Я сиджу на стільці.

I sit on the chair.

Breakdown of Я сиджу на стільці.

• я: I
• сидіти: to sit
• стілець: the chair
• на: on

Questions & Answers about Я сиджу на стільці.

What does the preposition на indicate in this sentence?

In Я сиджу на стільці, the preposition на means "on" and shows the location where the action is taking place. It also requires the noun that follows to be in the locative case.

Why is the noun стільці different from its dictionary form стілець?

The noun стільці is the locative case form of стілець. In Ukrainian, when you use a preposition like на to describe location, the noun must be declined to the proper case—in this case, the locative.

How is the verb сиджу formed and what information does it provide about the subject and tense?

The verb сиджу is the first-person singular present tense form of сидіти (to sit). This tells you that the speaker is talking about themselves and that the action is occurring in the present.

What is the basic sentence structure of Я сиджу на стільці and how does it compare to English?

The sentence follows a structure similar to English: Subject (Я), Verb (сиджу), and a Prepositional Phrase (на стільці). Ukrainian syntax is quite flexible thanks to its case system, but in this basic sentence, the order mirrors that of English.

Can you explain the morphological change in the noun from стілець to стільці?

Certainly. This change happens because Ukrainian nouns decline according to their roles in a sentence. When expressing location with на, стілець is transformed into стільці to fit the locative case rules. This may involve alterations in the ending, which is a common feature of Ukrainian grammar.

Is the use of the locative case with prepositions like на common in Ukrainian, and are there any nuances to consider?

Yes, using the locative case with prepositions like на (and also в) to indicate location is standard in Ukrainian. However, be aware that some prepositions require different cases depending on context—for example, to differentiate between movement and static location—so it’s important to learn the specific patterns for each preposition.