Він обдурює людей.

he

Breakdown of Він обдурює людей.

• людина: the person
• обдурювати: to deceive; trick someone

Questions & Answers about Він обдурює людей.

Can він be left out, or do I have to say it?

Yes, it can often be left out if the subject is already clear from context.

Ukrainian frequently drops subject pronouns when they are not needed:

• Він обдурює людей. = neutral, explicit he
• Обдурює людей. = is deceiving people / deceives people, if the listener already knows who you mean

One important detail: the verb form обдурює shows 3rd person singular, but it does not show gender in the present tense. So without він, the sentence could mean he or she, depending on context.

What form is обдурює?

Обдурює is the 3rd person singular present tense form of the imperfective verb обдурювати.

So:

• обдурювати = infinitive
• обдурює = he/she deceives, is deceiving

The ending -є is a normal present-tense ending for this verb in the he/she/it form.

Does обдурює mean he deceives or he is deceiving?