Learn Hardcore Russian: Врач всегда заботится о своих пациентах, если они чувствуют недомогание. - A doctor always takes care of his patients if they feel unwell.

In Russian, свой (and its forms like своих) is used when the possessor is the same as the subject of the sentence. In this case, the doctor (subject) cares for his own patients. Using своих emphasizes that the patients belong to him, which is why the non-reflexive possessive его (meaning “his” in a more detached sense) isn’t appropriate.

Which grammatical case is пациентах in, and why is this form required after the preposition о?

Пациентах is in the prepositional plural form. In Russian, when the preposition о (meaning “about” or “concerning”) is used, it requires the noun that follows to be in the prepositional case. This construction indicates the object of care, fitting the pattern заботиться о ком/чём.

What is the significance of the reflexive ending -ся in the verb заботится?

The verb заботиться means “to care” or “to look after,” and it is inherently reflexive. The ending -ся is an essential part of the verb, showing that the action is directed from the subject towards someone or something in a way that is internally connected. In this sentence, заботится is the third-person singular form, matching the subject врач (doctor).

Why is there a comma before the word если, and what role does this word play in the sentence?

The comma is placed before если because it introduces a subordinate conditional clause (“if they feel unwell”). In Russian punctuation, subordinate clauses—especially those introduced by conditional conjunctions like если—are set off from the main clause by a comma to clearly indicate the shift in the sentence’s structure.

What does the noun недомогание mean, and is it commonly used in everyday Russian?

Недомогание translates roughly to “malaise” or “feeling unwell.” It describes a state of slight illness or general unwellness. Although it is a correct term, it tends to be found in more formal or medical contexts. In everyday conversation, Russians might opt for simpler expressions to describe not feeling well.