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Questions & Answers about Когда я говорю перед публикой, волнение охватывает меня.
What is the function of Когда in this sentence?
Когда is a subordinating conjunction that introduces a temporal (time) clause. Here it means “whenever” or “when,” setting the time frame for the main clause волнение охватывает меня. In Russian, such adverbial clauses are often placed before the main clause and are separated by a comma.
What tense and aspect is говорю, and why is the imperfective used here?
Говорю is 1st person singular, present tense, imperfective aspect of говорить. The imperfective is used because it describes an ongoing or habitual action (“whenever I speak”). If you wanted to talk about one completed action in the past, you’d use a perfective verb in the past tense (for example, Когда я сказал перед публикой…).
Why is публикой in the instrumental case?
The preposition перед always takes the instrumental case to mean “in front of” or “before.” The noun публика (nominative) changes to публикой in the instrumental.
What is the role of волнение, and why is it in the nominative case?
Волнение is a noun (neuter gender, singular) in the nominative case, functioning as the subject of the main clause. Grammatically, “the excitement” is what “seizes” the speaker.
Why is меня in the accusative case?
Меня is the accusative form of я and is used here as the direct object of the transitive verb охватывать (“to seize,” “to overwhelm”). In Russian, direct objects are in the accusative.
How is the verb охватывает formed, and what does it literally mean?
Охватывает is third person singular, present tense, imperfective aspect of охватывать. Literally it means “encompasses” or “seizes” — figuratively “to overwhelm” or “to take hold of” (as an emotion).
Why is there a comma after the Когда clause?
In Russian punctuation, any subordinate clause (like the adverbial time clause beginning with Когда) that precedes the main clause is separated by a comma.
Can I rephrase this sentence as Я волнуюсь, когда говорю перед публикой? What’s the difference?
Yes. Я волнуюсь (“I get nervous”) is a direct, active construction focusing on the speaker’s action. The original волнение охватывает меня is more descriptive and impersonal, emphasizing the feeling as if it overtakes you. The choice influences style: the original sounds a bit more literary or vivid.
Could I use на публике instead of перед публикой? What’s the nuance?
Yes. На публике means “in public” (among people), while перед публикой means “in front of an audience” (focusing on the act of addressing an assembled crowd). Both work, but перед публикой is more specific to speaking or performing before listeners.
How do you say “stage fright” in Russian?
Common translations are боязнь сцены or страх сцены. In casual speech you might also hear волнение перед сценой, or simply волнение if the context is clear.
What’s the difference between публика and аудитория?
Публика refers to the general public or spectators at an event (concert, performance), often less formal. Аудитория can mean an audience in a formal setting (lecture hall, classroom) or the room itself.