The Living Verb I
До цього моменту ми говорили: це книга, то стіл. (This is a book. That is a table.). Але життя — це рух, дія! Час навчитися: я читаю, ти пишеш, ми працюємо.
Up until now, we've talked about what things are (Це книга. То стіл.). But life is movement, action! It's time to learn how to talk about what we do.
Today you unlock your first set of Ukrainian action verbs — the First Conjugation (-ати verbs). These are verbs ending in -ати or -яти, and they're everywhere in daily life: читати (to read), писати (to write), працювати (to work), гуляти (to walk), грати (to play).
Mastering this pattern means you can suddenly talk about what you're doing right now. No more frozen sentences — your Ukrainian comes alive.
💡 Did You Know?
Ukrainian verb conjugations are incredibly logical. Once you learn the First Conjugation pattern (this module), you've unlocked hundreds of verbs! They all follow the same rules, so if you know читати → читаю, you automatically know працювати → працюю and гуляти → гуляю. It's like getting a master key to Ukrainian action.
Warm-up
Think about your typical day. You wake up. You eat breakfast. You read. You work. You walk. You play. Every single one of these actions uses an -ати verb in Ukrainian.
Питання: You read. You work. You walk. Ready to say it in Ukrainian?
Presentation
The Pattern: -ати → -аю, -аєш, -ає...
The First Conjugation (sometimes called the е-conjugation) includes verbs whose infinitive (dictionary form) ends in -ати or -яти.
All the verbs in this module are imperfective (недоконаний вид). This means they describe actions that are ongoing, repeated, or habitual.
- Я читаю = I am reading (right now) OR I read (every day).
In A2, you will learn «perfective» verbs for one-time completed actions (like «I finished reading»). For now, focus on these ongoing actions!
To conjugate them in the present tense, we:
- Drop the -ти ending
- Add personal endings based on who is doing the action
Let's take читати (chytaty — to read) as our example:
| Person | Ukrainian | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| я | я читаю | /t͡ʃɪˈtɑju/ | I read |
| ти | ти читаєш | /t͡ʃɪˈtɑjeʃ/ | you read (informal) |
| він/вона | він читає | /t͡ʃɪˈtɑje/ | he/she reads |
| ми | ми читаємо | /t͡ʃɪˈtɑjemɔ/ | we read |
| ви | ви читаєте | /t͡ʃɪˈtɑjete/ | you read (formal/plural) |
| вони | вони читають | /t͡ʃɪˈtɑjutʲ/ | they read |
Key insight: The stem is чита-. The endings tell you who: -ю (I), -єш (you), -є (he/she), -ємо (we), -єте (you all), -ють (they).
🎯 Fun Fact
In Ukrainian, you often drop the pronoun because the verb ending already tells you who's doing the action! So instead of «Я читаю», Ukrainians often just say «Читаю» — the ending -ю makes it clear it's «I». This makes Ukrainian sound efficient and rhythmic.
More Examples: The First Conjugation Family
Most First Conjugation verbs are very regular. Let's look at two common subgroups:
1. Regular -ати/-яти Verbs
These verbs keep their stem exactly as it appears in the infinitive (minus -ти).
| Infinitive | Stem | я form | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| гуляти | гуля- | гуляю | to walk, stroll |
| грати | гра- | граю | to play |
| співати | співа- | співаю | to sing |
| думати | дума- | думаю | to think |
| слухати | слуха- | слухаю | to listen |
| розуміти | розумі- | розумію | to understand |
2. The працювати Type (-ва- Dropping Rule)
Many Ukrainian verbs end in -ювати or -увати. These are often new words or loanwords.
The Rule: In the present tense, the -ва- syllable drops out and is replaced by -ю- (or -у-).
This is why працювати becomes працюю (not «працюваю»).
Memorize this pattern:
- Infinitive: ...-ювати
- Present: ...-юю, -юєш, -ює
| Infinitive | Stem Drop | Conjugation (Я) | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| працювати | працю | працюю | to work |
| танцювати | танцю | танцюю | to dance |
| подорожувати | подорожу | подорожую | to travel |
| малювати | малю | малюю | to paint/draw |
🧠 Memory Trick
Imagine the -ва- is shy. It runs away when the action happens NOW (present tense)! But don't worry—it comes back in the past tense (as you'll see in M21).
Some verbs like писати (to write) change their final consonant: писати → пишу (not «писаю»). Don't worry about the rules yet; just memorize the «я пишу» form for now!
Let's see them in action:
- Я пишу лист. (I write a letter.) — /ˈpɪʃu lɪst/
- Ти працюєш тут? (Do you work here?) — /prɑˈt͡sʲujeʃ tut/
- Вона гуляє в парк. (She walks to the park.) — /ɦuˈlʲɑje w pɑrk/
- Ми граємо. (We play.) — /ˈɦrɑjemɔ/
- Ви співаєте. (You sing.) — /spiˈwɑjete/
- Вони думають. (They think.) — /ˈdumɑjutʲ/
- Я розумію українську. (I understand Ukrainian.) — /rozuˈmiju ukrɑˈjinʲsʲku/
- Ти слухаєш музику. (You listen to music.) — /ˈsluxɑjeʃ ˈmuzɪku/
🎬 Pop Culture Moment
In the Ukrainian dub of Harry Potter, when Hermione says «I'm reading!», she uses the verb читаю (chytayu). Just one word! In English, you need two words («I'm reading»), but Ukrainian packs both the subject and the continuous action into a single conjugated verb. Economy and elegance combined.
Daily Life Verbs: -ати in Real Contexts
Here's how these verbs show up in real Ukrainian life:
Ранок (Morning):
- Я снідаю. (I have breakfast.) — /sniˈdɑju/
- Ти починаєш роботу. (You start work.) — /pɔt͡ʃɪˈnɑjeʃ rɔˈbɔtu/
День (Day):
- Вона працює. (She works.) — /prɑˈt͡sʲuje/
- Ми обідаємо. (We have lunch.) — /ɔbiˈdɑjemɔ/
Вечір (Evening):
- Ви вечеряєте вдома? (Do you have dinner at home?) — /weˈt͡ʃerʲɑjete ˈwdɔmɑ/
- Вони відпочивають. (They rest.) — /widpɔˈt͡ʃɪwɑjutʲ/
Вільний час (Free Time):
- Я читаю книгу. (I read a book.) — /t͡ʃɪˈtɑju ˈknɪɦu/
- Ти граєш. (You play.) — /ˈɦrɑjeʃ/
- Він малює картину. (He paints a picture.) — /mɑˈlʲuje kɑrˈtɪnu/
- Вона співає. (She sings.) — /spiˈwɑje/
🌍 Real World
Walk into any Ukrainian café in Lviv and you might hear: «Ти працюєш сьогодні?» (Are you working today?). The barista asks this to decide if they'll pour you a strong espresso or a relaxing cappuccino. One verb — працюєш — and they know your whole vibe.
Practice
Mini-Dialogue 1: У парку (In the park)
Setting: Two friends meet at a park.
— Привіт! Ти читаєш? (Hi! Are you reading?)
— Так, читаю книгу. А ти? (Yes, I'm reading a book. And you?)
— Я чекаю друга. Він працює тут. (I'm waiting for a friend. He works here.)
— Де? (Where?)
— Тут. Він знає цей парк добре! (Here. He knows this park well!)
Translation:
— Hi! Are you reading?
— Yes, I'm reading a book. And you?
— I'm waiting for a friend. He works here.
— Where?
— Here, in the park. He knows this park well!
Mini-Dialogue 2: Вдома (At home)
Setting: Friends talk at home.
— Ти працюєш сьогодні? (Do you work today?)
— Ні, я відпочиваю. Слухаю музику. (No, I rest. I listen to music.)
— А я гуляю в парк! (And I walk to the park!)
— Я теж люблю парк. (I also love the park.)
Translation:
— Do you work today?
— No, I rest. I listen to music.
— And I walk to the park!
— I also love the park.
⚡ Pro Tip
The verb робити (to do/make) is tricky! Ukrainians actually use this verb in the Second Conjugation. We learn that in Module 08. For now, use читаю, граю, гуляю — those are pure First Conjugation gold.
Cultural Insight
Verbs and Ukrainian Soul
Ukrainians love action verbs. They reflect the culture's emphasis on doing, not just being. People in Ukraine ask: «Ти робиш?» (Do you work?), «Ти читаєш?» (Do you read?).
Life is measured in verbs. What you do defines who you are.
And here's the beautiful part: Ukrainian verbs carry musicality. Listen to the rhythm:
- Я чи-та-ю, ти чи-та-єш, він чи-та-є...
The vowels (а, є, ю) flow like a melody. The consonants (т, в, л) give structure. This is why Ukrainian poetry and songs are so rich — the verbs themselves sing.
🎭 Folklore Corner
In Ukrainian folk songs (пісні), First Conjugation verbs appear constantly because they describe daily life: співати (to sing), танцювати (to dance), гуляти (to stroll). The famous folk song «Гуляла дівчина бережком» (A girl walked by the riverbank) uses the past tense of гуляти — but you now know the root! You're learning the verbs that built Ukrainian culture.
Reading: Мій день (My Day)
Я снідаю. (I have breakfast.)
Потім я працюю. (Then I work.)
Я обідаю. (I have lunch.)
Я гуляю в парк. (I walk to the park.)
Я читаю книгу. (I read a book.)
Я слухаю музику. (I listen to music.)
Я думаю. (I think.)
Translation:
I have breakfast. Then I work. I have lunch. I walk to the park. I read a book. I listen to music. I think.
📋 Підсумок
You've unlocked First Conjugation verbs (-ати/-яти)! You can now:
- Conjugate verbs like читати, писати, працювати, грати
- Describe daily routines and actions
- Form basic sentences like «Я читаю книгу» (I read a book)
- Understand the -аю, -аєш, -ає, -аємо, -аєте, -ають pattern
Key Insight: The verb ending tells you WHO is acting, so you can often drop the pronoun. «Читаю» = «I read.» Elegant, efficient, Ukrainian.
Next up: Module 07 — Questions & Negation. You learn questions and negation!
Need More Practice?
External Review
🎯 Activities
Infinitive to English
Conjugation Recognition
Which form means "I read"?
What does «ти пишеш» mean?
Which verb ending implies the pronouns "we"?
What is the infinitive of «працюю»?
Which verb means "to rest"?
What does the phrase «Вони читають» mean?
Which form is used for «він» (he)?
What does «ми граємо» mean?
Which verb means "to sing"?
What is the meaning of «Ви знаєте»?
Which ending is used for «ти» (you, informal)?
What is the stem of «писати»?
Person and Form
1st Person (I/We)
2nd Person (You)
3rd Person (He/She)
Complete the Sentence
Verb Rules
First Conjugation verbs end in -ати or -яти in the infinitive.
The ending -ю is used for «ти» (you).
You can often drop the pronoun in Ukrainian because the verb ending shows who's acting.
«Писати» keeps the stem «писа-» in all forms.
The ending -ють is used for «вони» (they).
«Ми читаєте» is the correct form for "we read".
Verbs like читати, писати, працювати all follow the same conjugation pattern.
First Conjugation verbs use the ending -ить for третя особа (він/вона).
«Снідати», «обідати», «вечеряти» are all First Conjugation verbs related to meals.
The stem of «грати» is «гра-».
«Співати» means "to sing".
You must always use a pronoun with Ukrainian verbs.
Build the Verb
Build the Conjugated Form
Build Verb Sentences
📚 Vocabulary
| Word | IPA | English | POS | Gender | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ати | /ˈatɪ/ | to (verb suffix/ending) | noun | ||
| бережко | /bˈɛrɛʒkɔ/ | little edge | noun | ч | |
| вечеряти | /ʋɛt͡ʃˈɛrjatɪ/ | to have dinner | verb | ||
| вільний | /ʋˈilʲnɪj/ | free | adj | ||
| картина | /kartˈɪna/ | picture, painting | noun | ж | |
| малювати | /maljuʋˈatɪ/ | to draw, to paint | verb | ||
| момент | /mɔmˈɛnt/ | moment | noun | ч | |
| обідати | /ɔbˈidatɪ/ | to have dinner/lunch | verb | ||
| парка | /parka/ | parka (jacket), steam (diminutive) | noun | ж | |
| починати | /pɔt͡ʃɪnˈatɪ/ | to start (imperfective) | verb | ||
| рух | /rux/ | movement, motion | noun | ч | |
| співати | /spiʋˈatɪ/ | to sing | verb |