Мені приносить задоволення читати книги.

It gives me pleasure to read books.

Breakdown of Мені приносить задоволення читати книги.

• читати: to read
• книга: the book
• мені: me
• приносити: to bring
• задоволення: the pleasure

Questions & Answers about Мені приносить задоволення читати книги.

What does the sentence “Мені приносить задоволення читати книги.” mean in English?

It translates to “Reading books gives me pleasure.” The sentence expresses that the activity of reading books makes the speaker feel pleasure.

Why is the pronoun “Мені” used in the dative case instead of the nominative?

In Ukrainian, when expressing feelings or experiences that affect someone, the person is indicated in the dative case. “Мені” means “to me”, showing that pleasure is being experienced by the speaker rather than simply being a characteristic of the subject.

What role does the infinitive phrase “читати книги” play in the sentence?

The infinitive phrase “читати книги” serves as the subject of the sentence. It describes the activity that brings pleasure, similar to how in English we say “Reading books gives me pleasure.” Even though it appears at the end, it is the focus that the verb “приносить” (brings) relates to.

Why is the verb “приносить” in the third person singular form even though there is no clear subject in the nominative case?

In Ukrainian, when the subject is expressed by an infinitive phrase like “читати книги”, the verb is used in an impersonal or general form. This construction emphasizes the action itself rather than a specific doer, much like some impersonal expressions in English.

Can the sentence be reorganized without changing its meaning?

Yes, the sentence could be rearranged for different emphasis. For example, “Читати книги приносить мені задоволення.” maintains the same meaning, while placing the subject “читати книги” at the beginning to highlight the activity.