Expressing Requests
Ukrainian has interrogative sentence constructions in order to make requests. These use the perfective forms. For example:
- Ти мо́жеш + pf. infinitive = Can you do it?
- Ви мо́жете + pf. infinitive = Can you (all) do it?
- Дава́й + pf. future tense = Let's do it!
- Дава́ймо + pf. future tense = Let's (all) do it!
This construction is used in situations where the imperative is typically used, such as asking for directions, advice, help, etc., though the question form is considered much more polite. So, for example, the functional equivalent of the English Say it! in Ukrainian would be Ти можеш сказати це? Can you say it?
The corresponding negative construction conveys the same request to do something but with an even greater degree of politeness. For example: Ти не можеш сказати це? Can't you say it? Adding будь ласка please to either the beginning or end of the question can further enhance the politeness. For example:
Ти можеш сказати це, будь ласка? Can you say it please?
Будь ласка, ти можеш сказати це? Please, can you say it?
A request not to do something is conveyed with a negated imperfective infinitive:
- Ти мо́жеш + не + impf. inf. = Can you not do it?
- Ви мо́жете + не + impf. inf. = Can you (all) not do it?
- Дава́й + не + impf. inf. = Let's not do it!
- Дава́ймо не + impf. inf. = Let's (all) not do it!
Thus a functional equivalent of Don't say it! in Ukrainian is:
- Ти можеш не казати цього? Can you not say it? = addressed to the 2nd pers. sg. excludes the speaker
- Ви можете не казати цього? Can you (all) not say it? = addressed to the 2nd pers. pl. excludes the speaker
- Давай не казати цього! Let's not say it! = addressed to the 2nd pers. sg. includes the speaker
- Давайте не казати цього! Let's (all) not say it! = addressed to the 2nd pers. pl. includes the speaker
A request to do something uses the perfective aspect, while a request not to do something uses the imperfective aspect. These requests are pronounced with a rising tone.
Ти можеш допомогти мені? Can you help me?
Ви не можете почекати? Can't you wait?
The phrase "Let someone do ..." is expressed in Ukrainian by the words «хай» or «нехай» with the third person singular or plural of the present tense. For example:
Він хоче йти додому? Хай іде! He wants to go home? Let him.
Хай люди знають правду. Let the people know the truth.
Commands / Imperative Form
The imperative is the mood that we use to make commands, for example: йди́ сюди́ come here, принесі́ть води́, будь ла́ска bring water, please, скажі́ть, будь ла́ска tell me, please.
Commands can be given to
- 1. one familiar person (ти): Макси́ме, йди́ додо́му Maksim, go home
- 2. multiple people or one person formally (ви): дру́зі, йді́ть додо́му friends, go home
- 3. multiple people, including ourselves (ми): дру́зі, йді́мо додо́му friends, let’s go home
The imperative is based on the stem of the present tense verb, then given endings based on where the stress falls in the present tense. The imperative has 3 types of endings, with type 2 being quite common. In order to form the second type, for example, we follow these steps:
- 1. take the 3rd pers. sg. from the present tense and remove the ending (-е (-є), -ить) to find the stem.
- 2a. for the 2nd person singular (ти): add -и if the stem ends in consonant or -й if it ends in vowel.
- 2b. for the 2nd person plural (ви): add -іть if the stem ends in consonant -йте if it ends in vowel.
- 2c. for the 1st person plural (ми): add -імо if the stem ends in consonant or -ймо if it ends in vowel.
Type 1, on the other hand, has a 0 ending, while type 3 takes -ь. The imperative is comparatively rare to use outside of certain phrases, so an exhaustive account isn't given here. But common verbs in the imperative form are given below. Note that imperatives can be given in either imperfective or perfective form.
Type 1 Endings
| infinitive | 2nd pers. sg. | 2nd pers. pl. | 1st pers. pl (Let's) |
|---|---|---|---|
| . | zero | -те | -мо |
| знати | знай | знайте | знаймо |
| читати | читай | читайте | читаймо |
| зрозуміти | зрозумій | зрозумійте | зрозуміймо |
| стояти | стій | стійте | стіймо |
| займатися | займайся | займайтеся | займаймося |
Type 2 Endings
| infinitive | 2nd pers. sg. | 2nd pers. pl. | 1st pers. pl (Let's) |
|---|---|---|---|
| . | -и | -іть (іте) | -ім (імо) |
| сказати | скажи | скажіть | скажім (скажімо) |
| писати | пиши | пишіть | пишім (пишімо) |
| сидіти | сиди | сидіть | сидім (сидімо) |
| робити | роби | робіть | робім (робімо) |
| брати | бери | беріть | берім (берімо) |
Type 3 Endings
| infinitive | 2nd pers. sg. | 2nd pers. pl. | 1st pers. pl (Let's) |
|---|---|---|---|
| . | -ь | -ьте | -ьмо |
| бути | будь | будьте | будьмо |
| позбутися | позбудься | позбудьтеся | позбудьмося |
| приходити | приходь | приходьте | приходьмо |
| сісти | сядь | сядьте | сядьмо |
An exception is їсти: їж, їжте, їжмо.
There are a number of useful phrases containing the imperative, such as:
| Вибач(те) / Пробач(те) | Excuse me, sorry |
|---|---|
| Скажи (скажіть), будь ласка... | Please could you tell me... |
| Бувай здоров(а) / Бувайте здорові! | All the best! (be in good health) |
| Не бійся (бійтеся) | Don't be afraid |
| Будьмо! | A traditional toast, reputedly originating in Cossack times. Adopted as an expression of solidarity by the Шестидесятники, the artists and writers of the 1960s Ukrainian cultural revival (literally: "Let's be!"). |