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Questions & Answers about Парк живий.
Why is there no verb like is in the sentence Парк живий.?
In Ukrainian, the present tense of the linking verb to be is typically omitted. The sentence is complete with an understood “is”—so Парк живий means “The park is alive.”
What does the adjective живий mean and how does it function in this sentence?
The adjective живий means “alive” or “lively.” In this sentence, it serves as a predicate adjective describing the subject Парк. Ukrainian uses predicate adjectives without an explicit copula (linking verb) in the present tense.
How do we know that живий is correctly formed to describe Парк?
The noun Парк is masculine singular in the nominative case. The adjective живий is also in the masculine singular nominative form, showing proper agreement in gender and number—an essential aspect of Ukrainian grammar.
Can the word order be changed in Ukrainian, for example, saying Живий парк instead of Парк живий? What difference does that make?
Ukrainian word order is relatively flexible, but the position of words can influence the nuance. Парк живий is a full predicate sentence (meaning “The park is alive.”), while Живий парк would generally be interpreted as a noun phrase meaning “a lively park.” The difference lies in whether the adjective functions as part of a predicate or as a modifier within a noun phrase.
Is omitting the linking verb in the present tense a common feature in Ukrainian?
Yes, omitting the present-tense form of the verb to be is a standard feature in Ukrainian (and several other Slavic languages). This omission is grammatically correct and is used in both spoken and written language when the context makes the meaning clear.