Learn Hardcore Russian: Мой пакет, заполненный яблоками, стоит на столе. - My package, filled with apples, is standing on the table.

It acts as a modifier describing пакет. In other words, it provides extra, non-essential information—much like a non-restrictive clause in English—that tells us the bag is filled with apples.

Why is заполненный яблоками set off by commas?

The commas indicate that this participial phrase is detached from the main clause. It’s additional, descriptive detail about пакет that isn’t crucial to the sentence’s core meaning, which is why it’s separated by commas.

What case is яблоками in, and why is that case used here?

Яблоками is in the instrumental case. In this construction, it shows the means or content by which the bag is filled—similar to how we express “filled with apples” in English.

How does the participle заполненный agree with пакет in this context?

Заполненный is in the masculine singular form, which correctly agrees with пакет (a masculine singular noun). In Russian, adjectives and participles must match the noun they modify in gender, number, and case.

Can заполненный яблоками be positioned before пакет? What would be the implications of doing so?

While it is grammatically possible to place descriptive phrases before the noun, Russian typically prefers postpositive participial phrases for extended descriptions. Moving it before пакет might alter the sentence’s flow and emphasis, and could make the structure less clear.

What role does the prepositional phrase на столе play in the sentence?

На столе functions as a locative expression, specifying the location of the bag. It tells us where the bag is—namely, on the table.

Why is the verb стоит used in this sentence, and what does it convey?

Стоит is the third person singular form of стоять, which means “to stand” or “to be located.” Here, it indicates the static position of the bag (i.e., that it stands on the table), emphasizing its location rather than an action.