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Questions & Answers about Я не знаю, скільки це коштує.
Why isn’t there a question mark at the end of Я не знаю, скільки це коштує?
Because this is an indirect (embedded) question. The main clause Я не знаю is declarative, and the subordinate clause скільки це коштує is treated as part of that statement. In Ukrainian, indirect questions use a comma and end with a period, not a question mark.
What part of speech is скільки, and why doesn’t it change form?
Скільки is an indeclinable interrogative pronoun/adverb meaning “how much” or “how many.” It asks about quantity and never changes its form for gender, number, or case.
Why is це included, and can I drop it?
Це is the neuter demonstrative pronoun “this/it,” acting as the subject of коштує. You can’t omit it unless the thing you’re asking about is already clear from context or replaced by a noun (e.g., скільки коштує ця сукня – “how much that dress costs”). Without це or another subject, the sentence feels incomplete.
What is коштує, and what tense/aspect/person does it represent?
Коштує is the 3rd person singular present-tense form of the imperfective verb коштувати (“to cost”). It literally means “it costs.” If you wanted to speak of the future cost, you’d use the future tense with an auxiliary: скільки це буде коштувати (“how much this will cost”).
Why is the word order скільки це коштує rather than скільки коштує це?
In Ukrainian neutral word order, the subject (це) typically precedes the verb (коштує). Placing це before the verb sounds more natural. You could say скільки коштує це, but it feels marked or emphatic.
Is the comma before скільки mandatory?
Yes. You always separate the main clause from a subordinate clause introduced by скільки (or any other interrogative conjunction) with a comma in Ukrainian.
Can I drop я and just say Не знаю, скільки це коштує?
Absolutely. In colloquial and even written Ukrainian, dropping the subject pronoun я is common when the meaning remains clear. Both versions are correct.