Breakdown of Він думає про те, як стати безпечним водієм.
він
he
як
how
стати
to become
про
about
водій
the driver
думати
to think
безпечний
safe
те
that
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Questions & Answers about Він думає про те, як стати безпечним водієм.
Why is про те needed before як in Він думає про те, як стати безпечним водієм?
In Ukrainian, the verb думати when meaning “to think about” takes про + accusative. You can’t directly attach a full clause, so you insert the neuter pronoun те (“that thing”) as a placeholder. Then you link the clause with як (“how”).
Literally: “He thinks about that, how to become a safe driver.”
Could we drop те and say Він думає, як стати безпечним водієм?
Yes, it’s possible in casual speech. Він думає, як стати… is understood and not uncommon. However, in standard or more formal Ukrainian you normally use думає про те, як… to satisfy the requirement of про + accusative after думати.
Why is there a comma after те?
Because you’re separating the main clause (Він думає про те) from the subordinate clause (як стати безпечним водієм). In Ukrainian, subordinate clauses introduced by conjunctions like як are usually set off by a comma.
What case is водієм, and why?
Водієм is in the instrumental case. After the verb стати (“to become”), Ukrainian uses the instrumental case for roles or professions: стати лікарем, стати водієм, etc.
Why is безпечним also in the instrumental case?
Adjectives agree in case, number, and gender with the noun they modify. Since водієм is masculine singular instrumental, безпечний becomes безпечним in the same case.
What does the verb стати mean here, and could we use another verb for “become”?
Стати means “to become” or “to get to be.” It’s the standard verb for expressing change of state or role. You might also see зробитися in colloquial contexts, but стати is the most common in this construction.
Why do we use як instead of щоб plus infinitive?
They express different nuances:
- як стати… introduces a question or thought about the method: “how to become…”
- щоб стати… expresses purpose: “in order to become…”
So думає про те, як стати… means “he’s thinking about how to become…,” not “he’s doing something in order to become…”
Can the word order change in this sentence?
You can move elements for emphasis, but the про те, як construction stays intact:
- Про те, як стати безпечним водієм, він думає кожного дня. (Emphasizes the “how to become” part.)
- Він кожного дня думає про те, як стати безпечним водієм. (Adds a time phrase.)
Purely swapping думає and про те (e.g. Він про те думає…) sounds less natural. Keep думає про те, як… as one unit.