Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Ukrainian grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Я можу взяти виделку.
What does можу mean and where does it come from?
можу means “I can” or “I’m able to.” It’s the 1st person singular present tense of the verb могти (to be able).
Why is the verb взяти used instead of брати?
взяти is the perfective form meaning “to take” with an emphasis on completing the action once.
брати is the imperfective form meaning “to take” in a general, habitual, or ongoing sense.
So Я можу взяти виделку implies “I can take the fork (right now, as a single action).”
What case is виделку, and why does it change from виделка?
виделка is a feminine noun. In the accusative singular (direct object) for inanimate feminine nouns ending in -а, the ending changes to -у:
nominative виделка → accusative виделку.
Can you omit the pronoun Я in this sentence? If so, why?
Yes. Ukrainian is a pro-drop language, so you can say Можу взяти виделку without Я. The verb ending -у already signals 1st person singular.
How would you make this into a question: “Can I take the fork?”
You can add чи at the beginning or use intonation:
– Чи можу я взяти виделку?
– Можу я взяти виделку?
Both are correct and mean “Can I take the fork?”
Where does the stress fall in взяти and виделку?
In взяти, the stress is on the second syllable: взя́ти.
In виделку, the stress is on the last syllable: виделку́.
Could you change the word order? For example, Можу виделку взяти?
Yes, Ukrainian word order is relatively flexible. Можу виделку взяти is grammatically correct, but the neutral, most common order is Я можу взяти виделку (subject–verb–object). Changing the order can add emphasis (e.g., stressing виделку).