Purpose infinitive after a noun

In Ukrainian, an infinitive can follow a noun to act as an uncoordinated attribute (неузгоджене означення). This construction describes the content or potential action of the noun, answering the question "what kind of?" (який?).

1. Syntactic Role:
While a verb usually answers "what to do?" (що робити?), the infinitive as an attribute answers "what kind of?" (який?). For example, in бажання вивчати (desire to study), the infinitive defines the type of desire. The infinitive attribute always follows the noun it modifies.

2. Abstract and Personal Nouns:
This pattern is primarily used with abstract nouns. For concrete objects, Ukrainian typically uses prepositional phrases (e.g., книжка для читання rather than книжка читати).

Common Categories:

• Possibility/Necessity: можливість (opportunity), право (right), обов'язок (duty).
• Desire/Intention: бажання (desire), намір (intention), план (plan).
• Communication/Command: наказ (order), дозвіл (permission).
• Time/Opportunity: час (time), нагода (opportunity).
• Habit/Skill: звичка (habit), уміння (skill).

3. Punctuation (The Dash):
If the infinitive attribute stands at the end of a sentence for clarification or emphasis, it is often separated by a dash.

• Він мав єдину потребу — виспатися. (He had only one need — to get enough sleep).

Note: Do not confuse this with subject-predicate constructions where the dash is mandatory because the infinitives function as the subject and predicate, often accompanied by words like це or значить.

4. The Subject of the Action:
For nouns of desire or intention, the actor is usually the same as the person feeling the desire. If the subjects differ, a purpose clause with щоб is required (e.g., бажання, щоб він вивчав мову). However, for nouns of command or communication (like наказ, дозвіл, прохання), the infinitive is frequently used even when the subjects differ (e.g., наказ командира наступати — the commander gives the order, but the soldiers attack).

5. Aspect Choice:
The choice of aspect depends on the nature of the action described by the noun:

• Use the недоконаний вид (Imperfective) for ongoing processes, habits, or general skills (e.g., звичка рано вставати — the habit of waking up early).
• Use the доконаний вид (Perfective) for specific results, single acts, or completed intentions (e.g., намір купити будинок — the intention to buy a house).

6. Invariability:
The infinitive is invariable. Even if the noun changes case, the infinitive remains in its -ти form.