Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Ukrainian grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Я йду між будинком і парком.
What is the role of the preposition між in this sentence, and why do the following nouns appear in the instrumental case?
Між means “between” and is used to show a relationship involving spatial separation. In Ukrainian, when you use між, the nouns that follow must be in the instrumental case. That’s why будинком (from будинок) and парком (from парк) take the instrumental endings.
Why is the verb йду used here instead of їду?
The verb йду is used when referring to going on foot or walking. In contrast, їду is used when you’re traveling by a vehicle (like a car or bus). Since the sentence means “I am walking between the building and the park,” йду is the appropriate choice.
Is it necessary to include the subject Я even though the verb is already conjugated?
Including Я is optional in Ukrainian because the verb’s conjugation already indicates the subject. However, beginners often include the subject for clarity, and it can also be used for emphasis. In this sentence, Я unambiguously tells us who is performing the action.
Can the order of the nouns in the phrase be reversed, for example saying "між парком і будинком" instead of "між будинком і парком"?
Yes, Ukrainian has flexible word order. You could say "Я йду між парком і будинком," and the overall meaning wouldn’t change. The choice of order might shift emphasis slightly, but both versions are grammatically correct.
How do you form the instrumental case for masculine singular nouns like будинок and парк?
For many masculine singular nouns in Ukrainian, you form the instrumental case by adding the ending -ом. Thus, будинок becomes будинком and парк becomes парком. Note that not every noun follows this pattern exactly; some have irregular endings based on their declension class.
Why doesn’t the sentence include articles such as “the,” even though English does?
Ukrainian does not use articles like “the” or “a.” Nouns in Ukrainian stand alone without these extra words, so while English requires an article for clarity or specificity, Ukrainian grammar conveys that meaning through context and case markings instead.