Breakdown of Нельзя шуметь, когда ребёнок спит.
когда
when
ребёнок
the child
спать
to sleep
шуметь
to make noise
Questions & Answers about Нельзя шуметь, когда ребёнок спит.
What does нельзя literally mean, and what kind of word is it?
Нельзя is an impersonal predicative word (a “category of state” word) meaning it’s not allowed / it’s forbidden / one must not. It doesn’t change for person, number, or gender, and it often forms sentences with no explicit subject: Нельзя + infinitive.
Why is there no subject like ты/вы (you) in this sentence?
Russian commonly uses impersonal constructions for rules and prohibitions. Нельзя шуметь is understood as “Nobody should make noise / You mustn’t make noise,” without naming who exactly. If you add ты/вы, it becomes more direct and personal, e.g. Тебе нельзя шуметь = “You are not allowed to make noise.”
Why does нельзя go with the infinitive шуметь?
After нельзя, Russian typically uses the infinitive to name the action that’s prohibited:
- Нельзя курить = “No smoking.”
- Нельзя шуметь = “No making noise.” This is the standard pattern for general prohibitions.
How is Нельзя шуметь different from Не шумите or Не шуми?
They differ in tone and grammar:
- Нельзя шуметь: general rule/prohibition; more neutral/impersonal.