Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Ukrainian grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Телефон дзвонить.
Why does the sentence Телефон дзвонить not include a word equivalent to “is” as in “The phone is ringing”?
In Ukrainian, the present tense of the verb “to be” is usually omitted. Thus, instead of saying “The phone is ringing,” Ukrainians simply say “Телефон дзвонить,” and the meaning is still clear.
What is the basic grammatical structure of this sentence?
The sentence follows a straightforward subject–verb pattern. Телефон is the subject (meaning “phone”), and дзвонить is the predicate, a verb in the third person singular present tense (meaning “rings” or “is ringing”).
How do I know that дзвонить is correctly conjugated in the present tense?
The form дзвонить is the standard third person singular present tense conjugation of the verb “дзвонити” (to ring). It agrees in number with Телефон, which is singular, indicating that the action is happening now.
Why is it acceptable for the phone—a nonliving object—to be the subject of the sentence and perform the action?
In both Ukrainian and English, inanimate objects like phones are often described as performing actions that are triggered by them. Saying “Телефон дзвонить” is a conventional way to describe the event; it personifies the object only in the sense that it initiates the ringing sound, much like the English “the phone rings.”
Is this sentence commonly used in everyday Ukrainian conversation?
Yes, Телефон дзвонить is a common and natural expression when referring to a ringing phone. Ukrainians frequently use this concise structure, especially in informal speech, to indicate that the phone is ringing.
Does the word order in Телефон дзвонить allow for flexibility, or is it fixed?
While Ukrainian generally has a flexible word order, the basic subject–verb order seen in Телефон дзвонить is the clearest and most direct way to convey the meaning. Altering the order could shift emphasis, but for a simple statement like this, the standard order is most common.