Questions & Answers about Вона зайнята до четвертої години.
What does the word in bold mean and what form is it in: Вона зайнята до четвертої години?
Do I need to use the verb “to be” (є) in the present, as in Вона є зайнята?
No. In standard Ukrainian, the present-tense copula is normally omitted in affirmative sentences. Вона зайнята is the natural way to say “She is busy.” You might hear є in formal, emphatic, or contrastive contexts, but it’s not needed here.
Why is it до четвертої години and not something like “до чотири години”?
Because the preposition до (to, until) requires the genitive case.
- година (hour) → genitive singular: години
- The ordinal number четвертий (fourth) must agree with година in case, number, and gender → genitive feminine singular: четвертої So: до четвертої години = “until the fourth hour” (i.e., until 4 o’clock).