Learn Hardcore Russian: Тем не менее, вдоль стены тянется длинный провод. - Nevertheless, a long cord stretches along the wall.

Тем не менее literally means “nevertheless” or “nonetheless.” It’s a conjunctive adverb used to introduce a contrast or concession, just like однако (“however”). The difference is mostly stylistic:

Тем не менее is a bit more formal and emphatic.
Однако is shorter and can sound slightly more neutral.
Both are interchangeable in many contexts, though you’ll see тем не менее more often in written or formal speech.

Why is there a comma after Тем не менее?

Because тем не менее functions as a parenthetical (introductory) phrase. In Russian, introductory conjunctions and adverbs (например, правда, следовательно) are set off by commas on both sides if they’re in the middle of a sentence, or by one comma if they start the sentence.

Why is стены in the genitive case?

The preposition вдоль always requires the genitive case. It indicates movement or extension along something’s length. Thus, стена (nominative) becomes стены (genitive singular) after вдоль.

What’s the difference between тянуть and тянуться, and why is тянется used here?

тянуть (imperfective, transitive) means “to pull (something).” You’d say Я тяну канат (“I’m pulling the rope”).
тянуться (imperfective, intransitive, reflexive) means “to stretch,” “to extend,” or “to be pulled/tied out,” often describing how something lies or stretches by itself.
In our sentence, длинный провод is not doing the pulling, it is stretching out along the wall, so we use тянется.

Is длинный провод the subject of the sentence?

Yes. Провод is the noun performing the action of the verb тянется, so it stands in the nominative case. Длинный is simply its adjective, also in the nominative singular masculine form.

Why is the word order вдоль стены тянется длинный провод instead of putting the subject first?

Russian has flexible word order. Placing the adverbial phrase вдоль стены at the beginning:

Sets the scene by telling us “where” right away.
Creates a more natural flow, especially when describing locations.
You could say Длинный провод тянется вдоль стены, but that order feels more neutral or less emphatic.

Could we use по стене instead of вдоль стены?

Yes, по стене also means “along the wall,” but there’s a subtle nuance:

вдоль стены stresses the idea of following the entire length, as if drawing a straight line.
по стене can imply movement along or over the surface and might suggest some contact or climbing motion.
In many contexts they’re interchangeable, but вдоль is your safest choice to express “parallel to the wall.”

Why is the verb in the present tense here? Doesn’t the action seem more like a static description?

In Russian, the present tense of an imperfective intransitive verb like тянется often serves as a descriptive, stative form to say “is stretched out” or “lies along.” It doesn’t necessarily mean ongoing action in the dynamic sense; it simply describes the current state or position of the wire.