Learn Hardcore Ukrainian: Я встановив новий будильник, щоб прокидатися завжди вчасно. - I set a new alarm clock so that I always wake up on time.

The verb встановив (meaning set up or installed) is in the perfective aspect because it denotes a completed action. The speaker indicates that the action of setting the new alarm clock has been successfully finished.

Why is the verb прокидатися in the imperfective form instead of using a perfective verb like прокинутися?

Прокидатися is in the imperfective aspect to express a habitual or repeated action—waking up on time is meant to be a regular occurrence. Using the perfective прокинутися would imply a single, completed instance rather than an ongoing habit.

What role does the conjunction щоб play in this sentence?

The conjunction щоб introduces a purpose clause, similar to “so that” or “in order to” in English. It explains why the main action (setting up the alarm clock) was carried out.

Why is there a comma before щоб in the sentence?

A comma is placed before щоб because it signals the beginning of a subordinate clause that explains the purpose. This punctuation rule helps to clearly separate the main clause from the subordinate clause.

How do the adjective новий and the noun будильник agree with each other?

In Ukrainian, adjectives must agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case. Here, новий is masculine singular in the nominative case, matching perfectly with будильник (which is also masculine singular and in the nominative), ensuring grammatical consistency.

What changes should be made to the sentence if the speaker is female?

If the speaker is female, the past tense verb must agree with her gender. Instead of встановив, a female speaker would say встановила. The rest of the sentence remains unchanged.

What is the function of the adverbs завжди and вчасно, and can their order be altered?

Завжди means “always” and indicates frequency, while вчасно means “on time” and describes the manner in which the action is performed. Together, they emphasize a habitual and punctual routine. Although Ukrainian word order can be flexible, changing the order might subtly shift the emphasis. In this sentence, the placement effectively sets the expectation that waking up punctually is a constant habit.