Learn Hardcore Ukrainian: Той чоловік щасливий.

Той is a demonstrative adjective meaning "that." In Ukrainian, there are no articles like "the" or "a/an," so demonstratives are used to specify which noun is being referred to. In Той чоловік щасливий, Той tells us exactly which man is being described.

Why is there no verb equivalent to “is” in the sentence?

In Ukrainian, the present tense form of the verb “to be” is usually omitted. The sentence Той чоловік щасливий literally translates to “That man happy,” but it is understood to mean “That man is happy.” The adjective щасливий serves as the predicate without needing an explicit linking verb.

How do щасливий and чоловік agree with each other in the sentence?

In Ukrainian, adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify. Here, чоловік is a masculine singular noun in the nominative case, so the adjective щасливий appears in its masculine singular form. If the noun were feminine or plural, the adjective’s ending would adjust accordingly.

What case is чоловік in, and why is that important?

The noun чоловік is in the nominative case because it functions as the subject of the sentence. In Ukrainian, the nominative case is used to indicate the subject that performs the action or is being described, which in this case is the “man” who is happy.

Is the word order in Той чоловік щасливий fixed, or can it change without altering the meaning?

While Ukrainian allows for some flexibility in word order for emphasis or stylistic reasons, the standard order in this sentence is subject followed by the predicate adjective. Changing the order might shift the emphasis (for example, emphasizing “happy” more), but the basic meaning—that the specific man is happy—remains the same.