Questions & Answers about На море волна тихая.
Why is there no word for “is” in На море волна тихая?
Russian usually omits the verb “to be” (быть) in the present tense when linking a subject with a noun or adjective.
So instead of literally saying:
- На море волна есть тихая. (есть = “is”)
Russian just says:
- На море волна тихая. — The wave on the sea is quiet / The sea is calm.
In the past or future, a form of быть normally appears:
- На море волна была тихая. – The wave on the sea was calm.
- На море волна будет тихая. – The wave on the sea will be calm.
What does На море literally mean, and why is the preposition на used here?