Breakdown of Меня удивляет качество современных приложений.
я
I
современный
modern
качество
the quality
приложение
the application
удивлять
to surprise
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Russian grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Меня удивляет качество современных приложений.
Why does the sentence begin with Меня удивляет instead of Я удивлён?
This is an impersonal or active‐stative construction using the transitive verb удивлять (“to surprise”). In Russian you can say “Меня удивляет X” literally “X surprises me.” Here Меня is the direct object (accusative), and качество современных приложений is the grammatical subject. Saying Я удивлён качеством… is possible, but it shifts the focus onto your state (you are amazed) rather than on what causes the surprise.
What case is меня in and why?
Меня is the accusative case of я. The verb удивлять requires a direct object in the accusative – in this case, the person who is surprised. Note that for personal pronouns, accusative often matches genitive (я → меня).
Which word is the subject of the sentence?
The subject is качество (“quality”). It stands in the nominative singular because it’s the “thing” doing the surprising (it “surprises” you).
Why is качество in the nominative case?
As the grammatical subject of the verb удивляет, качество must be in the nominative. Russian verbs agree with their nominative subjects in person and number, which is why удивляет is third‐person singular.
Why is приложений in the genitive plural?
We use the genitive case to express “of” or possession. приложений is the genitive plural of приложение (“application”). It shows that the качество belongs to or pertains to modern applications.
What about современных – what case, number, and gender is it?
современных is an adjective modifying приложений. It’s in the genitive plural (agreeing with приложений), and in Russian plural adjectives use the ending -ых (or -их depending on the stem). Gender isn’t marked in the plural.
How would you translate the sentence literally into English?
Literally: The quality of modern applications surprises me.
Can other verbs or structures be used to express a similar idea?
Yes. Instead of удивляет, you could say:
• Меня поражает качество современных приложений (“I am struck by the quality…”)
• Меня восхищает качество современных приложений (“I am delighted by the quality…”)
Or use the passive/reflexive:
• Я удивлён качеством современных приложений (focus on your state of amazement).