ovlivovat

Ovlivovat is a Czech verb meaning to influence, affect, or sway someone or something, often by persuasion, information, or pressure. It is transitive and typically used with a direct object, usually in the accusative case in Czech sentences. The verb denotes an action that changes or shapes outcomes, opinions, behavior, or conditions.

Etymology and form: Ovlivovat is formed from the noun vliv (influence) with the prefix o- to convey the sense of affecting or reaching beyond. The imperfective aspect is ovlivovat, while the perfective counterpart is ovlivnit. This pair reflects the distinction between ongoing or repeated influence (imperfective) and a single, completed act of influencing (perfective).

Usage and grammar: As a transitive verb, ovlivňovat requires a direct object describing what is being influenced (for example, public opinion, behavior, prices). In Czech, one can also use the noun phrase mít vliv na to express having influence on something. The verb has standard present tense forms: já ovlivňuji, ty ovlivňuješ, on/ona ovlivňuje, my ovlivňujeme, vy ovlivňujete, oni ovlivňují. The perfective ovlivnit is used for a single, completed influence and commonly occurs in future or past contexts (e.g., ovlivní, ovlivnil/ovlivnila/ovlivnili).

Context and nuance: Ovlivňovat is widely used in political, media, marketing, and social contexts, where influence is examined as a process rather than a one-off act. Related expressions include mít vliv na (to have influence on) and být ovlivněn (to be influenced). Related verbs with similar meaning include formovat (to shape) or přesvědčovat (to persuade), though they carry slightly different nuances.

Examples:

- Politici se snaží ovlivňovat veřejné mínění.

- Nová pravidla mohou ovlivnit ceny.

- Reklama ovlivnila jeho rozhodnutí.