Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Ukrainian grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Коли слизько, бігати небезпечно.
Why is there no word for “it” (like English “it’s”) in this sentence?
Ukrainian often uses impersonal sentences with special predicate words that express a state. Here слизько (“slippery”) and небезпечно (“dangerous”) function as the predicate, so no dummy subject like English “it” is used. The meaning “it is” is understood from context: Коли слизько = “When (it is) slippery.”
What part of speech are слизько and небезпечно here?
They are predicative adverbs (also called “category-of-state” words). They look like adverbs in -о, but they function as the main predicate: слизько = “(it’s) slippery,” небезпечно = “(it’s) dangerous.”
Why isn’t є (“is”) used? Could I say Коли є слизько?
With predicative words like слизько/небезпечно, Ukrainian normally omits є. Saying Коли є слизько sounds unnatural. If you want a fuller noun phrase, use an explicit subject instead: Коли дорога слизька, … (“When the road is slippery, …”).
Why is it бігати and not бігти or побігти?
Ukrainian motion verbs contrast:
- бігати = multidirectional/habitual/generic “to run (in general)”
- бігти = unidirectional, one specific run “to run (this time)”
- побігти = perfective “to start/run off” The sentence states a general rule, so бігати is the natural choice.
Could I say небезпечно бігти or було б небезпечно побігти? What’s the nuance?
Yes:
- Коли слизько, небезпечно бігти = “When it’s slippery, it’s dangerous to run (in this particular instance).”
- Було б небезпечно побігти = “It would be dangerous to start running.” The perfective побігти typically appears with a conditional/irrealis form like було б.
Why is there a comma after слизько?
Because коли introduces a subordinate clause (“when…”). In Ukrainian, when a subordinate clause comes first, it’s separated from the main clause by a comma: Коли слизько, ….
Can I reverse the order of the clauses?
Yes. You can say:
- Небезпечно бігати, коли слизько.
- Бігати небезпечно, коли слизько. The meaning stays the same; word order affects emphasis only.
Can I use якщо instead of коли?
Yes, with a slight nuance:
- Коли = “when/whenever,” often temporal or general.
- Якщо = “if,” explicitly conditional. Both work here: Якщо слизько, бігати небезпечно sounds like advice/condition.
I sometimes hear як for “when.” Is Як слизько, … okay?
Colloquially, як can mean “when.” Як слизько, … is common in speech in many regions. In careful or formal writing, prefer коли.
Should I add то (“then”) in the main clause, like Коли…, то…?
It’s optional and stylistic: Коли слизько, то бігати небезпечно. The то makes the conditional link explicit; leaving it out is more neutral.
Is небезпечно written as one word or two (не безпечно)?
One word: небезпечно = “dangerous/unsafely.” Writing it as two words (не безпечно) is only used in rare emphatic contrasts (“not safe but dangerous”), which isn’t the case here.
Is Коли це слизько correct?
No. Це (“this/it”) is not used with these impersonal predicatives. Say Коли слизько or make a full noun phrase: Коли покриття слизьке… (“When the surface is slippery…”).
What are some natural alternative phrasings?
- Коли на вулиці слизько, небезпечно бігати.
- У слизьку погоду бігати небезпечно.
- Коли дорога слизька, бігати небезпечно.
- Небезпечно бігати, якщо слизько.
How do I pronounce and stress these words?
- коли́ [kɔˈlɪ] (stress on the second syllable)
- сли́зько [ˈslɪzʲkɔ] (softened з before к)
- бі́гати [ˈbʲiɦatɪ] (Ukrainian г = voiced [ɦ], not English [g])
- небезпе́чно [nebezˈpɛt͡ʃnɔ] (stress on “пе”)
What is the role of the infinitive бігати in the second clause?
It’s an infinitive clause functioning as the semantic subject of the impersonal predicate: (Є) небезпечно [бігати]. English would say “It is dangerous to run.”
Is there a difference between слизько and ковзко?
Both can mean “slippery.” Слизько is more common and broad (wet, icy, slimy). Ковзко tends to evoke slick, slide-prone surfaces (ice, polished floors). In everyday speech about icy streets, слизько is standard.
Could I use a noun like біг or бігання instead of the infinitive?
Yes, but the style shifts:
- Коли слизько, біг небезпечний. (formal/bookish)
- Коли слизько, бігання небезпечне. (more process-like) The impersonal infinitive Бігати небезпечно is the most natural and common.