уникати + Genitive
Уникати with Genitive
In Ukrainian, the verb уникати (to avoid) does not take a direct object in the accusative case like English. Instead, it governs the genitive case (родовий відмінок).
How It Works
The verb уникати (imperfective) and its perfective counterpart уникнути are classic examples of strong case government in Ukrainian. While English speakers 'avoid something' (direct object), Ukrainian speakers 'avoid of something' (genitive).
Key points to remember:
- Case: Always use the genitive case. This applies to nouns, pronouns, and adjectives. Note that both уникати and уникнути follow this rule.
- Negation: Even if you use не уникати (to not avoid), the object remains in the genitive.
- Infinitives: You can also follow the verb with an infinitive to say you avoid doing something (e.g., уникати зустрічатися).
- Scope: It is used for everything from avoiding a person on the street to avoiding legal responsibility.
Examples (5)
- Він завжди уникає відповідальності.
He always avoids responsibility.
Word by Word: He always avoids responsibility (Gen.).
Here, 'відповідальність' (feminine) changes to 'відповідальності' in the genitive case.
- Ми намагаємося уникати гострих конфліктів.
We try to avoid sharp conflicts.
Word by Word: We try to avoid sharp conflicts (Gen. Pl.).
The adjective 'гострих' and noun 'конфліктів' are both in the genitive plural.
- Чому ти уникаєш мене?
Why are you avoiding me?
Word by Word: Why you avoid me (Gen.)?
The personal pronoun 'я' becomes 'мене' in the genitive case.
- Редакція уникає помилок у текстах.
The editorial office avoids mistakes in the texts.
Word by Word: Editorial office avoids mistakes (Gen. Pl.) in texts.
Standard usage for avoiding abstract errors or inaccuracies.
- Вона уникала зустрічі з колишнім другом.
She avoided a meeting with a former friend.
Word by Word: She avoided meeting (Gen.) with former friend.
The verb is in the feminine past tense, but the case government remains genitive.
Common Mistakes
Using the Accusative case instead of the Genitive.
Він уникає проблему.Він уникає проблеми.Learners often use the accusative (проблему) because of English or Russian influence. In literary Ukrainian, only the genitive (проблеми) is correct.
Adding the preposition 'від' (from).
Я уникаю від нього.Я уникаю його.Unlike the verb 'ухилятися' (to evade), 'уникати' does not require a preposition. It connects directly to the genitive object.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'уникати' correctly, you need to know how to conjugate regular -ати verbs in the present tense and be familiar with the endings of the genitive case, as this verb requires its object to be in the genitive rather than the accusative.
- Present tense of regular -ати verbs
The verb 'уникати' follows the regular -ати conjugation pattern in the present tense.
Level 1 - Genitive Possession
Understanding the basic forms and endings of the genitive case is essential since 'уникати' governs this case.
Level 2 - Neutral subject-verb-object order
This pattern involves a standard transitive-like structure where the verb is followed by an object in the genitive case.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- Genitive of Negated Object
Similar to 'уникати', negated verbs also require the genitive case for their objects.
Level 3 - дотримуватися + GenitiveДотримуватися with Genitive
Another common verb that strictly governs the genitive case.
Level 5 - потребувати + GenitiveПотребувати with Genitive
Like 'уникати', this verb requires the genitive case for its object.
Level 5 - немає + GenitiveGenitive After Немає
The genitive case is also used to express absence or non-existence.
Level 3 - Personal Pronoun Case Forms
Necessary for correctly declining pronouns like 'мене' or 'його' after 'уникати'.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice уникати + Genitive in Bubblegum
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