Breakdown of Я працюю важко, щоб досягти успіху.
я
I
працювати
to work
щоб
in order to
важко
hard
досягти
to achieve
успіх
the success
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Questions & Answers about Я працюю важко, щоб досягти успіху.
What is the function of щоб in this sentence?
Щоб serves as a subordinating conjunction that introduces a purpose clause. In this sentence, it is equivalent to “in order to” in English, explaining the goal behind the action described in the main clause.
Why is there a comma before щоб?
The comma is used to separate the main clause (Я працюю важко) from the purpose clause (щоб досягти успіху). This punctuation clarifies the sentence structure by indicating that the second part explains the purpose of the action in the first part.
How does the structure of the purpose clause досягти успіху work, and why is успіху in that particular form?
In the purpose clause, досягти is the infinitive form of the verb meaning “to achieve” or “to reach,” while успіху (the genitive form of успіх) means “success.” In Ukrainian, certain verbs like досягти often require their objects to be in the genitive case when referring abstractly to outcomes or achievements. This construction emphasizes that the action of working hard is directed toward attaining success.
What can we learn about verb aspects from працюю and досягти in this sentence?
Працюю is in the present tense and represents the ongoing or habitual action of working hard; it is in the imperfective aspect, highlighting continuous effort. In contrast, досягти is in the infinitive form of the perfective aspect, implying a completed or definitive goal. This contrast underscores that while the speaker is continuously working hard, the aim is to eventually complete or attain success.
What role does the adverb важко play in the sentence?
The adverb важко modifies the verb працюю by describing the manner in which the speaker works. It translates to “hard” in the sense of “with great effort” or “diligently,” emphasizing the intensity and perseverance involved in the work.
How does the overall sentence structure in Ukrainian compare to similar purpose-expressing sentences in English?
The structure is quite similar. The sentence begins with a main clause (Я працюю важко) followed by a purpose clause introduced by щоб. This is akin to the English construction “I work hard, in order to achieve success,” where the purpose clause explains the reason behind the main action. The key difference is that Ukrainian uses щоб to directly signal purpose, and some grammatical elements (like case marking on успіху) are specific to Ukrainian.