Learn Hardcore Russian: Я внимательно слушаю учителя.

Внимательно is an adverb meaning “carefully” or “attentively.” It modifies the verb слушаю by describing the manner of listening. It is formed from the adjective внимательный (“attentive”) by replacing the adjective ending with -о.

Why is учителя in the accusative case, and why does it look like the genitive form?

The verb слушать (“to listen to”) takes a direct object in the accusative case. For masculine animate nouns like учитель (“teacher”), the accusative singular form is identical to the genitive singular: учителя. This signals that the teacher is a living being.

Why isn’t there a preposition before учителя?

Unlike English (“listen to”), Russian слушать directly governs its object without a preposition. You simply say слушать + accusative (e.g., слушаю учителя). Adding a preposition like к would change the meaning (it would become “toward the teacher”).

What person, number, and tense is слушаю?

Слушаю is first person singular in the present tense of the imperfective verb слушать. It translates as “I listen” or “I am listening,” indicating a habitual or ongoing action.

Why is the imperfective слушаю used instead of a perfective form?

The imperfective aspect (слушаю) describes an ongoing or repeated action without reference to its completion. A perfective equivalent (послушать) would imply listening has a defined start and end (“to have a listen”), which doesn’t fit here.

What’s the difference between слушать and слышать?

Слышать means “to hear” (to perceive sound without effort), while слушать means “to listen” (to pay attention to sound). In Я слушаю учителя, you are actively paying attention, not just passively hearing.

Could I change the word order, for example “Я слушаю внимательно учителя” or “Внимательно я слушаю учителя”?

Yes, Russian word order is relatively flexible.

“Я слушаю внимательно учителя” places normal emphasis on the adverb.
“Внимательно я слушаю учителя” puts extra emphasis on how carefully you listen.
All versions are grammatically correct, but the nuance or focus shifts slightly.

Is the pronoun Я necessary, or can it be omitted?

You can omit Я because the verb ending -ю already indicates first person singular. Saying just “Слушаю учителя” is grammatically correct and often used in casual speech, though including Я adds emphasis or clarity.