Можете ли Вы выключить лампочку перед уходом?

Could you turn off the bulb before leaving?

Breakdown of Можете ли Вы выключить лампочку перед уходом?

• перед: before
• вы: you
• мочь: to be able to
• выключить: to turn off
• лампочка: the bulb
• ли: whether
• уход: the leaving

Questions & Answers about Можете ли Вы выключить лампочку перед уходом?

Why is ли used after the verb Можете?

The particle ли turns a statement into a yes-no question in formal Russian. It is placed immediately after the verb (or another word you’re questioning). Without ли, you could still ask this question, but you’d rely on intonation alone, and it might sound less formal or clear in writing.

Why is Вы capitalized in Можете ли Вы выключить…?

Capitalizing Вы is a stylistic choice to show extra politeness or respect in written correspondence (letters, emails, notices). In everyday conversation or informal writing, вы is normally lowercase.

Why is the verb выключить in its infinitive form?

Russian uses the infinitive after modal or semi-modal verbs like мочь (to be able). Here, Можете (you can) is the conjugated form of мочь, so the action you request—выключить (to turn off)—remains in the infinitive.

Why is лампочку in the accusative case?

Лампочку is the direct object of выключить. Since лампочка is a feminine noun ending in -а, it takes -у in the accusative singular to mark that it is being acted upon.

Why is уходом in the instrumental case after перед?

The preposition перед (before) can govern the instrumental when you talk about time preceding an event or action. So перед уходом literally means “before the leaving,” with уход (leaving) in the instrumental: уход → уходом.

Could you say перед тем как уйти instead of перед уходом?

Yes. You can use the conjunctional phrase перед тем как + infinitive or a subordinated finite verb:

• Перед тем как уйти, можете ли вы выключить лампочку? (Before leaving, could you turn off the light bulb?)
• Перед тем как вы уйдёте, выключите лампочку, пожалуйста.
  Using the noun form (перед уходом) is a bit more concise and neutral.

Can ли be omitted, and if so, how does that change the sentence?

You can drop ли in spoken or less formal contexts and rely on rising intonation:

• Можете вы выключить лампочку перед уходом?
  It becomes a straightforward polite question. Using ли in writing, however, ensures clarity, especially without vocal cues.

Is there a difference between выключить лампочку and погасить свет?

Yes.

• Выключить лампочку focuses on the specific light bulb or lamp—physically turning off that fixture.
• Погасить свет is more general: it means “to extinguish the light,” often referring to all lights in a room or building. Choosing one or the other depends on whether you mean one lamp or the room’s lighting as a whole.