Language/Ukrainian/Grammar/Conjunctions

Ukrainian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Prepositions and Conjunctions → Conjunctions

As a Ukrainian language teacher, I am often asked about the importance of conjunctions in Ukrainian grammar. Well, conjunctions play a vital role in creating meaningful and engaging sentences. In this lesson, we will learn about Ukrainian conjunctions, their usage, and their role in making the language more expressive. So, let's dive in and explore the world of Ukrainian conjunctions!

What are Conjunctions?

Conjunctions are words that are used to join words, phrases, or clauses. They help us connect ideas and form cohesive sentences. In Ukrainian, we have different types of conjunctions that we use in our daily conversations and writing. Each conjunction has its own unique usage and contribution towards building effective communication.

Below are some of the most commonly used conjunctions in Ukrainian:

• і (and)
• а (but)
• але (however)
• або (or)
• бо (because)

If you want to improve your Ukrainian language skills, you need to learn how to use these conjunctions correctly.

і (and)

In Ukrainian, "і" is one of the most frequently used conjunctions. It is used to join words, phrases, or clauses that are similar or related to each other. "І" is similar to the English conjunction "and", and it plays a similar role in sentences.

Examples:

Ukrainian	Pronunciation	English
Я люблю читати книжки і дивитися фільми	Ya lyublyu chytaty knyžky i dyvytysya filʹmy	I like to read books and watch movies
Ми були на морі і в горах	My buly na mori i v horakh	We went to the seaside and to the mountains
Ти гітарист і співаєш	Ty hitaryst i spivayesh	You are a guitarist and a singer

а (but)

In Ukrainian, "а" is used to join sentences or clauses that express the opposite or contradictory ideas to each other. It is equivalent to the English conjunction "but".

Examples:

Ukrainian	Pronunciation	English
Я люблю сонце, але не люблю спеку	Ya lyublyu sontse, ale ne lyublyu speku	I like the sun, but I don't like the heat
Вона хоче відпочити, але не має вільного часу	Vona khochetʹ vidpochyty, ale ne maye vilʹnoho chasu	She wants to rest, but she doesn't have free time
Я хочу сходити на виставку, але я зайнятий цілий день	Ya khochu skhodyty na vystavku, ale ya zaynyatyy tsilyy denʹ	I want to go to the exhibition, but I am busy all day

але (however)

In Ukrainian, "але" is also used to join sentences or clauses that express the opposite or contradictory ideas to each other, just like "а" ("but"). However, "але" gives a more emphatic meaning to the sentence and can be translated as "however".

Examples:

Ukrainian	Pronunciation	English
Вона хоче купити новий автомобіль, але не може дозволити собі дорогу модель	Vona khochetʹ kupyty novyy avtomobilʹ, ale ne mozhe dozvolity sobi dorohu modelʹ	She wants to buy a new car, however, she cannot afford an expensive model
Я хочу подорожувати, але не люблю літати	Ya khochu podorozhuvaty, ale ne lyublyu lityaty	I want to travel, however, I don't like flying
Він дуже розумний, але не завжди правий	Vin duzhe rozumnyy, ale ne zavzhdy pravyy	He is very smart, however, he is not always right

або (or)

In Ukrainian, "або" is used to join words, phrases, or clauses, giving a choice between two options. It is equivalent to the English conjunction "or".

Examples:

Ukrainian	Pronunciation	English
Ти можеш зателефонувати мені або написати повідомлення	Ty mozhesh zatelefonuvaty meni abo napisaty povіdomlennya	You can call me or send a message
Я піду до кіно, або до театру	Ya pidu do kino, abo do teatru	I will go to the cinema or to the theater
Ви можете взяти книгу з бібліотеки або купити її в магазині	Vy mozhete vzyaty knyhu z biblioteky abo kupyty yi v magazyni	You can borrow a book from the library or buy it at the store

бо (because)

In Ukrainian, "бо" is a subordinating conjunction used to express the reason for an action or an event. It is equivalent to the English conjunction "because".

Examples:

Ukrainian	Pronunciation	English
Я не піду на концерт, бо я хворий	Ya ne pidu na kontsert, bo ya khvoryy	I will not go to the concert because I am sick
Вона зізналася в своїй помилці, бо розуміла, що не мала права	Vona ziznalasya v svoїy pomyltsi, bo rozumila, shcho ne mala prava	She admitted her mistake because she realized she had no right
Він засмітився бо чув дотепний жарт	Vin zasmіvivsya bo chuv dotëpnyy zhart	He laughed because he heard a funny joke

Now that we have looked at each conjunction separately, let's examine them in context with some examples.

Examples

Now let's look at some examples. Try to read them aloud and translate them into English to get a better understanding of conjunctions in Ukrainian.

• Ми повинні купити продукти і приготувати вечерю. (We need to buy groceries and cook dinner.)
• Ти можеш піти до кіно або почитати книгу вдома. (You can go to the cinema or read a book at home.)
• Вона мандрує часто, але ніколи не хотіла покінчити свої навчання. (She travels a lot, however, she never wanted to finish her studies.)
• Якась людина телефонувала, але не сказала свого імені. (Someone called, but did not say their name.)
• Тобі слід приїхати на зустріч, бо нам є, що обговорити. (You should come to the meeting, because we have something to discuss.)

Practice using conjunctions in your own sentences and conversations, and soon you will be able to express your ideas and thoughts more convincingly in Ukrainian.

Conclusion

Conjunctions are a crucial part of Ukrainian grammar. They help create meaningful and complete sentences and show the relationship between different ideas. In this lesson, we have learned about the most commonly used conjunctions in Ukrainian, including "і", "а", "але", "або", and "

Table of Contents - Ukrainian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

The Ukrainian Alphabet and Pronunciation

• The Alphabet
• Pronunciation Rules

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-10
• Telling Time

  ---

Nouns and Gender

• Nouns and Their Gender
• Plural Nouns

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

  ---

Pronouns and Possessives

• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods
• Eating Out

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjectives
• Adverbs

  ---

Hobbies and Leisure

• Hobbies
• Leisure Activities

  ---

Ukrainian Traditions and Holidays

• Traditions
• Holidays

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Prepositions
• Conjunctions

  ---

Shopping and Services

• Shopping Vocabulary
• Services Vocabulary

  ---

Ukrainian Cuisine

• Traditional Dishes
• Eating Habits

Related Lessons

• Pronouns
• Pronunciation Rules
• The Alphabet
• Nouns
• Present tense
• Possessive Pronouns
• Adjectives
• Questions
• Possessive pronouns
• 0 to A1 Course

Sources

• The LingQ Ukrainian Grammar Guide - Conjunction
• Ukrainian grammar - Wikipedia