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Questions & Answers about Мій друг добрий.
What is the literal English translation of “Мій друг добрий.”?
It translates to My friend is kind. Notice that the present tense of “to be” (i.e. “is”) is not explicitly stated in Ukrainian.
Why is there no linking verb like “is” in the sentence?
Ukrainian, like many other Slavic languages, typically omits the present tense of the verb “to be.” The connection between the subject and its attribute is understood without the need for an explicit verb.
What does the word “Мій” mean, and how is it used here?
Мій is a possessive pronoun meaning “my.” It modifies the noun друг (friend) to show possession.
How do the adjective добрий and the noun друг agree grammatically?
The noun друг is masculine, so the adjective добрий is in the masculine singular form. This agreement in gender (and number) is essential for correct adjective usage in Ukrainian.
Can this sentence structure be applied to describe other nouns with adjectives?
Yes. In Ukrainian, when describing a noun, the adjective must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case. For example, Моя сестра розумна. means “My sister is smart,” where both моя and розумна are in the feminine singular form to match сестра.