Learn Hardcore Russian: Эта возможность была использована для изучения новых слов. - This opportunity was used to learn new words.

Эта возможность is the subject of the sentence. The demonstrative adjective эта is in the feminine singular nominative form and agrees with the noun возможность (also feminine singular nominative), clearly specifying “this opportunity.”

How is the passive voice formed in была использована, and why is it used here?

The passive construction is formed by combining the past tense of быть (here, была for feminine singular) with the past passive participle использована (from использовать). This structure indicates that эта возможность underwent the action—it was used—rather than performing it, emphasizing the result rather than the agent.

What is the function of the preposition для in this sentence, and which case does it require?

The preposition для means “for” or “for the purpose of.” It governs the genitive case in Russian. In this sentence, it is followed by изучения, the genitive form of the noun meaning “learning” or “study,” thereby expressing the purpose for which the opportunity was used.

Why is the noun form изучения used instead of an infinitive like изучить?

After для, Russian typically uses a noun in the genitive case to indicate purpose. Изучения functions as an abstract noun (“the act of learning”), which is more common in formal constructions than an infinitive. This structure, для изучения, directly translates as “for the purpose of learning.”

How is the phrase новых слов constructed, and what does it tell us about the words mentioned?

The phrase новых слов consists of новых, the genitive plural form of новый (“new”), and слов, the genitive plural of слово (“word”). This construction indicates that the activity (learning) is specifically directed toward acquiring new words, with the genitive case fitting naturally after изучения as governed by the preposition для.