Questions & Answers about Затем поверните налево у большого здания.
What is the function of Затем and how does it differ from Потом?
Затем is an adverb meaning “then” or “afterwards,” used to indicate the next step in a sequence. Потом also means “later” or “then,” but is more colloquial and can imply a longer or less specific delay. In instructions, Затем often sounds more formal and precise.
Why is the verb поверните used here, and what does it tell us about formality and aspect?
Поверните is the plural or polite-form imperative of the perfective verb повернуть (“to turn”). Using the perfective aspect (instead of the imperfective поворачивать) emphasizes a single completed action: “turn (and complete the turn).” The form поверните also serves as a polite or plural command, appropriate for giving directions to strangers or a group.
What part of speech is налево, and why is it used instead of a prepositional phrase?
Налево is an adverb of direction meaning “to the left.” Russian often uses adverbs like налево (and направо, вперёд) to express motion directions concisely, rather than saying влево with a preposition and case. Note that влево is also possible and synonymous, but налево is equally common in spoken and written instructions.
Why does the phrase use у большого здания? What case is большого здания, and why?