THE VERB

C AT E G O R Y O F N U M B E R
 The categories of person and number are closely
connected with each other. Their immediate
connection is conditioned by the two factors: firstly,
by their situational meaning, referring the process
denoted by the verb to the subject in the situation;
secondly, by their direct and immediate relation to the
syntactic unit expressing the subject as the functional
part of the sentence. Both categories are different in
principle from the other categories of the finite verb,
in so far as they do not convey any inherently
“verbal” semantics.
The expression of the category of person is
essentially confined to the singular form of the verb
in the present tense of the Indicative Mood and, in
addition, it is very singularly presented in the
future tense. As for the past tense, the person is alien
to it except for a trace of person distinction in the
archaic conjugation.
• The category of number is expressed in the English verb on
ly in the present tense forms and only together with person 
distinctions, i.e. the English verb has no specific inflections
 of number.
The number is distinguished only with verbs in the 3rd pers
on in the present tense: He goes (Sg.) vs. They go (PL).
The verb “to be” has special number distinctions, but they a
re also realized only in combination with person distinction
s of the verb.
In the present tense, the verb has the following forms expre
ssing number.
The singular number is expressed by “am” and “is”.
The plurai number cannot be distinguished, since the form 
"are” is correlated both with the singular and plural nouns.
In the past tense, the singular number is expressed by the fo
rm “was”.
The plural number cannot be distinguished either, since the 
form were is used both for singular and plural.
The category of number in Ukrainian is grammatically expressed in the
forms of three paired oppositions: 1st person singular - 1st person
plural, 2nd person singular - 2nd person plural, 3rd person singular - 3rd
person plural.
Personal forms in certain stylistically conditioned situations can be
used instead of each other.

⦁    Forms of the 1st person plural can be used instead of the 1st
person singular. This happens in the following cases: 1) if the speaker
does not want to distinguish himself from his readers or listeners:
«Розглянемо одне з речень наведеного уривка». Such use is
inherent in scientific and journalistic styles.
⦁    Forms of the 1st person plural are used in the meaning of the 2nd
person singular and plural. This is a form of compassion for the
interlocutor: «Як ми себе почуваємо?»

⦁    The forms of the 2nd person singular are specially replaced by the
forms of the 2nd person plural. This is the so-called "you" appeal. It
is a form of politeness and is used as an appeal to a stranger, younger
to older: "Що Ви думаєте з цього приводу?"