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Questions & Answers about Петро добрий.
Why is there no word for “is” in the sentence “Петро добрий.”
In Ukrainian, the present tense of the verb “to be” is usually omitted. This is a common feature in Slavic languages, so the sentence “Петро добрий” means “Petro is kind” or “Petro is good” even though the linking verb isn’t explicitly stated.
What role does the adjective добрий play in this sentence?
The adjective добрий acts as a predicate adjective that describes the subject Петро. It indicates a quality of Petro (that he is kind or good) and it agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun. Since Петро is masculine, singular, and in the nominative case, добрий follows suit.
Why does добрий end in -ий?
In Ukrainian, adjectives must agree with the noun they describe. The ending -ий is the standard nominative singular masculine ending for adjectives. Since Петро is a masculine singular noun, the adjective takes the -ий ending to ensure proper agreement.
Is it acceptable to write the sentence with a dash, such as Петро — добрий?
Yes, it is acceptable to use a dash in this context. In Ukrainian, a dash can be inserted between the subject and the predicate for emphasis or clarity. Although it is optional, writing Петро — добрий emphasizes the linking relationship between the subject and its characteristic.
How would the sentence change if the subject were a female name, like Марія?
If the subject were female, the adjective must agree with the feminine gender. The sentence would change from Петро добрий to Марія добра. Here, добра is the nominative singular feminine form of the adjective, properly matching the female subject.