Questions & Answers about Без визы я не смогу пересечь границу.
Why does виза change to визы after без?
Because без (without) always takes the genitive case in Russian.
- The dictionary form is виза (nominative, “visa”).
- After без, it becomes визы (genitive singular): без визы = “without a visa”.
Other examples:
- без воды – without water
- без денег – without money
Why is it границу and not граница?
Граница is the direct object of the verb пересечь (to cross), so it must be in the accusative case.
- Nominative: граница – “(the) border” as the subject.
- Accusative: границу – “(the) border” as the object of “to cross”.
Pattern for a typical feminine -а noun:
- Nominative: граница
- Accusative: границу
So пересечь границу literally means “to cross (the) border.”
Why is it я не смогу, not я не могу?