Learn Hardcore Russian: Это правильный ответ.

Это is a demonstrative pronoun meaning this or it. In the sentence, it serves as the subject, pointing to the element being described as the correct answer. Notice that even though English uses the linking verb is (“This is the correct answer”), Russian omits the present-tense form of быть (to be).

Why is there no verb equivalent to “is” in Это правильный ответ.?

In Russian, the present tense of the verb быть (to be) is typically omitted. This means that even though English requires a linking verb in sentences like “This is the correct answer,” Russian conveys the same meaning without including the verb, making the sentence both concise and grammatically complete.

How does the adjective правильный agree with the noun ответ in this sentence?

Russian adjectives must agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case. Since ответ (answer) is a masculine singular noun in the nominative case, the adjective takes its masculine singular form правильный. If the noun were feminine or neuter, the adjective’s ending would change accordingly (for example, правильная for feminine or правильное for neuter).

Why does the adjective правильный end with -ый instead of another ending?

The ending -ый is the standard ending for adjectives modifying masculine singular nouns in the nominative case. This ending indicates that the adjective agrees in gender, number, and case with ответ. Learning these endings is key for proper adjective-noun agreement in Russian.

Can the sentence structure be altered for emphasis, and how flexible is word order in Russian compared to English?

Russian word order is generally more flexible than English, which allows for various emphases by rearranging phrases. However, the basic and most natural structure for a simple statement like this is subject + predicate. In Это правильный ответ., Это is the subject and правильный ответ serves as the complete predicate. Changing the order might shift the focus or create a different stylistic effect, but for straightforward identification, the current order is standard.

Is it ever acceptable to include the verb есть in such sentences, and what impact would that have?

Yes, you can include the verb есть for emphasis, as in Это есть правильный ответ. However, in contemporary spoken and written Russian, it’s more common to omit есть in the present tense because its meaning is already clear from context. Including it could sound more formal or archaic, so the shorter version remains the norm.