Breakdown of Петро слухає музику, бо музика робить його щасливим.
Петро
Petro
щасливий
happy
музика
the music
робити
to make
слухати
to listen
його
him
бо
because
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Questions & Answers about Петро слухає музику, бо музика робить його щасливим.
What is the overall sentence structure, and how does it compare with English word order?
The sentence is divided into two clauses: Петро слухає музику (“Peter listens to music”) and музика робить його щасливим (“music makes him happy”). They are separated by a comma and joined by the conjunction бо (“because”). Each clause follows a subject-verb-object pattern, much like in English, though Ukrainian word order can be more flexible in other contexts.
Why is there a comma placed before бо in this sentence?
The comma separates the two clauses. In Ukrainian, when a clause is introduced by a conjunction like бо (because) that connects a reason to a main statement, it is standard practice to place a comma before the conjunction. This helps clarify the sentence’s structure by highlighting the division between the two independent ideas.
What role does the conjunction бо play in the sentence?
Бо functions as a subordinating conjunction meaning because. It introduces the cause or reason behind the information in the first clause—that is, it explains why Peter listens to music by attributing it to the fact that music makes him happy.
Why is the adjective щасливим used in the instrumental case?
In Ukrainian, adjectives that act as predicate complements following verbs like робить (makes) are typically in the instrumental case. The instrumental щасливим (happy) describes the state or condition that Peter is brought into by the action of music, thus providing the result of that action.
How does the word музика function differently in the two clauses?
In the first clause (Петро слухає музику), музика is the object of the verb слухає (listens to). In the second clause (музика робить його щасливим), музика becomes the subject of its clause, performing the action of making him happy. This repetition emphasizes music’s dual role in the sentence.
What is the form of the verb слухає and what does it tell us about the subject?
Слухає is the third person singular present tense form of the verb слухати (“to listen”). It agrees with the subject Петро (Peter), indicating that he is currently in the process of listening to music.