Learn Hardcore Ukrainian: Вона теж пропустила першу перерву, бо була зайнята. - She also missed the first break because she was busy.

Теж means also/too. It usually follows the word it adds the “also” meaning to. In Вона теж пропустила…, it focuses on the subject: “She also missed… (like someone else did).”

To sound more formal or neutral, you can use також in the same spot: Вона також пропустила….
If you want to emphasize “on top of that,” Ukrainian often uses ще й: Вона ще й пропустила першу перерву (she missed it on top of something else).

Why is there a comma before бо? Could I use other words for “because”?

In Ukrainian, a comma is required before бо because it introduces a reason clause. You can also say:

…тому що… (neutral, slightly more formal)
…оскільки… (formal/neutral “since/as”) All of them take a comma before the connector. Адже means “after all,” not a direct “because.”

Why is it першу перерву, not the dictionary forms перша перерва?

It’s the accusative case because it’s the direct object of пропустила. Both words are feminine singular and must agree:

перша (nom.) → першу (acc. fem. sg.)
перерва (nom.) → перерву (acc. fem. sg.)

What aspect and tense is пропустила? How would the imperfective differ?

Пропустила is past tense, perfective (from пропустити) and means a single, completed action: “(she) missed.”
Imperfective would be пропускала (from пропускати) and can mean “was missing/used to miss/repeatedly missed,” focusing on process or habitual action.

Why does the verb end with -ла?

Past-tense verbs agree with gender and number. Вона пропустила and вона була take feminine -ла.
Other forms:

Masculine: він пропустив, він був
Plural: вони пропустили, вони були

Can I drop the subject pronoun вона?

Often yes, especially when context makes the subject clear: Теж пропустила першу перерву… However, keeping вона is natural and clear in a standalone sentence.

Why is it була зайнята? Could I say була зайнятою?

Both are correct:

Вона була зайнята (predicate adjective in the nominative) — very common, especially in everyday speech.
Вона була зайнятою (instrumental) — also standard; many grammars prefer the instrumental with past/future бути to mark a state/role, and it can feel a bit more formal or careful.
In the present, Ukrainian usually drops the copula: Вона зайнята (not вона є зайнята in everyday usage).

Could I move words around? What changes in meaning?

Ukrainian word order is flexible and used for emphasis:

Вона теж пропустила першу перерву… (neutral emphasis on “she also”)
Першу перерву вона теж пропустила… (fronts the object; highlights what exactly she missed)
Вона першу перерву теж пропустила… (focuses that this specific break, too, was missed)
Keep бо before the reason clause and the comma before бо.

Does теж always mean the same as також?

Both mean also, but:

теж is more colloquial and often directly follows the focused word.
також is neutral-to-formal and flexible in writing.
In many contexts they’re interchangeable, but теж can feel more conversational.

What exactly does перерва refer to here?

Перерва is a break/intermission, commonly the break between lessons at school or university, or a work break. Перша перерва means “the first break (in the schedule).”

Are there other natural ways to say “missed the break”?

Yes, depending on nuance:

Вона прогавила перерву (colloquial “missed out on,” didn’t catch it)
Вона не вийшла на перерву (she didn’t go out for the break)
Вона пропустила перерву (neutral “missed the break”)

How would negation affect the cases or wording?

With negation you typically still use the accusative for a concrete direct object:
Вона не пропустила першу перерву (“She didn’t miss the first break”).
Using genitive after negation is rare here and would sound unnatural.

Any quick pronunciation tips for key words?

теж: the ж is like English “zh” in “measure.”
в is a light [ʋ] (between v and w).
Roll the р in перерву.
The я in зайнята is a “ya” sound.