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Questions & Answers about Я готовлюсь к экзамену.
What does the reflexive suffix -сь in готовлюсь indicate?
The suffix -сь shows that the verb is reflexive. This means the action (preparing) is directed at the subject itself. In other words, готовиться translates as “to prepare oneself,” which is why the reflexive form is used.
Why is the noun экзамен changed to экзамену in this sentence?
The change occurs because of the preposition к. In Russian, к requires that the following noun be in the dative case. Thus, экзамен becomes экзамену to correctly express that the speaker is preparing for the exam.
What tense is готовлюсь in, and what does that reveal about the action?
The verb готовлюсь is in the present tense. This indicates that the action of preparing is currently ongoing, showing that the speaker is actively in the process of getting ready for the exam.
How does the sentence structure of Я готовлюсь к экзамену compare to an English sentence?
The sentence follows a clear structure: subject, verb, and prepositional phrase. Я is the subject (I), готовлюсь is the verb (am preparing), and к экзамену is a prepositional phrase indicating the purpose (for the exam). This is quite similar to the English sentence “I am preparing for the exam.”