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.