Adjective and Noun Agreement in Ukrainian

As you already know, Ukrainian nouns have genders and change across cases. On top of that — just to make it more fun — Ukrainian adjectives must also match the nouns they describe in both gender and case.

Yes, it does sound tricky. But it gets easier when we enjoy Ukrainian music while learning grammar. So, let’s master how adjectives change depending on the gender and case of the noun — and do it with the help of great Ukrainian songs! This time, we'll focus on the nominative case.

1) Feminine Gender

🎵 The HARDKISS – “Антарктида”

⏳ 2:50

Як велика Антарктида

Like the great Antarctica

Я за мить розтанула

I melted in a moment

💡 Key words:

✅ Велика Антарктида

✅ Антарктида is a feminine noun, as indicated by the ending -А, and the adjective великА (big) matches it in gender and case.

✅ Rule: Feminine adjectives in the nominative case usually end in -А for hard stems, and -Я for soft stems.

More examples:

- гарнА квітка (beautiful flower)

- синЯ машина (blue car)

2) Masculine Gender

🎵 СКАЙ – “Best друг” 

 ⏳ 1:20

Тому що в тебе має бути тільки best друг

Because you should have only a best friend

Один, але надійний — тільки best друг

One, but reliable — only a best friend

Старий, перевірений давно — тільки best друг

Old, long-tested — only a best friend

💡 Key words:

✅ надійний, старий друг (loyal, old friend)

✅ Друг is a masculine noun, indicated by the consonant ending, and adjectives надійнИй, старИй match it.

✅ Rule: Masculine adjectives in the nominative case end in -ИЙ for hard stems and -ІЙ for soft stems.

More examples:

- гарнИЙ малюнок (beautiful picture)

- синІЙ олівець (blue pencil)

3) Neuter Gender

🎵 Один в каное – “Небо”

⏳ 0:05

Сьогодні небо таке раптове

Today the sky is so sudden,

Трохи готичне і ледь барокове

A bit gothic and slightly baroque.

💡 Key words:

✅ раптове, готичне, барокове небо (sudden, gothic, baroque sky)

✅ Небо is a neuter noun, as it ends in -О, and adjectives раптовЕ, готичнЕ, бароковЕ match in gender.

✅ Rule: Neuter adjectives in the nominative case end in -Е for hard stems and -Є for soft stems.

More examples:

- гарнЕ слово (beautiful word)

- синЄ море (blue sea)

  ✅ Congratulations! 

Now you know how to make adjectives and nouns agree in the nominative case. It's time to put your knowledge into practice!

Match the adjective endings with the correct gender:

1.  добр(...) чоловік, добр(...) справа, добр(...) серце
2.  розумн(...) лікар, розумн(...) вчителька, розумн(...) немовля
3.  улюблен(...) місто, улюблен(...) пісня, улюблен(...) колір

You see how easy everything becomes when you make learning more interactive? Enjoy a new collection of Ukrainian songs and keep improving your grammar along the way! 💙💛

✅ Answers to Practice Exercises:

1.  добрий чоловік (kind man) – masculine, добра справа (good deed) – feminine, добре серце (kind heart) – neuter
2. розумний лікар (smart doctor) – masculine, розумна вчителька (smart teacher) – feminine, розумне немовля (smart baby) – neuter
3.  улюблене місто (favorite city) – neuter, улюблена пісня (favorite song) – feminine, улюблений колір (favorite color) – masculine