Learn Hardcore Ukrainian: Дружба робить життя яскравішим і цікавішим. - Friendship makes life brighter and more interesting.

In Ukrainian, when expressing a change in state with verbs like робить (makes), adjectives that describe the new condition take the instrumental case. Here, яскравішим and цікавішим indicate that life becomes brighter and more interesting as a result of friendship.

How are the comparative adjectives яскравішим and цікавішим formed from their positive forms?

They are formed by taking the base adjectives—яскравий (bright) and цікавий (interesting)—and converting them into comparatives by adding the suffix -іш- (resulting in яскравіший and цікавіший). These forms are then declined into the instrumental case (яскравішим and цікавішим) to agree with the neuter noun життя (life).

How do Ukrainian comparatives differ from English comparatives?

In English, comparatives are often formed using the word more before an adjective (e.g., more interesting), especially with adjectives of two or more syllables. In Ukrainian, comparatives are usually created by adding a suffix (such as -іш-) directly to the positive form of the adjective. Moreover, Ukrainian adjectives must reflect gender, number, and case agreement, which in this sentence leads to their instrumental forms.

What role does the conjunction і play in the sentence?

The conjunction і means and. It connects the two predicate adjectives, яскравішим and цікавішим, showing that as a result of friendship, life becomes both brighter and more interesting.

What is the structure of the sentence, and how does it compare to an English sentence with a similar meaning?

The sentence follows a clear structure: Subject (Дружба) + Verb (робить) + Direct Object (життя) + Predicate Complement (яскравішим і цікавішим). This mirrors the structure of the English sentence “Friendship makes life brighter and more interesting,” where the verbs describe a change in state and the adjectives in instrumental form serve as predicates complementing the direct object.

Why does життя remain unchanged in form, while the adjectives display instrumental endings?

Життя (life) is a neuter noun, and in Ukrainian the accusative form of neuter nouns is identical to the nominative form. As the object of робить, its form doesn’t change. The adjectives, however, are required to show the change in state and agree with the construction, so they appear in the instrumental case.