Contents · A1
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The imperative gives an order, makes a request or offers advice. A1 holds the forms for ти and ви, both built on the stem of the present, with не for a ban, and the words мо́жна and тре́ба for what is allowed and needed.
The imperative: чита́й, скажи́, да́йте; не чита́й#
Formation
The imperative is formed from the present stem, the present without its ending (чита́-ють, пи́ш-уть):
- when the stem ends in a vowel, the ти form adds -й and the ви form -йте: чита́й, чита́йте; слу́хай, слу́хайте; працю́й, працю́йте;
- when the stem ends in a consonant and the я form is stressed on its ending, the ти form ends in -и and the ви form in -іть, both stressed: пиши́, пиші́ть; скажи́, скажі́ть; говори́, говорі́ть; іди́, іді́ть;
- a verb in -ся keeps -ся: диви́ся, диві́ться; вчи́ся, вчі́ться;
- да́ти has short forms: дай, да́йте.
| чита́ти | писа́ти | |
|---|---|---|
| ти | чита́й | пиши́ |
| ми | чита́ймо | пиші́м |
| ви | чита́йте | пиші́ть |
Use
The ти form is said to a friend, a relative or a child, the ви form to several people or to one person addressed politely. A ban is не before the imperfective form: не чита́й, не говорі́ть.
Most verbs come as a pair, and each has its imperative: the imperfective one for the activity or a habit (чита́й ко́жен день), the perfective one for one act carried to its end (прочита́й цей лист): пиши́ / напиши́, роби́ / зроби́, дзвони́ / подзвони́.
- Слу́хай, Оле́но!Listen, Olena!
- Скажі́ть, будь ла́ска, де вокза́л?Excuse me, where is the station?
- Іди́ сюди́!Come here!
- Подзвони́ за́втра!Call tomorrow!
- Не чека́йте, ми йдемо́.Don't wait, we're coming.
Difference from English
English has one imperative for every listener (read!) and makes a ban with don't; Ukrainian has a ти form and a ви form, and a ban is не alone: Don't read! is Не чита́й! or Не чита́йте!
Common mistakes
писа́й→ пиши́The imperative is built on the present stem (пи́ш-уть), not on the infinitive.Па́не Тара́се, сіда́й!→ Па́не Тара́се, сіда́йте!A person addressed with пан takes the ви form.
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Asking politely: Да́йте, будь ла́ска…; Мо́жна…?#
Use
A polite request is made with the ви form, often with мені́ (to me) and будь ла́ска (please): Да́йте мені́, будь ла́ска, ка́ву. Скажі́ть, будь ла́ска… opens a polite question. Мо́жна…? alone asks for something or for permission: Мо́жна чай? (“Could I have a tea?”), Мо́жна? (“May I?”).
- Да́йте мені́, будь ла́ска, квито́к.A ticket, please.
- Скажі́ть, будь ла́ска, котра́ годи́на?Could you tell me the time, please?
- Мо́жна во́ду?Could I have some water?
- — Мо́жна? — Так, мо́жна.May I? — Yes, you may.
Difference from English
In English a request is softened with could you or can I have; in Ukrainian the plain imperative of ви is used with будь ла́ска, and it is polite.
Practise
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Let us: ході́мо, дава́й#
Use
Let us is met at A1 in two set forms: ході́мо (let us go) and дава́й (to ти) or дава́йте (to ви) followed by an infinitive or a form of ми: Дава́й гуля́ти! They are recognised at this level.
- Ході́мо в кіно́!Let's go to the cinema!
- Дава́йте чека́ти тут.Let's wait here.
Allowed and needed: мо́жна, не мо́жна, тре́ба#
Use
Four words that do not change express what is allowed or needed without naming anyone: мо́жна (it is allowed), не мо́жна (it is not allowed), тре́ба (it is necessary), не тре́ба (there is no need). Each is followed by an infinitive and has no subject and no word for is: Тут мо́жна пла́вати. Without a verb, мо́жна and тре́ба answer a question: Так, мо́жна.
- У ліка́рні не мо́жна кури́ти.Smoking is not allowed in the hospital.
- Тре́ба працюва́ти.One has to work.
- Мо́жна сиді́ти тут?Can I sit here?
- Не тре́ба чека́ти.There's no need to wait.
Common mistake
Тут не тре́ба кури́ти.→ Тут не мо́жна кури́ти.Must not is не мо́жна; не тре́ба means only that there is no need.
Difference from English
Being able to do something is not мо́жна but the verb могти́: I can swim is Я мо́жу пла́вати.
In short
| Form | ти | ви | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| stem in a vowel | -й | -йте | чита́й, чита́йте |
| stem in a consonant | -и́ | -і́ть | пиши́, пиші́ть |
| verb in -ся | -ся | -ться | диви́ся, диві́ться |
| ban | не + imperfective | не + imperfective | не чита́й |
| request | — | Да́йте, будь ла́ска… | Мо́жна ка́ву? |
| allowed, needed | мо́жна, не мо́жна, тре́ба + infinitive | Тре́ба чека́ти. |
Practise
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