по + Numeral (Distributive)

Distributive По with Numerals

Level 4Sounds Like rozpodílʹne po + čislívnik

The preposition по is used to distribute items or actions equally. It translates to 'each', 'apiece', or 'at a time'. The case of the following numeral depends on the number itself.

How It Works

The distributive construction is essential for commerce, instructions, and daily sharing. In modern Ukrainian, the preposition по in a distributive sense primarily governs the Accusative case for numerals, which simplifies the system compared to other Slavic languages.

1. The Numeral 'One' (Dative Case):
When distributing things one by one, use the Dative forms of один:

  • по одному (masculine/neuter)
  • по одній (feminine)
  • по одних (plural-only nouns)

2. Numerals 2, 3, 4 (Accusative Case):
These numerals take the Accusative form, which is identical to the Nominative. Note that the noun following the numeral must still follow the rule for Nominative Plural.
Example: по два яблука (two apples each).

3. Numerals 5 and Above (Accusative Case):
These also use the Accusative (identical to Nominative). The noun follows the standard rule for Genitive Plural.
Example: по п'ять гривень (five hryvnias each).

4. Collective Numerals:
To describe groups (e.g., 'in pairs'), use collective numerals in the Accusative:

  • по двоє (in pairs / two at a time)
  • по троє (in threes)

Examples (4)

  1. Діти отримали по одному яблуку.

    The children received one apple each.

    Word by Word: Children received per one apple.

    Here, 'один' is in the Dative case (одному) because it refers to the masculine noun 'яблуко'.

  2. Квитки коштують по двісті гривень.

    The tickets cost two hundred hryvnias each.

    Word by Word: Tickets cost per two-hundred hryvnias.

    For numbers above 1, 'по' takes the Accusative (двісті). 'Гривень' is in the Genitive Plural as required by the number.

  3. Ми заходили до зали по двоє.

    We entered the hall two at a time.

    Word by Word: We entered to hall per two.

    The collective numeral 'двоє' is used here to describe the manner of grouping.

  4. Дайте нам, будь ласка, по три чашки кави.

    Please give us three cups of coffee each.

    Word by Word: Give us, please, per three cups of-coffee.

    The numeral 'три' is in the Accusative, and 'чашки' is in the Nominative Plural as required by the number 3.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Dative case for numerals other than 'one'.

    по п'ятьом гривень
    по п'ять гривень

    Using the Dative (п'ятьом) for distribution is a common error influenced by Russian grammar. In standard Ukrainian, use the Accusative (п'ять).

  • Failing to match the gender of 'один' in the Dative.

    по одному книжці
    по одній книжці

    The numeral 'один' must agree with the gender of the noun. Since 'книжка' is feminine, use the feminine Dative form 'одній'.

How It Connects

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по + Numeral (Distributive)Level 4Distributive По with Numerals

Learn This First

To learn distributive 'по', a learner must first be comfortable with the basic syntax of Ukrainian numerals (1-4 and 5+) and how they govern the case of the following noun, as 'по' acts as a marker on top of these existing numeral-noun constructions.

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по