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Questions & Answers about Моя подушка м’яка і зручна.
Why is there no to be verb in the sentence?
In Ukrainian the present-tense copula є (to be) is usually omitted. Therefore instead of Моя подушка є м’яка we simply say Моя подушка м’яка.
Why is the possessive pronoun моя used here?
Possessive pronouns in Ukrainian must agree with their nouns in gender, number, and case. Подушка is feminine singular nominative, so the pronoun is моя. For masculine singular you use мій, for neuter моє, and for plural мої.
How do the adjectives м’яка and зручна agree with подушка?
Adjectives must match the noun’s gender, number, and case. Since подушка is feminine singular nominative, both adjectives take the feminine singular nominative ending -а. Their masculine (dictionary) forms are м’який and зручний.
What is the function of the apostrophe in м’яка?
The apostrophe prevents palatalization of the preceding consonant and signals that я is pronounced /ja/. Ukrainian uses an apostrophe after certain consonants like б, п, в, м, ф, г, к when they are followed by я, ю, є, ї.
Why is the conjunction і used instead of й before зручна?
The coordinating conjunction for and is normally і, but it changes to й only when the next word begins with a vowel sound. Since зручна begins with a consonant, we keep і.
How do you pronounce м’яка and зручна, and where is the stress?
м’яка is pronounced [ˈmʲɑ.kɑ] with stress on the first syllable (m’YA-ka).
зручна is pronounced [ˈzru.t͡ʃnɑ] with stress on the first syllable (ZRUCH-na).
What are the dictionary forms (nominative masculine) of these adjectives?
The dictionary forms are м’який (soft) and зручний (comfortable). From these masculine forms you derive the feminine м’яка, зручна by replacing -ий with -а, and you also get neuter and plural forms as needed.
How would you ask Is my pillow soft and comfortable?
You can place the question particle Чи at the beginning:
Чи моя подушка м’яка і зручна?
Alternatively, keep the same word order and use rising intonation:
Моя подушка м’яка і зручна?