Breakdown of Пожалуйста, покажите пропуск охране у входа.
пожалуйста
please
у
at
вход
the entrance
показать
to show
Questions & Answers about Пожалуйста, покажите пропуск охране у входа.
Why is покажите used, and what form is it?
Покажите is the imperative (command/request) form of the verb показать (to show). Specifically, it’s the polite/plural imperative, used when addressing:
- one person formally (you, polite вы), or
- multiple people (you all).
The informal singular would be покажи.
What’s the difference between показать and показывать here?
This is about aspect:
- показать (perfective) = show once / complete the action (what you want at a checkpoint).
- показывать (imperfective) = be showing / show repeatedly or habitually.
At an entrance, you normally use perfective: Покажите пропуск… (Show your pass [now].)
Why isn’t вы (you) written in the sentence?
Russian often omits subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows who is addressed. Покажите already signals you (polite/plural), so вы is unnecessary unless you want extra emphasis/contrast.
What case is , and why?