має бути + Participle/Infinitive

Має Бути as Obligation or Expected State

Level 5Sounds Like maê buti + díêprikmetnik/ínfínítiv

The pattern має бути (is to be / must be) combines the verb мати (to have) with the infinitive бути (to be) and a participle or infinitive to describe what is scheduled or required to happen.

How It Works

This construction is highly versatile in Ukrainian, appearing in both formal regulations and everyday speech.

1. Expressing an Expected State
When followed by a passive participle, it describes a state that is required to be achieved. The participle must agree with the subject in gender and number. For the case, it can either be Nominative (agreeing with the subject) or Instrumental (governed by the verb бути).
Example: Будинок має бути завершений or завершеним. (The building is to be finished.)

2. Logical Deduction (Epistemic Meaning)
Beyond obligation, має бути is the standard way to express logical probability or deduction (equivalent to 'must be' in English). It indicates that based on evidence, a certain state is highly likely. Note that має бути implies a higher degree of certainty based on evidence compared to the adverb мабуть (probably).
Example: Це має бути цікаво. (This must be interesting.) or Він має бути вдома. (He must be at home.)

3. Active Obligation and Sensory Infinitives
For active voice ('someone has to do something'), we use мати + infinitive without бути (e.g., Він має прийти). However, має бути DOES combine directly with an infinitive in impersonal sensory expressions. In these cases, the object remains in the Accusative case because the verb (like чути) is used impersonally.
Example: Його має бути чути. (He is supposed to be heard / It must be possible to hear him.)

4. Register and Nuance
In official contexts, this pattern sets out requirements. In casual speech, it often translates to 'supposed to' or 'should' based on a plan. Note that while the combination of має бути with impersonal forms in -но/-то (like має бути зроблено) is common in bureaucratic texts, style guides often recommend a passive participle or active construction instead.

5. Conjugation, Tense, and Negation
The verb мати must be conjugated to match the subject (e.g., я маю бути, вони мають бути). To express this in the past tense ('was supposed to be'), conjugate мати in the past tense (мав / мала / мало / мали бути). Negation is formed as не має бути (must not be / is not supposed to be).

Examples (6)

  1. Звіт має бути готовий до завтра.

    The report is to be ready by tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Report has to be ready until tomorrow.

    Here, 'має бути' expresses an expected state that is part of a deadline or plan.

  2. Це питання має бути розглянуте на зборах.

    This issue is to be considered at the meeting.

    Word by Word: This question has to be considered at meeting.

    A formal use showing a scheduled procedural requirement using a passive participle.

  3. Все має бути зроблено вчасно.

    Everything must be done on time.

    Word by Word: Everything has to be done on-time.

    Uses the impersonal -но/-то form. While extremely common in official and general contexts, prescriptive grammarians prefer the passive participle ('зроблене') or an active construction.

  4. Музику має бути чути навіть на вулиці.

    The music is supposed to be heard even on the street.

    Word by Word: Music has to be to-hear even on street.

    Demonstrates 'має бути' combined directly with an infinitive in an impersonal sensory expression.

  5. Ці документи мають бути підписані сьогодні.

    These documents have to be signed today.

    Word by Word: These documents have to be signed today.

    Demonstrates that the verb 'мати' is not a frozen phrase and must conjugate to match the plural subject ('документи мають').

  6. Лист мав бути відправлений ще вчора.

    The letter was supposed to be sent yesterday.

    Word by Word: Letter had to be sent still yesterday.

    Shows the past tense form 'мав бути' to express an unfulfilled expectation or past obligation.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'бути' with an active infinitive for personal obligation.

    Я маю бути працювати сьогодні.
    Я маю працювати сьогодні.

    In the active voice ('I have to work'), you do not use 'бути'. Use 'мати' + infinitive directly. 'Має бути' is for states or passive constructions.

  • Failing to agree the participle with the subject's gender.

    Книга має бути прочитаний.
    Книга має бути прочитана.

    The participle functions like an adjective and must match the feminine noun 'книга'.

How It Connects

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

має бути + Participle/InfinitiveLevel 5Має Бути as Obligation or Expected State

Learn This First

To understand this construction, you need to be familiar with the verb 'мати' (to have) used in its third-person singular form 'має' as a modal verb. You also need to understand how to form infinitives and passive participles, as these provide the lexical meaning of the action or state being required.

Words in This Pattern

матибути