Breakdown of Сьогодні можна замовити доставку безкоштовно.
сьогодні
today
можна
can
замовити
to order
безкоштовно
for free
доставка
the delivery
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Questions & Answers about Сьогодні можна замовити доставку безкоштовно.
What does можна mean here? Is it “can,” “may,” or “it’s possible”?
It’s the impersonal predicative “one can/you can/it’s possible/it’s allowed.” It doesn’t name a subject. English usually translates it as “you can” or “it’s possible.”
Why is there no subject in the sentence?
Because можна forms an impersonal construction. The doer is generic (like English “one/you/people”). Ukrainian often uses this to make general statements about possibility or permission.
Why is замовити (perfective) used instead of замовляти (imperfective)?
- Замовити (perfective) presents a single, complete action: “to place an order (once).”
- With можна, the perfective is very natural when talking about the possibility of doing an action once today.
- Замовляти would imply a repeated/ongoing activity (e.g., “one can be ordering/keep ordering”), which is usually not intended here.
Could I say сьогодні можна замовляти доставку безкоштовно?
Grammatically yes, but it changes the nuance to repeated/ongoing actions (like “people can keep ordering deliveries for free today” or “multiple orders”). For a one-time order, замовити is better.
Why is it доставку and not доставка?
Замовити takes a direct object in the accusative case. Доставка (feminine nominative singular) becomes доставку in the accusative singular.
Can I say безкоштовну доставку instead of безкоштовно?
Yes:
- …замовити доставку безкоштовно uses the adverb (“order delivery for free”).
- …замовити безкоштовну доставку uses the adjective modifying the noun (“order free delivery”). Both are correct and mean the same thing in practice.
How flexible is the word order? Can I move сьогодні or безкоштовно?
Quite flexible. For example:
- Сьогодні можна безкоштовно замовити доставку.
- Безкоштовно сьогодні можна замовити доставку.
- Доставку сьогодні можна замовити безкоштовно. The given order is neutral and clear; moving parts adds emphasis to what you put first.
How do I turn this into a yes/no question?
- Add чи at the start: Чи сьогодні можна замовити доставку безкоштовно?
- Or just use rising intonation: Сьогодні можна замовити доставку безкоштовно?
What’s the difference between можна and я можу/ви можете?
- Можна = impersonal, general possibility/permission (“you/one can”).
- Я можу/ви можете = personal ability/permission (“I/you can”). Example: Сьогодні ви можете замовити доставку безкоштовно. This directly addresses the listener/reader.
Is заказати доставку acceptable?
No in standard Ukrainian. That’s a Russism. Use замовити доставку (and замовлення for “order”).
Pronunciation and stress tips?
- Сьогóдні: soft сь [sʲ], Ukrainian г is [ɦ] (a voiced h-like sound).
- Мóжна: ж like English “measure.”
- Замóвити: stress on -мó-.
- Достáвку: stress on -стá-.
- Безкошто́вно: stress on -то́-.
Does можна mean “allowed” or just “possible”?
Both, depending on context. Here it can imply either “it’s possible to order” or “it’s allowed/there’s a promotion so you may order” for free. Context (e.g., a store ad) usually clarifies.
Are there synonyms for безкоштовно?
Yes: безплатно, безоплатно (more formal/legal), задарма (colloquial). All mean “free of charge.” The most common neutral choice is безкоштовно.
Is сьогодня/сьодні correct?
No. Standard Ukrainian is сьогодні. Forms like сьогодня (Russism) or сьодні (colloquial) are nonstandard in writing; avoid them.