Learn Hardcore Ukrainian: Вихід із метро знаходиться поруч із супермаркетом. - The exit from the subway is located next to the supermarket.

The first із (in вихід із метро) is the basic preposition “from” and takes the genitive case. The second із (in поруч із супермаркетом) is part of the composite phrase поруч із meaning “next to,” and it governs the instrumental. So, although they look the same, one is “from”+genitive, the other is “next to”+instrumental.

Why doesn’t метро change form? Shouldn’t it have a genitive like метра?

метро is an indeclinable neuter noun in Ukrainian (borrowed from French), which means it keeps the same form in all cases—nominative, genitive, etc.

Which case is супермаркетом, and why is it not супермаркету?

The ending -ом in супермаркетом marks the instrumental singular of a masculine noun. We use the instrumental here because поруч із requires the instrumental. If you used біля, you’d switch to the genitive (біля супермаркету).

Why do we need із after поруч, and what exactly is the role of поруч із?

поруч by itself is just an adverb (“nearby”). To link it to a noun you add із, forming поруч із + [instrumental], which functions like a prepositional phrase: поруч із супермаркетом = “next to the supermarket.”

Can you replace поруч із супермаркетом with біля супермаркету? Will the case change?

Yes. біля also means “near/by,” but it takes the genitive: біля супермаркету. The meaning is the same, though біля is often more colloquial.

What’s the difference between знаходити and знаходитися, and why is the reflexive form used here?

знаходити is a transitive verb meaning “to find.” Adding -ся (making знаходитися) turns it into “to be located” or “to lie (somewhere).” We use the reflexive here to describe the location of вихід, not the action of finding it.

What is the grammatical subject of this sentence, and how does it affect the verb form?

The subject is Вихід (“exit”). Since вихід is singular, the verb is in the 3rd person singular form: знаходиться.

Can I change the word order for emphasis, for example: Поруч із супермаркетом знаходиться вихід із метро?

Yes. Ukrainian allows flexible word order. Fronting поруч із супермаркетом shifts the focus to “next to the supermarket,” but the basic meaning remains unchanged.

Could we say з метро instead of із метро? Are both correct?

Yes. з and із are two forms of the same preposition “from.” із is the euphonic variant used before certain consonant clusters or simply for style; з метро is also perfectly acceptable.

How would you turn this statement into the question “Where is the exit from the metro?”

You can ask Де вихід із метро? for a concise form, or Де знаходиться вихід із метро? if you want to use the full verb. Both are correct and common.