Verbs requiring the use of an infinitive

There are a number of Ukrainian verbs that cannot take a direct object (i.e. a nominal form in the accusative case), requiring instead a second verb in the infinitive. Such verbal juxtapositions are common in English as well, for example, 'to be able to + X' ('He cannot read', 'He is unable to read'), 'to begin to + X', 'to begin X-ing' ('She began to sing', 'began singing'), and likewise. The most common of these are the following:

переставати/перестати 'stop (doing X)’ + imperfective Ольга перестала говорити. Ol'ha stopped talking

могти/змогти 'be able to' He можемо чекати. We cannot wait

Other verbs can be used either with verbal complements (again with infini­tives) or with other complements, nominal or adverbial:

продовжувати/продовжити 'continue' + imperfective

Вони продовжили сперечатися. They continued arguing.

Вони продовжили суперечку. They continued the argument.

уміти 'know how to' + imperfective Умієте плавати? Do you know how to swim?

устигати/устигнути (устигти) 'manage to' + perfective Олекса не встиг дописати листа. Oleksa didn't manage to finish writing the letter. Вона не встигла на сніданок. She didn't make it to breakfast.

(Note the need for a preposition here, showing that the verb does not occur ; a true direct object.)

стати 'begin', 'become' + imperfective

Ми стали читати. We began reading.

Стало тепліше. It became warmer.

починати/почати ‘begin’ + imperfective

Викладач почав говорити. The lecturer began:

Викладач почав лекцію. The lecturer began the lecture.

кінчати/скінчити 'finish' + imperfective

Борис скінчив писати. Borys finished writing.

Борис скінчив лист. Borys finished the letter.

Verbs of obligation or necessity + infinitive

As a particular subset, verbs of obligation/necessity need to be noted; these also require an infinitive:

мусити (or мусіти) 'be obliged to', 'must'

Мушу дзвонити до нього. І must phone him.

Note: мусить бути. 'apparently', 'probably'

мати 'have to', 'be supposed to' (cf. primary

meaning 'to have')

Що маєш робити? What are you supposed to do?

What do you have to do?

Це має бути зроблено негайно. This must be done immediately.

доводитися (impersonal) 'an obligation to do X'

Мені доводиться платити їй ... І must pay her, I feel I must. . .

The infinitive in place of the imperative

The infinitive can be used in place of the imperative in limited contexts: this use of the infinitive expresses the highest or most urgent level of commands, to be expected not in ordinary speech, but typically in situations involving the military or law enforcement. Thus:

Мовчати! Silence!

He говорити! No talking! (= silence!!)

6. Transitive / intransiive verbs

Intransitive vs. Transitive: -ся verbs

The majority of Ukrainian verbs are inherently transitive or intransitive. Transitive verbs occur in conjunction with a direct object, which in Ukrainian is a noun or noun phrase in the accusative case; the genitive can also occur in this function. Intransitive verbs stand alone without a direct object (as can transitives), while -ся verbs are either (a) intransitive, (b) reflexive/reciprocal, or (c) passive

Transitive verbs with an accusative direct object

Сьогодні він знайшов готель. Today he found a hotel (ace.).

Чи знаєш цю студентку? Do you know this/that (female) student?

Ти побачила Анну? Did you see Anna?

Aнна побачила Івана. Anna saw Ivan.

Олексо, випий молоко! Oleksa, drink (up) the milk!

Батько купив хліба. Father bought (some) bread.

... поховайте мене на могилі... ... bury me in a grave . . . (Shevch.)

Людина створила культуру, a Man created culture, and culture культура - людину. (created) man. (KUM)

Note the use of transitive verbs without an object, when reference is to a given action in general:

Люблю читати. І like to read.

Треба їсти та пити. One has to drink and eat.