A Look at the Forms of Demonstrative Pronouns in Ukrainian
There are two primary demonstrative pronouns in Ukrainian: один and той. These refer to “this” and “that” in English, respectively. Both один and той have four case forms: nominative, genitive, dative, and accusative.
Forming the Nominative Case
The nominative case is the most basic form of demonstrative pronouns in Ukrainian. This form exhibits the subject of a sentence.
Nominative case forms for один:
- Masculine: цей
- Feminine: ця
- Neuter: це
- Plural: ці
Nominative case forms for той:
- Masculine: той
- Feminine: та
- Neuter: то
- Plural: ті
Forming the Genitive Case
In this case, the demonstrative pronoun showcases the possession or association of a noun to another object or person.
Genitive case forms for один:
- Masculine: цього
- Feminine: цієї
- Neuter: цього
- Plural: цих
Genitive case forms for той:
- Masculine: того
- Feminine: тієї
- Neuter: того
- Plural: тих
Forming the Dative Case
The dative case enables the pronoun to indicate the indirect object or recipient of the action within the sentence.
Dative case forms for один:
- Masculine: цьому
- Feminine: цій
- Neuter: цьому
- Plural: цьом
Dative case forms for той:
- Masculine: тому
- Feminine: тій
- Neuter: тому
- Plural: тим
Forming the Accusative Case
Accusative case forms represent the direct object or the entity impacted by the main verb of the sentence.
Accusative case forms for один:
- Masculine: цього (animate); цей (inanimate)
- Feminine: цю
- Neuter: це
- Plural: цих (animate); ці (inanimate)
Accusative case forms for той:
- Masculine: того (animate); той (inanimate)
- Feminine: ту
- Neuter: то
- Plural: тих (animate); ті (inanimate)
Usage of Demonstrative Pronouns in Ukrainian Grammar
Demonstrative pronouns are prevalently utilized in Ukrainian grammar to clarify a sentence’s context. Some examples of their usage include the following:
1. Defining proximity or distance: Based on the pronoun used, the listener can discern if the speaker refers to something nearby (цей) or something further away (той).
2. Discerning between multiple subjects: When discussing multiple objects or people, demonstrative pronouns aid in distinguishing between them.
3. Providing emphasis: When highlighting a particular subject or object, demonstrative pronouns underscore the importance.
Examples of Demonstrative Pronouns in Ukrainian Sentences
To better grasp the usage of demonstrative pronouns in Ukrainian grammar, consider these examples:
1. Proximity or distance
- Цей домівка біля мене. (This house is near me.)
- Той домівка за рікою. (That house is across the river.)
2. Discerning between multiple subjects
- Ця книга цікава, але та книга скучна. (This book is interesting, but that book is boring.)
- Ці квіти червоні, а ті квіти жовті. (These flowers are red, and those flowers are yellow.)
3. Providing emphasis
- Цей стілець ремонтується, не той. (This chair is being fixed, not that one.)
With this in-depth exploration of demonstrative pronouns in Ukrainian grammar, both learners and fluent speakers can refine their understanding and application of these essential linguistic tools.