Questions & Answers about Река течёт спокойно под старым мостом.
Why are старым and мостом in the instrumental case in the phrase под старым мостом?
The phrase под старым мостом means “under the old bridge.” In Russian, when describing a fixed location using the preposition под, the instrumental case is used. This is why both the adjective старым (from старый) and the noun мостом (from мост) appear in their instrumental forms.
What is the significance of the verb течёт in this sentence?
The verb течёт is the third-person singular present-tense form of течь, which means “to flow.” Since the subject река (“river”) is a singular noun (and feminine), the verb is correctly conjugated to agree with it. Additionally, течь is an imperfective verb, emphasizing a continuous or ongoing action.
How does the adverb спокойно function in the sentence?
Спокойно is an adverb that describes the manner in which the river flows. It modifies the verb течёт, indicating that the river flows calmly or peacefully. Adverbs like спокойно do not change form regardless of the sentence’s other elements.
Why does the preposition под require the instrumental case in this context?