Ви (ввічливе)

Using the polite Ви (often called пошанна множина or honorific plural) is essential for formal communication in Ukrainian. Here is how the agreement works:

• Capitalization: In formal correspondence, official documents, and invitations, Ви and its forms (Вас, Вам, Вами) are capitalized to show respect to a single individual. However, in almost all other contexts (such as dialogue, subtitles, articles, and casual texts), the polite ви is written with a lowercase letter.
• Verbs: Regardless of the person's gender, the tense, or the mood (e.g., the imperative), the verb must always be in the plural form. For example, in the past tense, you must use the plural past tense (e.g., Ви сказали), never the singular. Because the verb is plural, it loses its gender marking. Similarly, you must use plural command forms like Скажіть or Робіть, never Скажи or Роби.
• Adjectives: You have a choice based on the tone you wish to set:
  1. Plural Adjectives: Used for official distance or maximum formality (e.g., Ви дуже добрі).
  2. Singular Adjectives: Used to maintain respect while adding personal warmth. If you choose the singular, the adjective must match the actual gender of the person you are addressing (e.g., Ви дуже добрий for a man, Ви дуже добра for a woman).
• Short-Form Adjectives: Short-form adjectives (e.g., згоден, певен, винен) must take the plural form when used with Ви, even for one person (e.g., Ви згодні?).
• Noun Predicates: When addressing a single person, a noun predicate must remain in the singular (e.g., Ви чудовий лікар, not лікарі).
• The 'Бути' Construction: In the present tense, the copula (є) is simply omitted (e.g., Ви дуже добрі, not Ви є дуже добрі) using a zero present copula. When using the past or future forms of 'to be' (були or будете), the verb is always plural, but the adjective can still be singular for warmth. Additionally, in these tenses, the adjective often shifts to the instrumental case (e.g., Ви були доброю) to describe a state or quality.
• Determiners: When using determiners like який (what a), такий (such), весь (all), or один (one) to address a single person, both the determiner and the adjective or predicate must be in the singular (e.g., Яка Ви красива!, not Які Ви красиві!).
• The Pronoun 'сам': The pronoun сам (oneself) can take the plural form самі when used with the polite Ви (e.g., Ви самі це бачили). However, the singular forms сам (for a man) and сама (for a woman) are also permitted and often used to emphasize the singularity of the person addressed (e.g., Ви сам це бачили or Ви сама це бачили).
• Address: When addressing someone by name with Ви, always use the vocative case (e.g., Пане Іване, Ви...).