Breakdown of Преподаватель помогает другу с грамматикой.
друг
the friend
с
with
грамматика
the grammar
помогать
to help
преподаватель
the teacher
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Russian grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Преподаватель помогает другу с грамматикой.
What does преподаватель mean in English?
Преподаватель translates to “teacher” or “instructor”. It refers to someone who teaches or instructs.
Why is другу used instead of друг?
Другу is in the dative case, used to indicate the indirect object—the person receiving help. In this sentence, it shows that the teacher helps a friend.
How is the phrase с грамматикой constructed and what does it signify?
The phrase с грамматикой consists of the preposition с (meaning “with”) and грамматикой, which is the instrumental form of грамматика (meaning “grammar”). Together, they express that the help is related to grammar.
Why does the verb appear as помогает?
The form помогает is the third-person singular present tense of the verb помогать (to help). It indicates that the teacher is currently helping someone.
What is notable about the word order in this sentence?
The sentence follows a straightforward word order:
• Subject: Преподаватель
• Verb: помогает
• Indirect Object (Dative): другу
• Prepositional/Instrumental Phrase: с грамматикой
Although Russian allows flexibility in word order due to its case system, this arrangement clearly shows who is doing the action and who is receiving it.
Are there any grammatical concepts exemplified in this sentence that are important for learners?
Yes, this sentence highlights two key points:
• The use of the dative case (другу) for the person receiving an action.
• The use of the instrumental case after the preposition с (с грамматикой) to indicate the means or subject matter of the help.