Contents · A1
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Short words join sentences and say how, when or how much. І, а and але́ link two statements, бо and тому́ що give a reason, або́ and чи offer a choice, adverbs stand before the word they describe, and the order of words follows what is already known and what is new.
Joining words: і, а, але́; або́, чи#
Use
- І (й after a vowel) adds one thing to another: брат і сестра́.
- А sets two things side by side, often with a new subject: Я студе́нт, а він лі́кар. It is also the but of не…, а… and opens the returned question А ти?
- Але́ is but when the second part runs against the first: Я хо́чу, але́ не мо́жу.
- Або́ offers a choice in a statement: сік або́ во́да; чи offers it in a question: Сік чи во́да?
A comma is written before а and але́, not before і or або́ joining two words.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| і, й | and | Оле́г і Окса́на |
| а | and, whereas; but after не | Я вдо́ма, а він на робо́ті. |
| але́ | but | Те́пло, але́ йде дощ. |
| або́ | or (statement) | сього́дні або́ за́втра |
| чи | or (question) | Сього́дні чи за́втра? |
- Я вчи́телька, а мій чолові́к — лі́кар.I'm a teacher, and my husband is a doctor.
- Оста́п не офіціа́нт, а воді́й.Ostap isn't a waiter, he's a driver.
- Суп смачни́й, але́ холо́дний.The soup is tasty but cold.
- Хо́чеш сік чи во́ду?Do you want juice or water?
- Я п’ю чай або́ ка́ву.I drink tea or coffee.
Common mistakes
Я з Ки́єва, і ти?→ Я з Ки́єва, а ти?A returned question opens with а.не чай, але́ ка́ва→ не чай, а ка́ваAfter не the word for but is а.
Practise
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Giving a reason: бо, тому́ що#
Use
Бо and тому́ що both mean because. They open the clause that gives the reason, and a comma stands before them. The answer to чому́? (why?) begins with бо or тому́ що. Тому́ alone means “that is why”, “so”, and gives the result.
- Я вдо́ма, бо йде дощ.I'm at home because it's raining.
- Ми не гуля́ємо, тому́ що хо́лодно.We aren't going for a walk because it's cold.
- — Чому́ ти не спиш? — Бо я чита́ю.Why aren't you asleep? — Because I'm reading.
- Я вто́млений, тому́ я вдо́ма.I'm tired, so I'm at home.
Common mistake
Я вдо́ма, тому́ я хво́рий.→ Я вдо́ма, бо я хво́рий.Тому́ gives the result, бо the reason.
Practise
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Adverbs of time, place and degree: за́раз, за́вжди, ду́же; уже́, ще#
Formation
An adverb does not change. Adverbs of manner are formed from adjectives with -е or -о: до́брий, до́бре; пога́ний, пога́но.
| Adverb | Meaning | Adverb | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| за́раз | now | ду́же | very, very much |
| сього́дні | today | тро́хи | a little |
| за́вжди | always | до́бре | well |
| ча́сто | often | пога́но | badly |
| уже́, вже | already | ще | still |
Use
An adverb usually stands before the verb or the adjective it describes: Я ча́сто чита́ю, ду́же смачни́й. A word of time may also open the sentence: Сього́дні я вдо́ма.
Уже́ (вже after a vowel) means already, ще means still. With не they change meaning: ще не is not yet, вже не is no longer; the short answer not yet is Ще ні.
- Вона́ за́вжди ра́но встає́.She always gets up early.
- Ти до́бре гово́риш украї́нською.You speak Ukrainian well.
- Мій брат уже́ вдо́ма.My brother is already at home.
- Ді́ти ще сплять.The children are still asleep.
- Я вже не студе́нт.I'm no longer a student.
- — Ти вже чита́в цю кни́гу? — Ще ні.Have you read this book yet? — Not yet.
Common mistake
Вона́ до́брий співа́є.→ Вона́ до́бре співа́є.A verb is described by the adverb до́бре, not the adjective.
Difference from English
English often puts the adverb last (I read often); in Ukrainian it usually comes before the verb: Я ча́сто чита́ю.
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Word order: Я тебе́ люблю́, За́втра я бу́ду вдо́ма#
Use
The basic order is subject, verb, object, as in English. Because the endings show who does what, the order can vary, so that what is already known comes first and what is new comes last. In a neutral sentence:
- a pronoun object stands before the verb: Я тебе́ люблю́, Вона́ нас чека́є;
- a word of time or place may open the sentence, and the subject still comes before the verb: За́втра я бу́ду вдо́ма;
- an adverb of degree or manner stands before the verb: Я ду́же люблю́ ка́ву;
- a question has the order of the statement, with the question word first: Де ти живе́ш?
- Ма́ма нас чека́є.Mum is waiting for us.
- У субо́ту ми бу́демо в Ки́єві.On Saturday we'll be in Kyiv.
- Оле́г ду́же лю́бить му́зику.Oleh loves music very much.
- Ка́ву п’є Тара́с, а чай — Окса́на.Taras is the one drinking coffee, and Oksana the tea.
Difference from English
In English the object comes after the verb (I love you); a Ukrainian pronoun object usually comes before it. Я люблю́ тебе́ is also correct and stresses you.
Practise
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Leaving out я and ти: Люблю́ ка́ву, Зна́єш?#
Use
In speech, я and ти are often left out, since the ending of the verb already shows the person: Люблю́ ка́ву means Я люблю́ ка́ву, and Зна́єш? means Ти зна́єш? These short sentences are met in dialogues and answers and are recognised at A1; the sentence with the pronoun is the form practised.
- — Що ро́биш? — Чита́ю.What are you doing? — Reading.
- Не розумі́ю, що це.I don't understand what this is.
- Іду́ додо́му.I'm going home.
Difference from English
In English I or you is needed before the verb; in Ukrainian the person is shown by the ending, so in the past, where the ending shows only the gender, the pronoun is usually kept: Я чита́в.
In short
| Word or pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| і, а, але́ | and, whereas, but | Я вдо́ма, а він ні. |
| або́, чи | or | Чай чи сік? |
| бо, тому́ що | because | Я вдо́ма, бо хо́лодно. |
| ча́сто, ду́же, до́бре | before the verb | Я ча́сто чита́ю. |
| уже́, ще, ще не | already, still, not yet | Він ще спить. |
| pronoun object | before the verb | Я тебе́ ба́чу. |
| no я, ти | recognised | Зна́єш? |