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Questions & Answers about Площа велика.
What does Площа mean in English?
Площа generally means area or square. The exact translation depends on context, but in this sentence it is understood as the area (for example, of a building, region, or space).
Why is there no verb equivalent to “is” in the sentence?
In Ukrainian, the present tense of the copula (the verb “to be”) is typically omitted. The structure Площа велика naturally conveys the meaning “The area is big/large” without requiring an explicit verb.
How do the noun Площа and the adjective велика agree with each other?
Both words are in the nominative case: Площа is a feminine singular noun, and велика is the corresponding feminine singular form of the adjective. This agreement in gender, number, and case is essential in Ukrainian grammar.
Why is the adjective placed after the noun in this sentence instead of before it (i.e., not «велика площа»)?
While adjectives can appear before a noun to directly modify it (forming an attributive phrase like «велика площа»), this sentence uses a predicate structure. In predicate sentences—where the adjective describes a state or quality of the noun—it is common in Ukrainian for the adjective to follow the noun, as in Площа велика.
How does the ending -а in велика function here?
The ending -а in велика marks the feminine singular nominative form of the adjective. Since Площа is a feminine noun in the nominative, the adjective takes this ending to maintain proper agreement.
Can the word order be adjusted in Ukrainian, and would that change the meaning?
Yes, Ukrainian word order is quite flexible. Although Площа велика is a standard way to state that something has a particular quality in a complete sentence, you might also see велика площа when using the adjective in an attributive phrase. The choice of order can affect the emphasis slightly but generally does not change the overall meaning.