Learn Hardcore Russian: Это важное событие.

Это is a neuter singular demonstrative pronoun used to point something out or introduce it. In Это важное событие it functions like “this is” or “it is,” serving as a placeholder subject before the noun phrase in nominative case.

Why isn’t there a verb equivalent to “is” in Это важное событие?

In Russian, the present-tense form of быть (“to be”) is usually omitted. You could say Это есть важное событие, but in everyday speech you simply drop есть and get Это важное событие.

What case are важное and событие in, and why?

Both words are in the nominative singular. After Это (acting as the subject), the complement важное событие stays in the nominative case. Adjectives in Russian always agree with their nouns in gender, number, and case, so важное is also nominative singular.

How can I tell that событие is neuter gender?

Most Russian nouns ending in -ие (like событие, участие, здание) are neuter. Generally, nouns ending in -о, -е, or -мя are neuter, but when in doubt you can always check a dictionary.

Why does важное end with -ое instead of -ый or -ая?

Adjectives must match their nouns in gender, number, and case. Событие is neuter, singular, nominative, so the full adjective form takes the neuter ending -ое. A masculine noun would get -ый or -ий, and a feminine noun would get -ая.

How do you pronounce Это важное событие? Where are the stresses?

In IPA it’s [ˈɛtə ˈvaʐnəjə səˈbɨtʲɪ(j)ə].
Approximate English‐style: EH-tuh VAZH-nuh-yeh suh-BIH-tye-yeh.
Stresses: Это, важное, событие.

How do I ask “Is this an important event?” in Russian?

You use the same words with a rising intonation:
Это важное событие?
If you want a slight surprise or emphasis, add разве at the beginning: Разве это важное событие?

How would I say “This was an important event” in Russian?

You must insert the past-tense verb быть in the neuter form было. So it becomes:
Это было важное событие.

Can I add an adverb like “very” to strengthen the sentence?

Yes. For example:
Это очень важное событие.
Here очень (“very”) comes before the adjective. You could also use крайне, чрезвычайно, абсолютно, etc.

What’s the difference between событие and мероприятие?

Событие is any occurrence or happening (big or small, planned or not).
Мероприятие refers specifically to an organized event (meeting, conference, celebration).
So you’d call the fall of the Berlin Wall a событие, but a corporate workshop a мероприятие.