Learn Hardcore Ukrainian: Фотографії з подорожі зберігають спогади, які мені дорогі. - Photographs from the trip preserve memories that are dear to me.

The sentence can be divided into three parts. The subject is "Фотографії з подорожі" (photographs from the trip), the predicate is "зберігають спогади" (preserve memories), and the relative clause is "які мені дорогі" (which are dear to me). Altogether, it means that the photos from the trip preserve (or hold) memories that are especially cherished by the speaker.

Why is the phrase "з подорожі" used, and why is "подорожі" in that particular form?

The phrase "з подорожі" translates to "from the trip" or "from travel." The preposition "з" (meaning "from") requires the noun to be in the genitive case. Here, "подорож" (trip/journey) takes its genitive form "подорожі," indicating the source or origin of the photographs.

How is the verb "зберігають" conjugated in this sentence, and what does its form indicate about the subject?

"Зберігають" is the third person plural present tense form of the verb "зберігати," which means "to preserve" or "to keep." Its plural form matches the plural subject "Фотографії" (photographs), ensuring subject-verb agreement.

What role does the relative pronoun "які" play in the sentence?

"Які" serves as a relative pronoun equivalent to "which" or "that" in English. It introduces the relative clause "які мені дорогі," providing more information about the noun "спогади" (memories). The pronoun also agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies.

Why is the word "мені" used in the sentence instead of a nominative form, and what does it express?

"Менi" is the dative form of "я" (me). In Ukrainian, adjectives like "дорогі" (dear) often take a dative complement to indicate to whom something is dear. Thus, "мені" specifies that the memories hold a special value for the speaker, meaning "dear to me."

How does the word order in the relative clause "які мені дорогі" compare to English, and does it affect the meaning?

While English might typically say "memories that are dear to me," Ukrainian structures the clause as "які мені дорогі" placing the dative "мені" (to me) before the adjective "дорогі" (dear). This order is natural in Ukrainian; it underlines the personal significance of the memories without changing the overall meaning.