- nom . sg | neg -go. pst -3 | to | meeting- acc . sg - rfl | with | friend- acc . sg | because | be. pst -3 | bad- loc . sg | mood- loc . sg |
The woman did not go to the meeting with her friend because she was in a bad mood. | |||||||||
Note: This translation is not included in the database because the causing event is expressed as a dependent clause, not a noun phrase. |
50
Status: main; causal marker: spriezot pec GEN
Spriež-ot | pēc | peļķ-ēm, | nakt-ī | bij-is | liet-us. |
judge- cnv | after | puddle- dat . pl | night- loc . sg | be- pst . act . ptcp . nom . sg . m | rain- nom . sg |
Judging by the puddles, it rained last night. |
51
Status: main; causal marker: spriezot pec GEN
Spriež-ot | pēc | burbulīš-iem, | ūden-s | jau | vār-ā-s. |
judge- cnv | after | bubble- dat . pl | water- nom . sg | already | boil-3- rfl |
Judging by the bubbles, the water is boiling. |
52
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
Nāc | iekšā | -- | auksti taču! |
come. imper .2 sg | inside | cold | however |
Come inside, because it is cold. | |||
Note: This translation is not included in the database because the causing event is expressed as a dependent clause, not a noun phrase. |
53
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
Kur | ir | man-s | svīter-is | pret | aukstum-u? |
where | be. prs .3 | my- nom . sg . m | sweater- nom . sg | against | cold- acc . sg |
Where is my sweater against cold? | |||||
Note: This translation is not included in the database because the caused event is not explicitly expressed. |
54
Status: main; causal marker: GEN del
Š-is | skaitl-is | ne-var | bū-t | mazāk-s | par | vien-u | vienīb-u | matemātik-as | likum-u | dēļ. |
this- nom . sg . m | number- nom . sg | neg -can. prs .3 | be- inf | less- nom . sg . m | behind | one- acc . sg | unit- acc . sg | mathematics- gen . sg | law- gen . pl | because.of |
Per mathematical law, this number cannot be less than one. |