Learn Hardcore Russian: Спортзал нового формата лучше, чем старый. - The new-format gym is better than the old one.

In the phrase спортзал нового формата, нового формата functions as an attributive modifier describing спортзал—that is, “a gym of a new format.” In Russian, it’s common to use the genitive case in such fixed expressions to indicate a particular type, style, or quality of the noun. Thus, the genitive here shows that the gym is characterized by a “new format.”

Why does the second part of the sentence use just старый without repeating the noun?

The sentence employs ellipsis to avoid repetition. After чем, the noun спортзал is omitted because it’s clear from context that the comparison is with the gym mentioned earlier. The adjective старый remains in the nominative masculine singular to implicitly refer to спортзал (“the old gym”). This is a typical feature of Russian comparative constructions.

What role does the word чем play in this sentence?

The word чем is a comparative conjunction that translates to “than” in English. It connects the two parts of the sentence, setting up the comparison between the gym of the new format and the (implied) old gym.

How do the case endings differ in нового формата and старый, and why?

In спортзал нового формата, нового формата is in the genitive case because it acts as a descriptive attribute specifying the type of gym (“of a new format”). In contrast, in the second part of the sentence the adjective старый is in the nominative case. This is because it is used in an elliptical construction where the noun (спортзал) is omitted but still understood. So, while the first part uses the genitive for description, the omitted noun in the second part leaves старый in the nominative to match it.

Could the sentence be written differently to include the noun explicitly in the second part?

Yes, it could be expanded to read Спортзал нового формата лучше, чем старый спортзал. However, as in English, Russian often omits the repeated noun in comparisons when the context makes the meaning clear. This ellipsis makes the sentence more concise and natural.