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Questions & Answers about Проблема важка.
What does the sentence Проблема важка literally mean?
Literally, it translates to "The problem is difficult" or "The problem is serious." Проблема means problem and важка means difficult/serious.
How does the adjective важка agree with the noun Проблема in this sentence?
In Ukrainian, adjectives must agree with the nouns they describe in gender, number, and case. Since Проблема is a feminine noun in the nominative singular, its adjective takes the feminine form важка. For a masculine noun, you would use важкий, and for a neuter noun, важке.
Why is there no verb equivalent to "is" in the sentence?
Ukrainian often omits the present-tense form of the verb "to be." The sentence Проблема важка implicitly means "The problem is difficult," with is understood even though it isn’t explicitly stated.
Why don't we see an article like "the" before Проблема?
Ukrainian does not use articles such as "the" or "a/an." The meaning is deduced from context, so Проблема can represent "a problem" or "the problem" depending on the situation.
Is the word order in Проблема важка fixed, or can it be rearranged for emphasis?
While Проблема важка follows a standard subject (noun)–predicate (adjective) pattern, Ukrainian word order is flexible due to its case system. Changing the order to Важка проблема is grammatically correct, though doing so may shift the emphasis or focus of the sentence.
In what case are both Проблема and важка used in this sentence?
Both words are in the nominative case. The nominative case is used for the subject and for predicate adjectives, which is why the adjective важка properly matches Проблема in gender and number.
Does важка only mean "difficult", or can it have other meanings?
Важка (from важкий) can mean difficult, serious, or even heavy depending on the context. In this sentence, it conveys that the problem is considerable in difficulty or importance.