Learn Hardcore Ukrainian: Петро фахівець.

In Ukrainian, the present-tense form of the verb “to be” is typically omitted. This “zero-copula” means that the sentence naturally links the subject and the predicate (in this case, “Петро” and “фахівець”) without an explicit verb like “is.”

What does the sentence "Петро фахівець" mean in English?

It translates to "Petro is a specialist" (or "Petro is an expert"). The meaning is the same as in English; only the linking verb “is” is left out since it’s understood in Ukrainian.

Which grammatical cases are used for "Петро" and "фахівець," and why?

Both "Петро" and "фахівець" are in the nominative case. In Ukrainian, when a sentence declares an identity or attribute without a linking verb, both the subject and the predicate noun stay in the nominative.

How does the omission of the copula in Ukrainian affect sentence structure compared to English?

English requires an explicit verb (“is”) to link the subject and the predicate, while Ukrainian omits this verb in present-tense nominal sentences. This creates a more concise structure that still clearly communicates the relationship between the subject and its attribute.

Why are there no articles (like “a” or “an”) in the sentence?

Ukrainian does not use articles at all. Instead, definiteness or indefiniteness is inferred from context, so there’s no need for extra words equivalent to English articles.