Breakdown of Если работать дрелью аккуратнее, сборка пойдёт быстрее.
если
if
быстрее
faster
работать
to use (a tool) / to work
дрель
the drill
Questions & Answers about Если работать дрелью аккуратнее, сборка пойдёт быстрее.
Why does the sentence start with Если and why is there a comma?
Если introduces a conditional clause (If …). When the если-clause comes first, Russian normally separates it from the main clause with a comma:
- Если …, … So Если работать дрелью аккуратнее, сборка пойдёт быстрее. = If …, then ….
Why is работать in the infinitive? Who is doing the work?
Russian often uses the infinitive in general conditions to mean if one/you/we work… without naming the subject. It’s a generic, instructional style (common in manuals/advice):
- Если работать аккуратнее… = If you work more carefully… / If one works more carefully…
Why is it работать дрелью and not работать с дрелью?
With tools, Russian frequently uses the instrumental case to mean using (a tool):
- работать дрелью = to work with a drill / to use a drill с дрелью is possible but means more like together with a drill / having a drill and is less natural here.
What case is дрелью, and what is its dictionary form?