Breakdown of Мой друг волнуется и огорчается без причины.
Questions & Answers about Мой друг волнуется и огорчается без причины.
Russian does not distinguish grammatically between simple present and continuous. Волнуется can mean both “worries” and “is worrying.” Context and adverbs often clarify. In this sentence you can translate either way:
• “My friend worries and gets upset for no reason.”
• “My friend is worrying and getting upset for no reason.”
Russian word order is flexible. Placing без причины before the verbs shifts emphasis onto “for no reason” but doesn’t change the basic meaning. Both are correct:
• Мой друг волнуется и огорчается без причины (neutral)
• Мой друг без причины волнуется и огорчается (emphasis on “no reason”)
Both mean “to get upset,” but with different nuances:
• Огорчаться is more formal or literary, emphasizing disappointment or sorrow.
• Расстраиваться is more colloquial and can imply being upset, distressed, or even frustrated.
Choose based on tone and register: formal writing or speech → огорчаться; everyday conversation → расстраиваться.