Карта на столі.

on

Breakdown of Карта на столі.

• стіл: the table
• карта: the playing card

Questions & Answers about Карта на столі.

Why is there no word for is in this sentence?

In Ukrainian, the verb to be is usually left out in the present tense.

So instead of saying the exact equivalent of The map is on the table, Ukrainian normally just says:

Карта на столі.

This is completely natural.
If you translated word-for-word, it would look like:

• Карта = map / card
• на столі = on the table

But the idea of is is understood automatically.

In past or future, Ukrainian does use forms of бути (to be), but in the present tense it is usually omitted.

Why is it столі and not стіл?

Because after the preposition на meaning on, Ukrainian here uses the locative case.

The basic dictionary form is:

• стіл = table

But after на when talking about location, it changes:

• на столі = on the table

So:

• стіл = nominative, basic form
• на столі = locative form

This is one of the first important patterns in Ukrainian:
many prepositions require a noun to change its ending.

What case is карта in?