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Questions & Answers about Я можу обмінювати валюту.
What does можу mean and how is it used in this sentence?
The word можу is the first-person singular present tense of the verb могти (“to be able to”). It functions like “I can” or “I am able to” in English, and it’s always followed by an infinitive verb to express ability or permission.
Why is the verb обмінювати in the infinitive, and what aspect does it convey?
Обмінювати is the imperfective infinitive of the verb “to exchange.” The imperfective aspect indicates an ongoing, habitual, or general action. Here it means you have the ability to perform currency exchanges in general (or repeatedly), rather than emphasizing a single completed transaction.
What’s the difference between using обмінювати валюту (imperfective) versus обміняти валюту (perfective)?
Обмінювати валюту (imperfective) focuses on the process or general ability: “I can exchange currency (as needed).” Обміняти валюту (perfective) refers to completing the action once: “I can carry out the currency exchange.” Use the perfective when you want to highlight that the exchange will be done to completion on a particular occasion.
Why is валюту in the accusative case?
Both обмінювати and обміняти are transitive verbs that take a direct object in the accusative case. Валюта is a feminine noun; its accusative singular form is валюту, marking “currency” as the thing being exchanged.
Can the subject pronoun я be omitted in this sentence?
Yes. Ukrainian verb endings indicate person and number, so the pronoun я (“I”) is often dropped. You can simply say Можу обмінювати валюту, and it still means “I can exchange currency.”
How would you ask “Can I exchange currency here?”
One option is: Чи можу я обмінювати валюту тут?
If you want to refer to a single transaction, use the perfective: Чи можу я тут обміняти валюту?
Where is the stress placed in обмінювати and валюту?
In обмінювати, the stress is on the second syllable: ob-MI-nyu-va-ty.
In валюту, the stress is on the second syllable as well: va-LYU-tu.
Can you use the verb міняти instead of обмінювати, and is there any nuance?
Yes. Міняти валюту is a common colloquial alternative to обмінювати валюту. Both mean “to exchange currency” and take the accusative case. Обмінювати is slightly more formal or neutral, while міняти sounds more conversational.
How do you say “I can exchange currencies” when referring to multiple types?
Use the plural noun form: Я можу обмінювати валюти (imperfective) or Я можу обміняти валюти (perfective). Here валюти is the accusative plural of валюта, meaning “currencies.”