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Questions & Answers about Вечір пізній.
Why doesn’t the sentence include a verb like “is”?
In Ukrainian, the present tense of the linking verb “to be” is typically omitted. Although in English you say “The evening is late,” in Ukrainian the meaning is implied without using an explicit verb, making the construction both natural and grammatically correct.
What role does the word пізній play, and why does it come after вечір?
Пізній is an adjective meaning “late,” and it functions as the predicate adjective describing the subject вечір (“evening”). In Ukrainian, especially in statements where the linking verb is omitted, the adjective often follows the noun it describes.
How do the noun вечір and the adjective пізній agree grammatically?
The noun вечір is masculine singular, so the adjective пізній is in its masculine singular form as well. This agreement in gender and number is essential in Ukrainian grammar to ensure that the adjective correctly matches the noun.
Should a dash be used between вечір and пізній in this sentence?
A dash can be used in Ukrainian nominal sentences to clarify the relationship between the subject and the predicate, such as writing “Вечір – пізній.” However, in short or casual contexts the dash is often omitted without affecting clarity, so both forms are acceptable.
Is “Вечір пізній” considered a complete sentence even though it appears very brief?
Yes, it is a complete sentence. Despite its brevity and the absence of an explicit linking verb, the sentence clearly conveys a full idea (“The evening is late”) by using a subject and a predicate adjective in a manner typical of Ukrainian sentence construction.