Петро запалює надію у матері.

Petro ignites hope in his mother.

Breakdown of Петро запалює надію у матері.

• Петро: Petro
• у: in
• мати: the mother
• надія: the hope
• запалювати: to ignite

Questions & Answers about Петро запалює надію у матері.

What is the literal translation of the sentence "Петро запалює надію у матері"?

The sentence translates as "Petro instills (or kindles) hope in his mother." It tells us that Petro is actively igniting or sparking hope within his mother.

What does the verb запалює mean, and how is it used figuratively in this sentence?

The verb запалює comes from запалювати, which literally means "to light" or "to ignite." In a figurative sense, as used here, it means "to instill" or "to spark" hope—suggesting that Petro’s actions bring about a renewed sense of optimism in his mother.

Why is надію in the accusative case, and what is its role in the sentence?

Надію is the direct object of the verb запалює. In Ukrainian, the direct object of an action is placed in the accusative case. This shows that hope is the entity being affected by Petro’s action.

What is the role of the phrase у матері, and what case is implied by it?

The phrase у матері indicates the beneficiary or the target of the action—it tells us in whom the hope is being kindled. The preposition у (meaning "in") is used with матері, which is the form of мати you find in prepositional contexts. Thus, it functions to mark the indirect object, showing that Petro’s action has an effect on his mother.

Why isn’t there a possessive adjective (like "his") before матері?

In Ukrainian, it is common practice to omit explicit possessive adjectives when family relationships are clear from context. Since Петро is the subject of the sentence, it is understood that мати refers to his mother. Adding a possessive like "його" is optional and not required for understanding.

Is the word order in this sentence flexible, and could it be rearranged without changing the meaning?

Yes, Ukrainian’s rich case system allows for a flexible word order. The standard order here is Subject – Verb – Direct Object – Prepositional Phrase, which is Петро запалює надію у матері. Rearranging the elements—for example, placing у матері before надію—might shift the emphasis slightly, but thanks to the case markings, the overall meaning remains clear.