Learn Hardcore Ukrainian: У моєму серці є надія на краще майбутнє. - There is hope in my heart for a better future.

The sentence translates as “There is hope for a better future in my heart.” This conveys the idea that the speaker harbors hope deep within, looking forward to improvements ahead.

What role does “є” play in this sentence?

“Є” is an existential verb that indicates the existence of something. In this sentence, it functions much like the English “there is”, affirming the presence of hope in the speaker’s heart. Although Ukrainian often omits the verb “to be” in other situations, including “є” here is essential for clearly expressing existence.

How does the phrase “У моєму серці” function, and what case is used?

The phrase “У моєму серці” means “in my heart.” Here, the preposition “у” (meaning “in”) governs the locative case. Both “моєму” (my) and “серці” (heart) appear in the locative case, which is used to indicate location or where something is happening.

Why is the preposition “на” used in the expression “надія на краще майбутнє”?

In Ukrainian, “надія” (hope) is commonly followed by the preposition “на” to specify the object or goal of the hope. In this expression, “на” connects “надія” with “краще майбутнє” (a better future), indicating what is being hoped for. The noun phrase after “на” appears in the accusative case, which is typical for expressing target or direction in such fixed collocations.

How does the adjective “краще” agree with the noun “майбутнє” in this sentence?

The adjective “краще” is the neuter singular form of the comparative adjective meaning “better.” It agrees with “майбутнє” (future), which is a neuter noun. In Ukrainian, adjectives must match the gender, number, and case of the noun they modify. Since “майбутнє” is neuter and is used in the appropriate case after the preposition “на,” “краще” is correctly inflected to match it.

Is it common to include the verb “є” in existential sentences like this, or could it be omitted?

In existential constructions—that is, sentences designed to state that something exists—using “є” is standard in Ukrainian. While the present tense of the verb “to be” is often dropped in simple descriptive sentences, it is typically retained in expressions of existence (like “there is”) for clarity. Therefore, in “У моєму серці є надія…”, “є” is not only common but necessary to clearly assert the presence of hope.