Learn Hardcore Russian: Я не могу найти другой кабель для зарядки устройства. - I cannot find another cable for charging the device.

Why is the direct object другой кабель in the accusative case (which looks like nominative) rather than genitive like другого кабеля after negation?

In Russian, inanimate nouns in the accusative case have the same form as the nominative. After negation, you have a choice:

Accusative (nominative form) – neutral: Я не могу найти другой кабель.
Genitive – emphasizes absence: Я не могу найти другого кабеля.
Both are correct; the accusative version is more common in everyday speech.

Why are зарядки and устройства in the genitive case?

The preposition для (“for”) always takes the genitive. Here для зарядки means “for the charging” and устройства is genitive because it specifies whose charging it is (“of the device”). Literally: “cable for the charging of the device.”

What’s the difference between другой кабель and еще один кабель?

другой кабель = “a different cable,” i.e. not the one you already have.
еще один кабель = “one more cable,” i.e. an additional copy of the same kind.
Use другой when you need a replacement or a different type; еще один when you simply want an extra one.

Why is the infinitive найти (perfective) used here instead of искать (imperfective)?

найти (perfective) focuses on the successful result “to find.” Paired with the modal мочь (“to be able”), не могу найти means “I’m unable to achieve the result of finding.”
искать (imperfective) describes the process “to look for,” so не могу искать would mean “I can’t even start/look,” which sounds odd here.

Why does the sentence start with Я? Can it be omitted?

Yes. Russian often drops subject pronouns when the verb form makes it clear who’s acting.
Colloquially you can say:
Не могу найти другой кабель для зарядки устройства.
Including Я adds clarity or formality.

Could we rephrase the purpose clause using чтобы + infinitive?

Yes. Instead of кабель для зарядки устройства, you can say:
Я не могу найти другой кабель, чтобы зарядить устройство.
Note the comma before чтобы. This is a more conversational way to express “in order to charge the device.”

What is the gender and animacy of кабель, and how does that affect its forms?

кабель is a masculine, inanimate noun. Inanimate masculine nouns have identical nominative and accusative forms, so кабель stays the same whether it’s the subject or direct object.

What’s the difference between кабель для зарядки устройства and кабель зарядного устройства?

кабель для зарядки устройства = “a cable for charging the device” (focus on the function).
кабель зарядного устройства = “the cable of the charging device (charger)” (focus on ownership/part–whole).
Use the first when talking generally about a charging cable, the second when referring specifically to the cable that belongs to a charger.