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Questions & Answers about Петро проходить біля будинку.
What does the preposition біля mean, and why is it followed by будинку in this sentence?
Біля translates as "near" or "beside" in English. In Ukrainian, this preposition always governs the genitive case, which is why будинку—the genitive singular form of будинок (house)—is used to indicate location.
What is the role and aspect of the verb проходить in this sentence?
The verb проходить means "passes by" or "is passing" and is in the imperfective aspect. This aspect implies that the action is ongoing or habitual rather than completed at a single moment.
How is the sentence Петро проходить біля будинку structured grammatically?
The sentence follows a clear subject–verb–location pattern: Петро is the subject in the nominative case, проходить is the verb showing the action, and біля будинку is an adverbial prepositional phrase that describes where the action is taking place. This straightforward structure helps in conveying the intended meaning clearly.
Why does the proper name Петро remain unchanged in this sentence?
In Ukrainian, proper names like Петро are typically used in the nominative case when they function as the subject. Because Петро is already in its base form, no additional inflection or modification is necessary in a simple sentence like this.
Can the word order in this sentence be rearranged, and if so, how would that affect its meaning?
Yes, Ukrainian allows for flexible word order due to its case system. Although Петро проходить біля будинку follows the standard subject–verb–location order, rearrangements can be used to emphasize different elements. However, beginners are advised to stick with this standard order until they are more comfortable with the language’s nuances, as changing the order might shift the focus or create ambiguity.