стати / бути + Instrumental
Instrumental Predicate After Стати and Бути
In Ukrainian, when you describe what someone was, will be, or became (a doctor, a student), the noun usually takes the Instrumental case. Adjectives can take either the Nominative or the Instrumental, depending on whether you want to emphasize a permanent trait or a temporary state.
How It Works
This pattern, known as the Instrumental Predicate (орудний предикативний), is the standard way to express identity or status in Ukrainian.
1. The Verb 'Стати' (To Become)
The verb стати almost always requires the instrumental case for both nouns and adjectives, as it signals a transition into a new state.
- Він став лікарем. (He became a doctor.)
2. The Verb 'Бути' (To Be)
The case usage for 'to be' depends on the tense and the part of speech:
- Present Tense: When the verb is omitted (zero copula), the predicate is in the Nominative case (Він — лікар).
- Past and Future Tense (Nouns): When using був or буде, the Instrumental is standard for social roles and professions. However, the Nominative can be used to denote an essential, inherent identity (Він був козак).
- Past and Future Tense (Adjectives): The Nominative is common for permanent or inherent qualities (Він був молодий). The Instrumental can be used to emphasize that a state was temporary or limited to a specific period (Він був сердитим у той день).
- Infinitive: The form бути itself takes the instrumental (Я хочу бути лікарем).
3. The 'Як' Construction
If a role is introduced by the word як (as/in the capacity of), the Nominative case is used instead of the Instrumental.
- Він відомий як поет. (He is known as a poet.)
4. The 'Це' Exception
When identifying someone using це (this is), the Nominative case is strictly required, regardless of the tense.
- Це був мій брат. (This was my brother.)
5. Other Copular Verbs
Verbs like працювати (to work as), залишатися (to remain), and здаватися (to seem) also take the Instrumental case.
Examples (5)
- Мій брат мріє стати архітектором.
My brother dreams of becoming an architect.
Word by Word: My brother dreams to-become architect (Inst.)
The verb 'стати' (to become) triggers the instrumental case for the profession 'архітектор'.
- Після університету вона буде перекладачкою.
After university, she will be a translator.
Word by Word: After university she will-be translator (Inst.)
In the future tense, the role 'перекладачка' (translator) must be in the instrumental case.
- Мій дідусь був відомим художником.
My grandfather was a famous artist.
Word by Word: My grandfather was famous (Inst.) artist (Inst.)
Both the adjective 'відомий' and the noun 'художник' change to the instrumental case after the past tense 'був'.
- Вона хоче бути щасливою.
She wants to be happy.
Word by Word: She wants to-be happy (Inst.)
Even adjectives take the instrumental case when following the infinitive 'бути'.
- Будь обережним на дорозі!
Be careful on the road!
Word by Word: Be (Imp.) careful (Inst.) on road
The imperative forms of 'бути' also require the instrumental case for the following adjective or noun.
Common Mistakes
Using the instrumental case in the present tense with the zero copula.
Він лікарем.Він лікар.In the present tense, when the verb 'to be' is omitted (zero copula), you must use the Nominative case. The Instrumental is typically used with explicit verb forms like 'був', 'буде', or 'стати'.
Using the Instrumental case when the role is introduced by the word 'як' (as).
Він працював як лікарем.Він працював як лікар.When a role or status is introduced by the particle 'як' (meaning 'in the capacity of'), the noun remains in the Nominative case rather than the Instrumental.
Using the Instrumental where the Nominative is the plain choice.
Different MeaningВін був молодим.Він був молодий.'Він був молодим' is correct. The Instrumental after 'бути' sounds more bookish and stresses a state at that time. The Nominative ('Він був молодий') is the plain, everyday choice.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use the instrumental predicate, you first need to know how to form the Instrumental case for nouns. You also need to be familiar with the past and future forms of the verb 'бути' (to be), as the instrumental case is specifically triggered by these tenses (unlike the present tense) and by the verb 'стати' (to become).
- будеFuture Copula and Existence with Буде
The pattern frequently uses the future tense of 'бути' (will be), which is a core component of this construction.
Level 3 - Instrumental Means
Understanding the basic endings and forms of the Instrumental case is necessary before applying it to predicate nouns.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- був/була/було/булиPast Tense of Бути
The past tense form of 'to be' that triggers this instrumental pattern.
Level 2 - Nominative Predicate Noun
The alternative case (Nominative) used for predicates in the present tense.
Level 2 - цікавитися / займатися / керувати + InstrumentalVerb-Governed Instrumental
Other common verbs that govern the instrumental case for their objects.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice стати / бути + Instrumental in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Ukrainian lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
