Lesson 24: Ukrainian Holidays. Dative case
Привіт-привіт, my dear students!
Welcome to the 24th lesson of the course “From Absolute Beginner to a Confident Speaker”. We will learn with you today the Dative case and Holidays in the Ukrainian language. Let`s get it started!
The Dative case
This is the last case in the Ukrainian language, and it has several important usages that you need to remember. First of all, let`s check out the table on how to form a Dative case correctly.
We also put personal and possessive pronouns in the Dative case. Please memorize the following forms below.
The usage of the Dative case
- As the indirect object of such verbs as giving, showing, telling, explaining (something) to someone. For example,
Я даю тобі книгу. – I give (to) you a book.
Він дарує їй квіти. – He gifts (to) her flowers.
Директор надіслав нам листа. – Director sent (to) us a letter.
Вчитель розповів їм цікаву історію. – A teacher told (to) them an interesting story.
- We use the Dative case when we need to say the age:
Скільки тобі років? – How old are you?
Мені 25 років. – I am 25.
Йому 42 роки. – He is 42.
- With expressions of permission, possibility, necessity. For example,
Їй не можна пити кави. – She is not allowed to drink coffee.
Нікому не слід пити багато алкоголю. – Nobody shouldn`t drink a lot of alcohol.
Галині треба піти до стоматолога. – Galyna needs to go to the dentist.
- With some reflexive verbs:
Татові подобається ловити рибу. – Dad likes to fish
Ірині здається, що краще зараз нічого нового не купувати. – It seems to Irina that it is better not to buy anything new now.
Людям доведеться більше економити на електроенергії цієї зими. – People will have to save more on electricity this winter.
Main holidays of Ukrainian – Головні свята України
Новий рік – New Year’s Day (January 1)
It is one of the favourite holidays for Ukrainians. In Ukraine, people decorate ялинка (New Year’s Tree) before January 1 and then leave it till the end of February. On New Year’s Eve, people usually дарують подарунки (give presents) to each other, have a big dinner together with family and friends. Then, at Midnight, people open champagne bottles, raise a toast, and shoot off fireworks.
Різдво – Christmas (mostly celebrated on January 7)
On this day, Christians commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. All family gathers together at a table with 12 lean dishes on it. The 12 dishes symbolize the 12 Apostles. Usual dishes for this eve are кутя́ (kutia), варе́ники (varenyky), голубці́ (holubtsi), тушко́вана капуста (stewed cabbage), кала́ч (Christmas bread).
Великдень – Easter
Easter in Ukraine (The Great day) – in April or May Velykden – the day of Jesus Christ Resurrection. In Ukraine, Easter is a unique holiday and an amazing combination of traditional Christian practices, folklore, and ancient pagan beliefs.
Кра́шанки і пи́санки (сoloured and painted eggs), паски́ (Easter bread), ве́рбні гілочки́ (blessed-willow branches) are the symbols of this holiday.
On Saturday night – Sunday morning, people go to the church for service and bring their Easter baskets. The priest blesses their meals with holy water during the service. After the church, people go to their homes to celebrate and greet each other with the words: “Христо́с Воскре́с!” (Hrystos Voskres!) – “Воі́стину Воскре́с!” (Voistynu Voskres!) (“Christ is Risen!” – “Truly, He is Risen!”).
День вишиванки – The Embroidered Shirt Day
On the third Thursday of May, Vyshyvanka Day is not a public holiday but is celebrated in Ukraine and abroad. It aims to preserve the old traditions of making and wearing embroidered clothes. People all over the world wear vyshyvankas, organize parades, and concerts. Ukraine is a country where vyshyvanka became a national symbol, which had a long transformation and organically entered modern fashion.
День незалежності Independence Day (August 24)
Independence Day is Ukraine’s most significant state holiday, commemorating the “Declaration of Sovereignty” of Ukraine. On this day, Ukrainians gather in their city squares or go to Kyiv. There are special patriotic concerts, events, and meetings all over the country on August 24.
Watch the Ukrainian Podcast about the Christmas in Ukraine.
You may learn more about the most popular Christmas traditions and symbols in the article on our website.
Exercises
Exercise 1. (Вправа 1.) Put the nouns and pronouns in the Dative case.
For example, сонце (Nominative) – сонцю (Dative).
Note: If the consonants к, г, х occur before an ending і in the Dative feminine, these letters change: к into ц, г into з, х into с: рука – руці, нога – нозі.
Мама, він, дитина, вона, стіл, чашка, воно, море, вікно, ми, телефон, студентка, ви, зошит, ручка, магазин, ти, телевізор, я, дівчина, вони, дядько, смартфон, робота.
Exercise 2. (Вправа 2.) Put the nouns in the Dative case.
1.Я бажаю (ти) щастя та успіху. 2. На день народження (дитина) подарували собаку. 3. Ця сукня (вона) личить. 4. (Українці) не треба працювати на наступний день після Пасхи. 5. Він подобається (Марина). 6. В магазині (ми) запропонували велику знижку. 7. Моя подруга постійно рекомендує (я) цікаві книжки. 8. (Вони) здається, що вони вже вчили цю тему. 9. (Робітник)) доведеться переробити цей проект. 10. (Я) треба зателефонувати в сервісний центр.
Print out exercises 1-2 (Lesson 24)
Вправа 1-2. Answers (Lesson 24)
Now you can listen to the words from the vocabulary here:
My dear Ukrainian language lovers, if you want to learn the cases perfectly and to become really fluent in the Ukrainian language, then I highly recommend you to get my textbook “Master Ukrainian Cases” – https://www.speakua.com/product/master-ukrainian-cases-hardcover/ My students inspired me to create it because they needed it so much. My textbook helps everybody to become confident in Ukrainian. You can purchase the textbook in e-book or hardcover versions. The worldwide shipping is free!
The 24th lesson is finished! Well done! We did a great job – learned the Dative case and Holidays in the Ukrainian language. Now it is time to do your homework – a quiz. Good luck!
Homework assignment:
1. Check out all learning materials.
2. Do exercises.
3. Read about the Ukrainian holidays.
4. Do the quiz.