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Questions & Answers about У парку можна гуляти.
What role does можна play in the sentence, and how does it compare to modal verbs in English?
Можна functions as an impersonal modal expression indicating permission or possibility. It conveys that the action is allowed without specifying a particular subject—much like the English modals can or may in sentences such as “You can walk in the park.”
Why is the verb гуляти in its infinitive form, and what does that signify in Ukrainian grammar?
In Ukrainian, when using an impersonal construction with можна, the following verb remains in the infinitive form. This structure emphasizes that the sentence is addressing a general possibility or permission to perform the action, much like saying “to walk” after a modal verb in English.
What does the phrase У парку mean, and why is the noun in the form парку?
The phrase У парку translates to “in the park.” The noun парку is in the locative case, which is used after the preposition у to indicate location. This case choice shows where the action takes place.
Why is there no clear subject mentioned in У парку можна гуляти?
The sentence uses an impersonal construction, which is common in Ukrainian when conveying general rules or allowances. Instead of specifying who is allowed to walk, the construction implies that the permission applies to anyone without needing an explicit subject.
Can the same idea be expressed using a different grammatical structure in Ukrainian?
Yes, you could rephrase the sentence as Гуляти в парку дозволено, which means “Walking in the park is allowed.” Both constructions express that it is permissible to walk in the park, but they employ different grammatical patterns: one using an impersonal modal (можна) and the other using a passive-adjective form (дозволено).