Learn Hardcore Ukrainian: Слухаючи поради майстра, я навчився правильно використовувати інструменти. - By listening to the craftsman's advice, I learned to use tools correctly.

Слухаючи is an adverbial participle (дієприслівник) derived from the verb слухати (“to listen”). It means “while listening” and sets the time frame or condition under which the main action (learning) takes place, similar to saying “by listening” or “while listening.”

Why is there a comma after Слухаючи поради майстра?

The comma is used to separate the introductory adverbial participle phrase from the main clause. This punctuation clarifies that Слухаючи поради майстра (“while listening to the master’s advice”) provides background information or context for the main action in the sentence.

What case is used for поради and майстра, and what do they indicate?

In this phrase, поради is in the accusative case (as the object of the implied action of listening), while майстра is in the genitive case, showing possession. This construction indicates that the advice belongs to the master, i.e., it is the master’s advice.

How does the reflexive verb навчився function in the sentence?

Навчився is the past tense, perfective form of the reflexive verb навчитися, meaning “learned” or “acquired a skill.” The reflexive ending emphasizes that the subject (я – “I”) has successfully mastered something, and the perfective aspect indicates that the learning process was completed.

What does правильно використовувати інструменти tell us about what was learned?

The phrase правильно використовувати інструменти means “to use tools correctly.” Here, правильно (correctly) is an adverb modifying використовувати (to use), specifying that the speaker not only learned how to use tools but learned to do so in the proper or correct manner.

How is the sentence structured in terms of clauses, and what overall meaning does it convey?

The sentence is structured with an introductory adverbial participial phrase (Слухаючи поради майстра) followed by the main clause (я навчився правильно використовувати інструменти). This structure indicates that by listening to the master’s advice, the speaker learned to use tools correctly. The participial phrase sets up the condition under which the learning occurred.