Breakdown of Раковина знаходиться біля плити на кухні.
знаходитися
to be located
на
in
кухня
the kitchen
плита
the stove
біля
next to
раковина
the sink
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Questions & Answers about Раковина знаходиться біля плити на кухні.
Why do we use the verb знаходиться instead of simply є to say “is located”?
In Ukrainian, є (“is”) is mainly an existential verb (“there is/are”). To express where something physically sits, speakers prefer the reflexive знаходитися (“to be situated/located”). Saying Раковина є біля плити is understandable, but sounds stiff or overly formal. Раковина знаходиться біля плити is the natural way to point out its actual position.
Why is the preposition біля followed by плити (genitive), not the nominative плита?
The preposition біля always governs the genitive case. It answers the question “біля кого? / чого?” (“by/near whom? / what?”).
- плита (nominative) → плити (genitive)
Thus біля плити = “near the stove.”
Could we replace біля плити with поруч із плитою? If so, what changes?
Yes! поруч із also means “next to / alongside.” With із you pair it with the instrumental case:
- плита → плитою (instrumental)
So: Раковина знаходиться поруч із плитою. The nuance is almost identical; біля is a bit more general “near,” while поруч із stresses “right beside.”
Why is кухні in the locative case here?
The preposition на meaning “on” or “in (a general space)” can govern either the accusative (when motion toward) or the locative (when static location). Here we’re describing a static location (“in the kitchen”), so кухня (nominative) becomes кухні (locative). Thus на кухні = “in the kitchen.”
How do we know the verb is 3rd person singular?
The subject раковина is feminine singular. In Ukrainian, verbs agree with their subjects. The ending -иться in знаходиться is the standard 3rd person singular reflexive ending (він/вона знаходиться).
Where are the word stresses in this sentence?
- ракови́на (stress on the и)
- знаходи́ться (stress on the и)
- бі́ля (stress on the і)
- пли́ти (stress on the и)
- ку́хні (stress on the у)
Correct stress helps you sound more natural.