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Questions & Answers about Сегодня отличный день.
What is the overall meaning of the sentence Сегодня отличный день?
It means “Today is an excellent day.” Even though there is no linking verb like “is,” the sentence clearly communicates that the current day is excellent.
What does the word Сегодня mean, and what role does it play in the sentence?
Сегодня translates to “today.” It functions as an adverb that sets the time frame for the sentence, indicating that the excellent day being described is the current day.
How does the adjective отличный agree with the noun день?
In Russian, adjectives must agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case. Here, отличный is in the masculine singular nominative form, which matches день—a masculine singular noun in the nominative case.
Why is there no equivalent of the English verb “is” in Сегодня отличный день?
Russian commonly omits the present tense form of the verb “to be.” In this case, the linking verb “is” is not expressed because it is understood from context, making the sentence concise while still conveying the full meaning.
Can the word order of the sentence be changed without altering its meaning?
Yes, Russian has a flexible word order due to its inflectional nature. While Сегодня отличный день is natural and common, rearrangements like Отличный день сегодня are also acceptable. However, changes might shift the emphasis slightly, so it’s important to consider the context and focus when reordering elements.