podmínnou

Podmínnou is a linguistic term used to describe the instrumental feminine singular form of the adjective meaning “conditional” in Czech, and its closest cognate form podmienenú in Slovak. The base noun from which the adjective is derived is podmínka in Czech or podmienka in Slovak, both meaning “condition.” The term is commonly encountered in grammatical descriptions and in contexts where a condition is described as affecting a noun.

In Czech grammar, adjectives agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case. In the instrumental singular feminine, many adjectives adopt a form ending in -nou (diacritics omitted here would render it as podmíněnou). This form is used when the associated noun is in the instrumental case, for example in phrases equivalent to “with a conditional contract” or “by a conditional payment.” The standard orthography with diacritics is podmíněnou, while in plain-text contexts without diacritics it may appear as podmínnou.

In Slovak, the corresponding form is podmienenú, reflecting the shared though distinct evolution of the languages. The semantic field is the same: describing something that is dependent on or restricted by a condition.

Usage of podmínnou is primarily found in formal, legal, academic, and technical registers, where precise characterization of conditionality is required. It is less common in everyday language, where simpler or more explicit phrasing is often preferred.

See also: conditional mood, condition (grammar), podmínka, podmienka.