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Questions & Answers about Цветы пахнут приятно.
Why is the verb пахнут used instead of пахнет in this sentence?
The subject цветы means flowers, which is plural. In Russian, the verb must agree with its subject, so пахнуть is conjugated in the third person plural form as пахнут.
How does the word приятно function in the sentence?
Приятно serves as a predicate complement that describes the manner or quality of the smell. It’s in a neuter short form used to express a state or characteristic—in this case, that the smell is pleasant.
Why is there no equivalent of the verb “to be” in this sentence?
Russian typically omits the present tense form of “to be.” In descriptive sentences like Цветы пахнут приятно, the linking verb is understood and not explicitly stated, which is common in Russian grammar.
What is the infinitive form of пахнут and what does it mean?
The infinitive is пахнуть, which means “to smell” or “to emit a smell.” In this sentence, пахнут is its third person plural present form, agreeing with the plural noun цветы.
Can the word order be changed to Цветы приятно пахнут, and if so, does it affect the meaning?
Yes, Russian word order is flexible. Altering the sentence to Цветы приятно пахнут might shift the emphasis slightly to the quality of the smell, but the overall meaning—“Flowers smell nice”—remains the same.