Questions & Answers about Син і дочка граються разом у саду.
Why is the verb граються in the plural form and not singular?
The subject син і дочка refers to two people, so the verb must agree in the 3rd person plural. In Ukrainian, a compound subject like син і дочка requires a plural verb form, hence граються (вони граються).
What is the function of the suffix -ся in граються?
The suffix -ся makes the verb reflexive or intransitive. гратися means “to play for amusement,” especially for children. Without -ся, грати can be transitive (“to play something,” e.g., play the piano) or a general intransitive (“to play a game”), but гратися highlights that they are playing around or having fun.
Why is the preposition у used before саду, and not в?
Ukrainian uses в and у both to mean “in,” but for ease of pronunciation: use в before words beginning with a vowel (e.g., в Україні), and у before words beginning with a consonant (e.g., у саду).
What case is саду in, and why?