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Questions & Answers about Вода холодна.
Why is there no verb like is in the sentence "Вода холодна"?
Ukrainian uses what’s called a zero-copula in the present tense. This means that the linking verb is is typically omitted because its meaning is implied. So, even though English requires is (“Water is cold”), Ukrainian conveys the idea without explicitly stating it.
How do adjectives agree with nouns in Ukrainian, as seen in this sentence?
In Ukrainian, adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in gender, number, and case. Here, вода (water) is a feminine noun; therefore, the adjective холодна is in the feminine singular nominative form. This agreement between the noun and adjective is essential for correct grammar.
What is the grammatical structure of "Вода холодна"?
The sentence is structured as a nominal sentence. It consists of a subject (вода) and a predicate adjective (холодна) that describes the subject. Because the verb to be is omitted (zero-copula), the sentence simply pairs the subject with a descriptive quality.
Why are there no articles like the or a in this sentence?
Ukrainian, like many Slavic languages, does not have articles. There are no words equivalent to the or a in Ukrainian, so the sentence naturally omits them without affecting the meaning.
Is the word order in Ukrainian fixed, and can it be changed for emphasis?
While Ukrainian often uses a subject-predicate order—as seen in "Вода холодна" where вода is the subject and холодна is the predicate adjective—the language is relatively flexible with word order. Changing the order can shift emphasis or nuance, but in simple descriptive sentences, the standard order is most common for clarity.
Can the linking verb ever be added in a sentence like this, and if so, how would it appear?
Yes, although it is not necessary in the present tense, you might sometimes see the linking verb є added for emphasis or in more formal contexts. For example, you could say "Вода є холодна," but in everyday use, the shorter form "Вода холодна" is preferred and completely acceptable.