Infinitive with evaluative adjective

Level 5Sounds Like ínfínítiv pri ocínnomu prikmetniku

In Ukrainian, to say 'It is [adjective] to [verb]', you use a predicative adverb (ending in -о) followed by an infinitive. Unlike English, there is no 'it' (dummy subject).

How It Works

This pattern, known as безособово-предикативні слова з інфінітивом, is the standard way to express judgments or modal necessity in Ukrainian.

1. Structure:
The sentence typically starts with the evaluative word, followed by the infinitive.
Example: Важливо (Adverb) + знати (Infinitive) = It is important to know.

2. Adverb vs. Adjective:
Even though English uses an adjective ('It is important'), Ukrainian requires the adverbial form ending in -о. Using the masculine adjective (важливий) is a common error in this specific impersonal slot.

3. The Experiencer:
If you want to specify who finds the action difficult or important, that person must be in the Dative case.
Example: Мені важко читати (It is hard for me to read).

4. Tense Changes:
In the present tense, there is a zero copula. To move to the past or future, you must add the auxiliary verb бути in the neuter singular form:

  • Past: Важливо було перевірити. (It was important to check.)
  • Future: Важливо буде перевірити. (It will be important to check.)

Examples (5)

  1. Важливо перевірити всі факти перед публікацією.

    It is important to check all facts before publication.

    Word by Word: Important to-check all facts before publication.

    Here, 'важливо' evaluates the action of checking. Note the absence of a subject like 'it'.

  2. Складно передбачити результати виборів.

    It is difficult to predict the election results.

    Word by Word: Difficult to-predict results of-elections.

    'Складно' is the adverbial form of 'difficult', used here as a predicate.

  3. Нам було приємно познайомитися з вами.

    It was a pleasure to meet you.

    Word by Word: To-us was pleasant to-get-acquainted with you.

    The experiencers (us) are in the Dative case 'нам', and 'було' indicates the past tense.

  4. Цікаво спостерігати за птахами навесні.

    It is interesting to watch birds in the spring.

    Word by Word: Interesting to-watch behind birds in-spring.

    'Цікаво' evaluates the action of watching as interesting.

  5. Тобі буде корисно прочитати цю статтю.

    It will be useful for you to read this article.

    Word by Word: To-you will-be useful to-read this article.

    Uses the future tense 'буде' and the Dative 'тобі' for the person affected.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the masculine adjective instead of the adverb.

    Важливий знати правду.
    Важливо знати правду.

    In impersonal constructions, you must use the adverbial form ending in -о (важливо), not the adjective (важливий).

  • Using the Nominative case for the person experiencing the state.

    Я важко вчити мову.
    Мені важко вчити мову.

    The person who feels the difficulty must be in the Dative case (мені), not the Nominative (я).

  • Using Russian 'нужно' instead of Ukrainian 'потрібно' or 'треба'.

    Нужно працювати.
    Потрібно працювати.

    While 'нужно' is understood, 'потрібно' or 'треба' are the correct Ukrainian forms for expressing necessity.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Infinitive with evaluative adjectiveLevel 5

Learn This First

To understand this pattern, you need to be familiar with the Ukrainian infinitive and how adjectives function in impersonal sentences. In Ukrainian, when an adjective evaluates an action (like 'important' or 'difficult'), it appears in its neuter form (ending in -о) and is followed directly by the infinitive of the verb being described.