Breakdown of У мене є вибір між свіжою кавою і ароматним чаєм.
я
I
у
in
бути
to be
і
and
чай
the tea
кава
the coffee
свіжий
fresh
ароматний
aromatic
вибір
the choice
між
between
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Questions & Answers about У мене є вибір між свіжою кавою і ароматним чаєм.
What does У мене є literally mean, and how does it function compared to the English phrase I have?
У мене є literally translates as “at me there is” but is used to express possession, just like I have in English. This construction emphasizes the location (at the speaker) as a way to indicate that something exists or is possessed.
What role does the preposition між play in the sentence, and what case are the following nouns in?
Між means “between.” In Ukrainian, when expressing a choice between items, the nouns and their adjectives following між must be in the instrumental case. In this sentence, свіжою кавою (fresh coffee) and ароматним чаєм (aromatic tea) are both in the instrumental case.
How do the adjectives свіжою and ароматним agree with the nouns they modify?
Ukrainian adjectives must agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case. Свіжою is in the feminine instrumental form to match кавою (coffee), a feminine noun. Similarly, ароматним is in the masculine instrumental form to match чаєм (tea), a masculine noun.
What does the noun вибір mean in this sentence, and how is it structured within the statement?
The noun вибір means “choice.” It acts as the main subject or the focus of the sentence, indicating that the speaker has options available. The sentence structures this by stating that the speaker has a choice between the two alternatives provided.
Is it necessary to include є in such sentences, or can it sometimes be omitted in Ukrainian?
In Ukrainian, the present tense of the verb to be is frequently omitted in simple descriptive statements. However, in expressions of possession like У мене є, including є helps to distinctly indicate that something exists or is in the speaker’s possession. Here, є ensures clarity regarding the existence of the choice.