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Questions & Answers about У кімнаті є телевізор.
What is the function of є in the sentence У кімнаті є телевізор?
Є is the present-tense form of the verb бути (to be) used in existential sentences. It corresponds to English there is/there are, showing that something exists or is present in a place.
Can we omit є here or in other present-tense sentences?
In regular identity or descriptive statements, Ukrainian often drops є (e.g., Я студент – “I am a student”). In existential sentences you can sometimes omit it colloquially (У кімнаті телевізор), but the standard, clearer form uses є: У кімнаті є телевізор.
Why is кімната in the form кімнаті (ending with -і)?
After the preposition у/в to indicate location, Ukrainian nouns take the locative case (also called prepositional). For the feminine noun кімната, the singular locative ending is -і, so кімната → кімнаті.
Why do we use the preposition у instead of в before кімнаті?
Ukrainian prefers в before words beginning with a vowel and у before words beginning with most consonants for euphony. Since кімнаті starts with к, we say у кімнаті. Both prepositions mean “in,” but you choose according to the following sound.
Why is there no word for a or the before телевізор, unlike English?
Ukrainian has no articles. Definiteness or indefiniteness is inferred from context. Thus У кімнаті є телевізор can mean “there’s a television in the room” or “the television is in the room,” depending on what you already know.
Is the word order fixed? Could we say Телевізор є у кімнаті?
Ukrainian word order is fairly flexible. Телевізор є у кімнаті is grammatically correct but shifts emphasis to телевізор. The most neutral existential structure places the locative phrase first: У кімнаті є телевізор.
How would you say “there is no television in the room”?
To express absence, use немає plus the genitive case. For example: У кімнаті немає телевізора or Телевізора в кімнаті немає. Note телевізор changes to телевізора after немає.