How not to hurt someone
A short in Ukrainian text at level B1. The translation sits next to it: reading with a dictionary is still too early at this level, and without support it will not happen at all. Refusing is harder than agreeing. A bare “no” sounds harsh, so it is worth adding a reason: “unfortunately, I will not…
Text
- Відмовляти важче, ніж погоджуватися. Проста «ні» звучить різко, тому варто додати причину: «на жаль, я не встигну». Якщо не хочеться пояснювати, підійде «я подумаю» — усі розуміють, що це означає. А коли просите ви, починайте з «чи не могли б ви»: з цією частинкою прохання перестає бути наказом.Refusing is harder than agreeing. A bare “no” sounds harsh, so it is worth adding a reason: “unfortunately, I will not make it in time.” If you would rather not explain, “I will think about it” works — everyone understands what it means. And when you are the one asking, start with “could you”: with that phrase a request stops being an order.
Comprehension questions
The questions are asked in Russian on purpose: we test your understanding of the text, not your ability to read the question.
- Why is a bare no bad?
- What is worth adding to a refusal?
- What does “I will think about it” mean?
- How should you start a request?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Ukrainian?
B1. That means: you know the letters and have a stock of everyday words — about two or three hundred.
How to read a text in an unfamiliar language usefully?
First all the way through without peeking at the translation — just to catch the familiar words. Then with the translation. Then all the way through again: the second pass brings noticeably more, and that feeling matters more than any rule.