Breakdown of Учитель объясняет правило другим студентам.
учитель
the teacher
правило
the rule
объяснять
to explain
студент
the student
Questions & Answers about Учитель объясняет правило другим студентам.
What tense and aspect is объясняет, and does it mean “is explaining” or “explains”?
Объясняет is:
- Present tense
- Imperfective aspect
- 3rd person singular (he/she/it)
In English it can correspond to both:
- “The teacher explains the rule…” (general, repeated action)
- “The teacher is explaining the rule…” (action happening right now)
Russian present tense of an imperfective verb covers both simple present and present continuous meanings in English. Context decides which sounds more natural in translation.
Why is правило in this form? What case is it, and why does it look like the dictionary form?
Правило is in the accusative singular (direct object of the verb).
- Dictionary form: правило (nominative singular, neuter).
- Accusative singular of most inanimate neuter nouns is identical to the nominative singular.
So:
- Nominative: правило (the rule – subject)
- Accusative: правило (the rule – object)
In this sentence, правило is what is being explained, so it is the direct object → accusative case. It just happens to look the same as the nominative.
Why do we say другим студентам and not something with a preposition like к студентам for “to the other students”?