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Questions & Answers about Робота вимагає часу.
What is the grammatical function of часу in this sentence, and why is it in the genitive case?
In the sentence Робота вимагає часу, часу acts as the object of the verb вимагає. In Ukrainian, certain verbs—like вимагати (“to demand” or “to require”)—often require their object to be in the genitive case instead of the accusative. This construction shows that work inherently demands or takes up time.
How is the verb вимагає conjugated, and what does its form tell us about the subject?
The verb вимагає is the third person singular present tense form of the infinitive вимагати. This agrees with the subject робота, which is a singular noun. The conjugation confirms that the statement is about a singular entity—“work” or “a job” in this case—demanding or requiring time.
Why is робота used as the subject, and what does its form indicate regarding gender and number?
Робота is in the nominative case, serving as the subject of the sentence. Its ending (‑а) typically indicates that it is a feminine singular noun in Ukrainian. This not only aligns with the expected word order but also explains the verb form used, as the third person singular form is appropriate for a feminine singular subject.
Does the sentence follow a typical Ukrainian word order, and can it be rearranged without changing the meaning?
Yes, Робота вимагає часу follows the standard Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) word order common in Ukrainian. While Ukrainian allows for flexible word order for emphasis or stylistic reasons, this straightforward SVO construction clearly conveys that work demands time. Rearranging the elements might change the focus or rhythm of the sentence but not the core meaning.
Is there any nuance between using вимагає and similar verbs like потребує when expressing that work needs time?
Although both вимагає and потребує can be used to describe a need, вимагає tends to emphasize the notion of an active demand or a strict requirement, suggesting that work not only needs time but actively exerts that demand. On the other hand, потребує might be seen as a more neutral expression of need. In this sentence, the choice of вимагає underscores the idea that work imposes certain time constraints or obligations.