Learn Hardcore Russian: Приложение автоматически обновляется через интернет. - The application updates automatically through the internet.

Приложение is a noun in the neuter gender, singular number, and here it’s in the nominative case (it’s the subject of the sentence). It’s capitalized simply because it’s the first word of the sentence—Russian nouns themselves aren’t capitalized unless they begin a sentence or are proper names.

Why isn’t there an article like “the” or “an” before Приложение?

Russian doesn’t have articles. Definiteness or indefiniteness is inferred from context, word order, or other words (e.g. demonstratives). So Приложение автоматически обновляется… can mean “The application updates…” or “An application updates…,” depending on context.

What part of speech is автоматически, and how is it formed?

автоматически is an adverb meaning “automatically.” It’s formed from the adjective автоматический (“automatic”) by replacing its adjective ending with –и. Many Russian adverbs are made by taking an adjective and changing –ый / –ий / –ой to –о / –е, here –ически.

What does the suffix –ся in обновляется indicate?

The suffix –ся on обновляется marks it as a reflexive or middle‐voice (passive) verb. The base verb is обновлять (“to update [something]”). With –ся it becomes обновляться, meaning “to be updated” or “to update itself.” In this sentence it functions passively: “is updated.”

What aspect is обновляться, and how would you say a single completed update?

обновляться is imperfective, describing an ongoing or habitual process (“updates / is updating”). To express one completed update you need the perfective form обновиться (reflexive) or use the transitive perfective обновить. For example:

Приложение обновилось автоматически через интернет. (“The application has updated automatically via the Internet.”)
Приложение автоматически обновилось через интернет.

What case is интернет in через интернет, and why?

It’s in the accusative case because the preposition через always requires the accusative. Since интернет is an inanimate masculine noun, its accusative form is identical to its nominative: интернет.

Could you say по интернету instead of через интернет, and is there a difference?

Yes. по интернету uses the dative case of интернет (по + dative) and also means “via the Internet.” Generally:

через
- accusative (“through”) sounds a bit more formal or technical, emphasizing the channel.
по
- dative is more colloquial and widespread in speech.
  The nuance is slight and often they’re interchangeable.

Why is the adverb автоматически placed between the subject and verb, and could you move it?

Russian word order is relatively free. Placing автоматически between Приложение and обновляется is the most neutral position and highlights the manner of action. You could also say:

Автоматически приложение обновляется через интернет. (slightly poetic/emphatic)
Приложение обновляется автоматически через интернет. (focus shifts to “internet”)
All are grammatically correct; the position just changes what feels highlighted or unexpected.