Learn Hardcore Ukrainian: Його успіх надихає всіх, хто його знає. - His success inspires everyone who knows him.

The first його functions as a possessive adjective modifying успіх (“success”), meaning “his success.” The second його serves as an object pronoun in the relative clause хто його знає (“who knows him”). Each usage is necessary: the first clarifies whose success it is, and the second specifies who is being known.

What is the grammatical function and tense of the verb надихає in this sentence?

Надихає is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb надихати, which means “to inspire.” It serves as the main verb, indicating that his success is actively inspiring everyone who knows him.

How is the relative clause хто його знає structured and how does it compare to an English relative clause?

The clause хто його знає translates as “who knows him.” In Ukrainian, хто functions as a relative pronoun that directly introduces the clause without the need for an additional word like “that” or “who” as in English. It immediately follows всіх (“all”), clarifying that the inspiration applies only to those people who know him.

Why does the Ukrainian sentence omit a linking verb, such as “is,” which we would expect in English?

Ukrainian often omits the linking verb in the present tense when the relationship between the subject and the predicate is clearly understood through case endings and word order. In this sentence, the structure and inflections make the intended meaning clear without needing a verb equivalent to “is.”

What case is used for всіх, and why is that form required in this context?

Всіх is in the accusative case (which, for animate nouns, usually mirrors the genitive plural form). It functions as the direct object of the verb надихає (“inspires”), indicating that “all” (i.e., everyone who knows him) is being inspired. The use of the correct case ensures that the grammatical relationships in the sentence are clear.