Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Ukrainian grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Я працюю довше.
What is the grammatical role of довше in the sentence "Я працюю довше."?
Довше is an adverb modifying the verb працюю. It expresses the comparative degree—meaning "longer"—and tells us how the action is performed, implying that the speaker works for a longer duration than some other reference point.
How is the comparative form constructed in this sentence?
In Ukrainian, many adverbs form their comparative by adding the suffix -ше. The base adverb "довго" (meaning "for a long time") becomes "довше" to indicate a higher degree—in this case, "longer"—similar to how English adds "-er" (as in "longer").
Does the sentence imply a comparison even though it doesn’t explicitly state what it’s compared to?
Yes, it does. Even without an explicit comparison, the use of the comparative adverb довше implies that the speaker’s working time is longer relative to another period or someone else’s. The standard of comparison is assumed or provided by context.
How can you make the comparison explicit in Ukrainian?
You can expand the sentence by adding a comparative phrase. For example, "Я працюю довше, ніж ти." translates to "I work longer than you," clearly stating the reference for the comparison.
What is the word-by-word breakdown and literal translation of the sentence?
Я means "I," працюю means "work" (first person singular, present tense), and довше means "longer." Together, they form the sentence "I work longer."
What verb tense is used in "Я працюю довше." and what does it indicate?
The verb працюю is in the present tense, first person singular. This indicates that the statement refers to a current or habitual action—namely, that the speaker works for an extended period compared to some usual or expected duration.