Сміття не лежить на кухні довго, бо я одразу кладу його в смітник.

Trash does not stay in the kitchen for long, because I put it into the trash can right away.

Breakdown of Сміття не лежить на кухні довго, бо я одразу кладу його в смітник.

• я: I
• не: not
• довго: long
• бо: because

Questions & Answers about Сміття не лежить на кухні довго, бо я одразу кладу його в смітник.

What is the difference between сміття and смітник?

They are related words, but they mean different things:

• сміття = trash / garbage / litter
• смітник = trash can / garbage bin / dumpster, depending on context

So in this sentence:

• Сміття is the thing being moved
• в смітник is the place it gets put into

Why is сміття treated as singular?

In Ukrainian, сміття is normally a mass noun or collective noun, like trash or garbage in English. Even though it refers to a lot of little things, grammatically it is usually treated as singular.

That is why the verb is singular:

• сміття не лежить = the trash does not lie / stay

It is also why the later pronoun is singular:

• я кладу його = I put it

Why does the sentence use лежить? Trash does not literally “lie down.”

This is a very common Ukrainian pattern. Ukrainian often uses posture/location verbs where English would simply use be or stay.

• лежати = to lie
• =