"Я не їм ковбасу."

Translation: I do not eat sausage.

[vytah]

So Ukrainian also uses accusative for object of a negated sentence, like Russian and unlike Polish? Would genitive always be incorrect?

[Vinnfred]

Genitive is usually used when you speak about something in general (all fruit, all people), and accusative when you speak about particular person, particular sausage that is front of you on the table. But it seems to me that this course doesn't follow that..

[442doBeograda]

So should the sentence be Я не їм ковбаси.?

[Vinnfred]

I believe yes. I am not eating this sausage - Я не їм ковбасу

[442doBeograda]

So can I take them as rules?

singular general - genitive

singular definite - accusative

plural - accusative

[442doBeograda]

What would happen if the object is plural, e.g. I don't like animals. ?

[Vinnfred]

Я не люблю тварин (accusative)

[AnjaNoppinger]

Regarding the English Translation: Shouldn't it be rather "I do not eat sausageS" or as StrapsOpinion suggested: "I do not eat THIS sausage"

[zondu]

In English it is correct to say "I don't eat sausage" when meaning sausage in general. One would also say "I don't eat pizza" meaning pizza in general. One wouldn't say "I don't eat pizzas."

If one does not eat a specific kind of sausage, then one would say "I don't eat this (kind of/particular) sausage" meaning that one sausage in particular and is most correct when including "kind of" or "particular."

In referring to a singular sausage on one's plate that one does not eat, for example, due to dislike of that exact sausage, one would say "I won't eat this sausage" or "I don't like this sausage" or "I don't want to eat this sausage" which is an entirely different sentence in both languages from "I don't eat sausage."

[Eclectic1234]

It may be "correct" to say "I don't eat sausage" when meaning sausage in general, but native English speakers are just as likely to say "I don't eat sausages" or "I don't eat eggs." We would say "I don't eat cake," though, and, as in your example, "I don't eat pizza." I think this is a "rule" that is not universally applied.

[AlexTiefling]

I believe that 'sausage' is idiomatically treated as a mass noun, like cake, pizza, or cheese, in American English, but less so in British English.

[StrapsOption]

Is it not correct to use the indefinite article before 'sausage'?

[Sean_Roy]

In English, 'sausage' isn't usually used with the indefinite article. "Do you like sausage?" "No, I don't eat sausage." "Please pass the sausage." You could say, however, "May I have a sausage?" if, for example, someone is passing around a platter of them, and you want one.

[AlexTiefling]

Much more true in American English than British.

[GeneM.]

To say "I'm not eating this sausage." is the correct translation "Я не їм цю ковбасу?"