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Нога важлива для ходьби.

Нога важлива для ходьби.
A leg is important for walking.
FromLesson 15inHardcore Ukrainian
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Breakdown of Нога важлива для ходьби.

важливий
important
для
for
нога
the leg
ходьба
the walking

Questions & Answers about Нога важлива для ходьби.

Why is the copular verb є (to be) omitted in Нога важлива для ходьби, and why is the adjective важлива in the nominative case rather than the instrumental?

In Ukrainian, the present‐tense copula є is normally dropped in simple statements. When you leave out є, the predicate adjective stays in the nominative case to agree directly with the subject. If you do include the verb, the adjective typically shifts to instrumental:
Нога є важливою для ходьби.

Why is the adjective важлива (important) ending with -а, not -ий as in важливий?
Adjectives in Ukrainian must match the noun’s gender, number and case. Нога is a feminine singular noun (it ends in -а), so the adjective takes the feminine nominative ending -а, giving важлива. The masculine form важливий would not agree with нога.
Why doesn’t Ukrainian use an article before нога, like the leg or a leg?
Ukrainian has no definite or indefinite articles. Context alone tells you whether you mean “a leg” or “the leg.” If you need to be specific you can add a demonstrative like ця нога (this leg).
Why is the noun ходьба in the genitive case as ходьби after the preposition для (for)?
The preposition для always governs the genitive case. Any noun following для must be put into genitive singular (if it’s singular). Hence ходьба → ходьби.
Why use the noun ходьба (walking) instead of the infinitive ходити (to walk), and could you say щоб ходити instead of для ходьби?

Ходьба is a noun meaning “the act of walking,” which fits naturally after для. You cannot say для ходити because для does not take an infinitive. If you want to use the verb, switch to a purpose clause with щоб:
Нога важлива, щоб ходити.
That structure means “The leg is important in order to walk,” which is slightly more formal or explicit.

What is the difference between ходьба and ходіння, and can we use для ходіння?
Both words refer to “walking,” but ходьба is the everyday noun for general walking. Ходіння is more literary or archaic and often appears in set expressions (e.g. ходіння по муках). Для ходіння is grammatically correct but sounds unusual in conversational Ukrainian.
How do you pronounce Нога важлива для ходьби, and where do the stress accents fall?

Approximate phonetic transcription: [noˈɦa ˈʋaʒlɪva dʲlʲa ˈxodʲbɪ].
Stresses:

  • Нога: second syllable (ноҐА)
  • важлива: second syllable (важЛИва)
  • ходьби: first syllable (ХОДьби)
What is the function of the soft sign ь in ходьби?
The soft sign ь shows that the preceding consonant д is palatalized (pronounced dʲ). It doesn’t have its own sound but indicates that the д is “soft.” This ь is part of the stem of ходьба and appears in all its forms.

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