The article is devoted to complex pronouns, namely developed forms of primary
pronouns constituting three types: 1) with the first element z: spod, znad, 2) with the
first element po: popod, 3) with element z + po: spoza.
As the material collected illustrates, the earliest forms of the first type were the
earliest as they appeared at least in the 16th century. Pronouns z po were created a bit
later, namely in the 17th century. Undoubtedly, complex pronouns were formed as the
consequences of changes taking place in syntax since the pra-Slavic times. Particular
types, however, crystalized as a result of various factors. It is worth paying attention
to one common feature of pronouns discussed in the article, their origin is always connected
with a spacious value. The formation of prefiguring forms created with z element,
can be easily explained with the need to name specific ablative spacious relationships.
We can assume that they derived from a primary combination of an ablative pronoun
with a pronominal expression, standing for a localizer. The origin of z po pronouns
is definitely more difficult to establish, above all because of unclear and diversified
semantics
