Learn Hardcore Russian: Второй шаг — задать вопрос и слушать ответ. - The second step is to ask a question and listen to the answer.

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?

It is the subject (or topic) of the sentence. In Russian, the nominative case marks the subject, especially in a nominal sentence where a dash (or есть/“is”) links it to its predicate.

Why are вопрос and ответ in the accusative case?

Both verbs задать (“to ask”) and слушать (“to listen to”) require direct objects in the accusative. Therefore вопрос and ответ appear in that case.

Could I replace the dash with a colon—Второй шаг: задать вопрос и слушать ответ?

Yes. A colon can introduce an explanation or list after a general word like шаг, but the dash is more idiomatic in modern style for equational or definitional structures.

Should there be a comma before и in задать вопрос и слушать ответ?

No. When only two homogeneous members (here the infinitives задать and слушать) are connected by и, Russian punctuation does not require a comma. Commas appear before и only in longer lists or when linking independent clauses.

What’s the difference between слушать ответ and услышать ответ?

Слушать is imperfective, emphasizing the ongoing process of listening (“to be listening to the answer”). Услышать is perfective, emphasizing the result (“to hear the answer at least once”). Here you want the continuous action of listening, so imperfective слушать is appropriate.

Where does the stress fall in второй, and how is it pronounced?

The stress is on the second syllable: v-tor-ÓY (втор-О́й), pronounced [ftɐˈroj].

Could I rephrase it as Вторым шагом является задать вопрос и слушать ответ?

Yes. This variant uses the instrumental case вторым шагом with the verb является (“is”) to make the relationship explicit. It’s grammatically correct but a bit more formal or bookish than the dash-style.