Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Ukrainian grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Я йду до парку.
What does йду mean in this sentence, and how is it used compared to English tenses?
Йду is the first-person singular form of the verb йти, which means "to go" or "to walk." Unlike English, which distinguishes between the simple present ("I go") and the present continuous ("I am going") with the auxiliary am, Ukrainian simply uses йду in the present tense to cover both meanings. Context tells you whether it’s a habitual action or an action in progress.
Why is the preposition до used here, and what does it translate to in English?
The preposition до indicates direction or a destination. In this sentence, до translates directly as "to" in English. So, Я йду до парку means "I am going to the park."
Why is the noun парк changed to парку, and what grammatical case does that represent?
In Ukrainian, many prepositions require the noun that follows them to be in a specific case. With the preposition до, the noun must be in the genitive case. Therefore, парк becomes парку to show that it is the destination. This case marking is essential for indicating relationships, such as direction.
Is the word order in Я йду до парку fixed, or can it be changed without altering the basic meaning?
Ukrainian generally allows for flexible word order. While Я йду до парку is a straightforward and common construction, you could rearrange the sentence (for example, До парку йду я) to place emphasis on different parts. Despite the change in order, the primary meaning—"I am going to the park"—remains unchanged, although the focus might shift slightly.
How does Ukrainian express ongoing action without a separate continuous tense like English does?
Ukrainian does not have a distinct continuous form as English does with phrases like "am going." Instead, the present tense is used to describe actions that are happening currently. In Я йду до парку, the context implies that the action is taking place right now, so йду serves to convey the idea of "I am going" without the need for an auxiliary verb.