Language/Ukrainian/Grammar/How-to-Use-Have

Ukrainian Grammar - How to Use "Have"

Hi Ukrainian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use the verb "have" in Ukrainian. In Ukrainian, we have two verbs for "have": the imperfective form "мати" (maty) and the perfective form "ма́ти" (maty).

Usage of "Мати" (Maty)

The verb "мати" is used to express possession or ownership of something. For example:

Ukrainian	Pronunciation	English
Я ма́ю машину.	ya ma-yu mashynu.	I have a car.	Він ма́є багато грошей.	vin ma-ye bahato hroshey.	He has a lot of money.	У нас є собака.	u nas ye sobaka.	We have a dog.

Note that the verb "мати" also means "to have" in the sense of "to eat" or "to drink." For example:

Ukrainian	Pronunciation	English
Я хочу мати чай.	ya khochu maty chai.	I want to have a tea.	Вона лю́бить мати каву.	vona lyu-byt maty kavu.	She likes to have coffee.

You can use the verb "мати" to ask questions about possession using the form "Чи є...?" ("chy ye...?"). For example:

Ukrainian	Pronunciation	English
Чи є у тебе час?	chy ye u tebe chas?	Do you have time?	Чи є у нього сестра?	chy ye u nʲoho sestra?	Does he have a sister?

To make negative sentences, just add the word "не" (ne) before the verb "мати". For example:

Ukrainian	Pronunciation	English
Я не ма́ю грошей.	ya ne ma-yu hroshey.	I don't have money.	Вона не ма́є автомобіля.	vona ne ma-ye avtomobilya.	She doesn't have a car.

Usage of "Ма́ти" (Maty)

The verb "ма́ти" is the perfective form of "мати". It is used to indicate a completed action of having or obtaining something. For example:

Ukrainian	Pronunciation	English
Він нарешті ма́в можливість поїхати за кордон.	vin na-resh-ti mav mozhlyvistʲ poyikhaty za kordon.	He finally had the opportunity to travel abroad.	Учора я ма́в презентацію на роботі.	u-cho-ra ya mav pre-zen-ta-tsi-yu na ro-bo-ti.	Yesterday, I had a presentation at work.

To ask a question using the verb "ма́ти", use the form "Чи ма́в...?" ("chy mav...?"). For example:

Ukrainian	Pronunciation	English
Чи ма́в ти можливість побачитися з ним?	chy mav ty mozhlyvistʲ po-ba-chy-ty-sya z nim?	Did you have the opportunity to meet with him?	Чи ма́ла вона успіх у своїй роботі?	chy ma-la vona uspikh u svo-yiy ro-bo-ti?	Did she have success in her work?

To make negative sentences, just add the word "не" (ne) before the verb "ма́ти". For example:

Ukrainian	Pronunciation	English
Ми не ма́ли часу піти на концерт.	my ne ma-ly chasu py-ty na kon-tsert.	We didn't have time to go to the concert.	Вона не ма́ла ніяких проблем зі здоров'ям.	vona ne ma-la ni-yakykh problehm zi zdoro-v'yam.	She didn't have any health problems.

Dialogue

• Person 1: Ти маєш гроші? (Ty mayesh hroshey?) (Do you have money?)
• Person 2: Так, я маю трошки готівки. (Tak, ya mayu troshky hotevky.) (Yes, I have some cash.)

• Person 1: Вона літає на відпочинок кожен рік. (Vona lita-ye na vidpochynok kozhen rik.) (She goes on vacation every year.)
• Person 2: Нині вона має можливість здійснити свою мрію. (Nyni vona maye mozhlyvistʲ zdiysnyty svoyu mriyu.) (Now she has the opportunity to make her dream come true.)

Conclusion

In conclusion, the verbs "мати" and "ма́ти" are essential verbs in Ukrainian grammar. "Мати" expresses possession, and "ма́ти" expresses completed actions of possession. To master Ukrainian grammar, practice using these two verbs in context as often as possible.

To improve your Ukrainian Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

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