Breakdown of Второй шаг — задать вопрос и слушать ответ.
и
and
слушать
to listen
вопрос
the question
ответ
the answer
Questions & Answers about Второй шаг — задать вопрос и слушать ответ.
What’s the function of the dash (—) between Второй шаг and задать вопрос и слушать ответ, and why isn’t there a verb like is?
In Russian present-tense nominal sentences—where both the subject and predicate are nouns, numerals, or infinitives—the verb быть (“to be”) is normally omitted. A dash takes its place to link subject and predicate. Here Второй шаг is equated to задать вопрос и слушать ответ, so the dash effectively means “(is).”
Can I insert это after the dash, as in Второй шаг — это задать вопрос и слушать ответ?
Yes. Adding это makes the linkage explicit (“The second step is to ask a question and to listen to the answer”). It’s optional in Russian and often used for emphasis or clarity, but stylistically you’ll see both versions.
Why are задать and слушать in the infinitive form instead of imperatives like задай and слушай?
This sentence describes the content of “the second step,” not directly commanding someone. Infinitives (basic verb forms задать, слушать) function like nouns—“to ask” and “to listen”—and form a description. Imperatives would turn it into a series of direct orders.
Why is Второй шаг in the nominative case?