Я знайшов зубну щітку під раковиною.

I found the toothbrush under the sink.

Breakdown of Я знайшов зубну щітку під раковиною.

• я: I
• знайти: to find
• раковина: the sink
• під: under
• зубна щітка: the toothbrush

Questions & Answers about Я знайшов зубну щітку під раковиною.

Which case is зубну щітку in and why is this case used here?

Зубну щітку is in the accusative singular. In Ukrainian, the accusative case marks the direct object of an action—and here зубна щітка (“toothbrush”) is what was found, so it takes accusative.

How do you form the accusative singular of feminine nouns like зубна щітка?

Feminine nouns ending in -а or -я typically replace that ending with -у or -ю in the accusative.
Example:
• зубна щітка → зубну щітку

Which case is раковиною in, and why is this case used after під?

Раковиною is in the instrumental singular. After the preposition під to indicate a static location (“under something”), Ukrainian uses the instrumental case.

How do you form the instrumental singular of feminine nouns like раковина?

Feminine nouns ending in -а usually change to -ою (or -ею after certain consonants) in the instrumental:
• раковина → раковиною

What is the aspect and tense of знайшов, and why is it in this form?

Знайшов is the past tense, perfective form of знайти (“to find”). The perfective aspect indicates a completed, one-time action. The ending -ов also marks masculine singular (“I” as a male speaker).

How would a female speaker say “I found [the toothbrush] under the sink”?

A woman would say Я знайшла зубну щітку під раковиною. The verb changes to знайшла (feminine past singular).

Why are there no articles like “the” or “a” in this Ukrainian sentence?

Ukrainian does not have definite or indefinite articles. Context alone tells you whether something is general or specific.

Can the word order in Я знайшов зубну щітку під раковиною be changed for emphasis?

Yes. Ukrainian is relatively flexible. For example:
• Під раковиною я знайшов зубну щітку. (emphasizes location)
• Зубну щітку я знайшов під раковиною. (emphasizes the object)

How do you pronounce щітку and where is the stress in the sentence?

Approximate IPA transcription:
/ja zˈnɑjʃow zubˈnu ˈʃtʲitku pʲid rɑkʊˈnʲinɔju/
Stress falls on:
• знайшÓв
• зýбну
• щíтку
• раковинÓю

Could you say під раковину instead of під раковиною? What’s the difference?

Yes, but with a different meaning:
• під раковину uses the accusative case after під and means “toward under the sink” (motion).
• під раковиною uses the instrumental and describes a static location (“under the sink”).