Learn Hardcore Ukrainian: Мені потрібна підтримка друзів у важкі часи. - I need the support of friends in difficult times.

In Ukrainian expressions of need, the person who experiences the need is put in the dative case. Here, Мені means “to me” and shows that the speaker is the one requiring support. This impersonal construction—essentially “to me [is] needed…”—is common, even though its English equivalent is “I need support.”

Why is the adjective потрібна in its feminine form?

The adjective must agree with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case. Since підтримка (support) is a feminine noun in Ukrainian, the adjective takes the feminine form потрібна, ensuring proper agreement within the sentence.

Why is друзів in the genitive plural form?

Друзів is in the genitive plural to indicate a possessive or partitive relationship, much like saying “support of friends” in English. The genitive case is used in Ukrainian to show that the support comes from or belongs to friends.

What role does the phrase у важкі часи play in the sentence?

The phrase у важкі часи functions as a temporal modifier, specifying the circumstances under which the support is needed—that is, “in difficult times.” The preposition у means “in,” and важкі часи translates to “difficult times,” adding clear context to the need expressed.

Why is there no explicit verb like “to be” in the sentence?

In Ukrainian, the present-tense form of the copula (such as є for “is”) is often omitted in simple statements. Although English usually requires a form of “to be,” the structure Мені потрібна підтримка друзів у важкі часи is complete and grammatically correct without an explicit verb.

Is it possible to change the word order in this sentence without altering its meaning?

Yes, Ukrainian allows for relatively free word order. While the given sentence places the dative pronoun at the beginning for clarity and emphasis, rearranging the elements can adjust the nuance or focus without fundamentally changing the meaning.