Learn Hardcore Ukrainian: Пиріг смачний.

Смачний is an adjective that means "tasty" or "delicious." It describes the noun Пиріг by indicating its quality. In this sentence, it serves as the predicate adjective, forming the idea that "The pie is tasty."

Why is there no equivalent of the verb "is" in the sentence Пиріг смачний?

In Ukrainian, the present tense form of the verb "to be" is typically omitted. So, even though in English we would say "The pie is tasty," Ukrainian allows the sentence to stand on its own without an explicit linking verb.

How does the adjective смачний agree with the noun Пиріг?

Adjectives in Ukrainian must agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case. Since Пиріг is a masculine singular noun, the adjective смачний takes the masculine singular ending -ий to match it.

What is the word order in this sentence, and is it typical for Ukrainian?

The sentence follows a Subject-Predicate structure: Пиріг is the subject, and смачний is the predicate adjective. This structure is common in Ukrainian, especially since the copula (the equivalent of "is") is omitted in the present tense.

How would the adjective change if the noun were feminine or neuter?

If the noun were feminine, the adjective would typically change to смачна (ending in -а), and if it were neuter, it would become смачне (ending in -е). This change ensures that the adjective agrees in gender with the noun it describes.