Він запакував ручку в коробку.

Breakdown of Він запакував ручку в коробку.

в
in
ручка
the pen
він
he
запакувати
to pack
коробка
the box
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Questions & Answers about Він запакував ручку в коробку.

Why is запакував used instead of пакував?

Ukrainian verbs have aspect:
пакував is imperfective (ongoing or habitual action)
запакував is perfective (completed action)
Since this sentence refers to a single, finished action – he packed it up – we choose the perfective запакував.

What’s the difference between запакував and упакував?

Both can mean packed, but:
упакувати often focuses on placing something into packaging (e.g., a box or bag)
запакувати usually emphasizes completing or sealing the packing
In everyday speech they overlap, though запакував suggests a thorough or finished packing.

Why is ручку in the form ручку instead of ручка?

ручка is a feminine noun ending in –а
• In the accusative singular (direct object) feminine nouns drop –а and take –у
So ручкаручку to mark the pen as what was packed.

Why is the preposition в used with коробку, and why is коробку in accusative?

в + accusative = movement into something
коробка (feminine) in the accusative singular becomes коробку
Hence в коробку means into the box
(If you wanted to say “in the box” without movement, use the locative case: в коробці.)

Why does the sentence begin with Він? Is it necessary?

Ukrainian is a pro-drop language:
• The verb form запакував already implies “he”
• You can omit він and say Запакував ручку в коробку
• Including він adds clarity or emphasis on the subject

Could we change the word order? For example, Він ручку запакував в коробку?

Word order in Ukrainian is flexible:
Він запакував ручку в коробку – neutral S-V-O-Adv
Він ручку запакував в коробку – emphasizes ручку (“it’s the pen that he packed…”)
Запакував він ручку в коробку – can stress the action itself or contrast
All these variations are grammatically correct; shifting elements changes focus.

How do you pronounce запакував? Where is the stress?
запакував is pronounced [za-pa-KU-vav], with the stress on the ку syllable (the third from the start).