Learn Hardcore Russian: Снег белый.

In Russian, the present tense of the verb “to be” is usually omitted. This means that when you state a fact or describe something in the present, you simply place the subject and its attribute together, as in “Снег белый,” which translates to “Snow is white” in English. The linking verb “to be” is understood and not explicitly stated.

How do the noun “снег” and the adjective “белый” agree grammatically in this sentence?

Both “снег” (snow) and “белый” (white) are in the nominative case and are in their masculine singular forms. In Russian, adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in gender, number, and case. Here, since “снег” is a masculine noun, “белый” also takes the masculine singular nominative form to match it.

What do the words “снег” and “белый” individually mean?

The word “снег” means “snow” and “белый” means “white.” When combined in the sentence “Снег белый,” they express the fact that snow is white.

Why is there no article (like “the” or “a”) before “снег” in the sentence?