Learn Hardcore Ukrainian: Це просто завдання на вимову.

Це is a demonstrative pronoun used in identification sentences (this/it). You use it before a predicate noun: Це завдання.
Цей/ця/це/ці are demonstrative adjectives placed directly before a noun to modify it: цей зошит, ця книга, це завдання, ці вправи. In our sentence, we need the pronoun pattern, so це is correct.

Why is there no visible “to be” verb? Where is є?

In present tense Ukrainian, the copula is usually omitted. So Це просто завдання... is the normal way to say it. Є can appear for emphasis or in very formal/definition-like contexts, but it’s not needed here.

Why просто and not просте? Are both correct?

Both exist but mean different things:

просто is an adverb meaning simply/just. Це просто завдання... = you’re downplaying it.
просте is an adjective meaning simple/easy and must agree with the neuter noun: Це просте завдання... = it’s an easy task (describes difficulty/complexity).

What case is вимову, and why does на take that case here?

Вимову is accusative singular of вимова (feminine -а noun). На + accusative indicates direction/aim/purpose. In education, it’s standard in collocations like вправа на лексику, завдання на граматику.
By contrast, на + locative indicates location: на столі (on the table).

Could I say для вимови or з вимови instead of на вимову?

для вимови = for the benefit of pronunciation; grammatical but less idiomatic for tasks/exercises.
з вимови = on/about pronunciation; used for subjects/tests (e.g., заняття з вимови).
For exercises/tasks targeting a skill, на + accusative is the most natural: завдання на вимову. Avoid по вимові in standard Ukrainian (it’s a Russism).

How do you pronounce the whole sentence? Where is the stress?

IPA: [t͡se ˈprɔstɔ zaʋˈdanʲːa nɑ ʋɪˈmɔʋu]
Stress: про́сто, завда́ння, вимо́ву.
Tips:

ц = [ts] (like cats).
в is a approximant [ʋ], softer than English v.
ння in завдання is a long, soft n [nʲː]; hold the n slightly longer.
Vowels aren’t reduced; о stays [o]/[ɔ] even unstressed.

Is завдання singular or plural here?

Here it’s singular by context. Note that завдання is both nominative singular and nominative plural in form. You see number from determiners/adjectives:

Singular: це завдання, просте завдання
Plural: ці завдання, прості завдання
Genitive plural is завдань.

What gender is завдання, and how should adjectives agree?

Завдання is neuter. Adjectives must be neuter singular nominative: просте завдання, нове завдання. The pronoun це doesn’t change for gender/number in this pattern.

Why not на вимові?

На + locative (e.g., на вимові) indicates location/state, not purpose. We need the purpose/aim meaning, so it’s на вимову (accusative).

Can I omit просто? What changes?

Yes.

Це завдання на вимову. = neutral identification.
Це просто завдання на вимову. = downplays it (don’t overthink it; it’s just a pronunciation task).

Can I move просто elsewhere?

Natural: Це просто завдання на вимову.
Fronted (colloquial/emphatic): Просто це завдання на вимову. (it’s just that this is a pronunciation task)
Це завдання просто на вимову sounds awkward; better avoid splitting the noun and its на-phrase.

Do I need a dash: Це — просто завдання на вимову?

The dash is optional. It adds a slight pause/emphasis. Both Це просто завдання... and Це — просто завдання... are correct.

What’s the difference between тільки/лише and просто here?

тільки/лише = only/merely; explicitly limits scope: Це тільки/лише завдання на вимову.
просто = simply/just; can downplay without as strong a limiting flavor.
Often interchangeable, but тільки/лише feels more restrictive. Avoid stacking them (sounds redundant).

What is the -ння part in завдання, and how do I say it?

-ння is a nominalizing suffix forming nouns from verbs (e.g., читання, навчання, питання). It’s pronounced with a long soft n: [nʲːa]. Many -ння nouns are neuter.

Why is вимову not вимова?

Feminine nouns in -а take -у in the accusative singular when used with на for direction/purpose: мова → мову, вимова → вимову.

Why do we use це even for plural, and when would ці be used?

In identification sentences, це works for both singular and plural: Це мої книжки.
Use ці when directly modifying a plural noun: ці завдання (these tasks). If you need to make plural crystal-clear in the copular pattern, you can add context or rephrase: Ці завдання на вимову прості.

Could I use вправа instead of завдання? Any nuance?

Yes. Вправа = exercise; завдання = task/assignment/instruction. In teaching, both occur:

вправа на вимову often refers to a specific drill.
завдання на вимову can be the instruction or a task to complete. Choice depends on what you want to emphasize.

How would I ask and answer “What is this?” with this sentence?

Question: Що це?
Answer: Це просто завдання на вимову.

Is це є ever preferable?

Use є in formal writing, precise definitions, logical statements, or to stress existence (e.g., Результат є важливим). In everyday identification like ours, drop it: Це просто завдання...

Common mistakes to avoid with this sentence?

Using по вимові instead of на вимову/з вимови.
Writing на вимові (wrong case for purpose).
Saying простий завдання (wrong agreement); use просте завдання if you choose the adjective.
Reducing vowels like in English; keep them clear (no schwa).