17.1 - Adjectives revisited

It should be clear from Unit 9 that the forms of basic adjectives in Ukrainian are relatively straightforward and, if you have learned the case endings, it should be easy, in most sentences, to match the adjective to the noun it describes. There are a few exceptions, including:

• a small number of adjectives ending in -їй, including безкраїй (boundless), товстошиїй (thick-necked), довговіїй (long-lashed), whose endings retain the iotated vowel throughout
• a couple of dozen adjectives ending in -ций, consisting exclusively of compounds of -лиций (from лице, face) such as круглолиций (round-faced), дволиций (two-faced); please note, however, that the adjectives ниций (low, base) and куций (short) are declined with normal hard endings.

As can be seen from the charts below, the case endings of these adjectives have much in common with those of basic adjectives, and are easily recognisable.

безкраїй

дволиций

To revise adjectival endings do Exercise 17.1A and Exercise 17.1B.