Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Russian grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Этот вопрос сложный.
Why is there no word equivalent to "is" in the sentence Этот вопрос сложный?
In Russian, the present tense of the verb "to be" (есть) is usually omitted. This means that a sentence like Этот вопрос сложный directly states that "This question is difficult" without needing a linking verb.
What role does the word этот play and why is it used here?
The word этот is a demonstrative pronoun meaning "this." It is in the masculine form because it must agree in gender with the noun вопрос, which is masculine. In Russian, agreement in gender, number, and case is essential for correct sentence structure.
How is the adjective сложный formed to match the noun вопрос?
The adjective сложный is in the masculine nominative singular form, which correctly matches the noun вопрос. Russian adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case, which is why сложный ends with -ый to align with the masculine noun.
Why does this sentence not require a linking verb like "is" even though English uses it?
Russian uses a construction known as the zero copula in the present tense. This means that the linking verb (equivalent to "is" in English) is understood and therefore omitted. The meaning is clear from the word order and the form of the words.
Can the adjective сложный be placed before the noun, and would it change the meaning?
Yes, Russian word order can be flexible. You could say сложный вопрос and it would still mean "a difficult/complex question." However, the choice of position can affect the emphasis. When the adjective follows the noun as in Этот вопрос сложный, it may serve to provide a straightforward description, whereas placing it before (этот сложный вопрос) can slightly shift the focus to the inherent quality of difficulty.