Это обычный вопрос.

This is a common question.

Breakdown of Это обычный вопрос.

• это: this
• вопрос: the question
• обычный: usual

Questions & Answers about Это обычный вопрос.

Why is there no verb for is in Это обычный вопрос?

In Russian, the verb to be is usually omitted in the present tense.

So:

• Это обычный вопрос = This is an ordinary question

Literally, Russian says something like:

• This ordinary question

But it is understood as This is an ordinary question.

In the past or future, Russian does use forms of to be:

• Это был обычный вопрос = This was an ordinary question
• Это будет обычный вопрос = This will be an ordinary question

What does это mean here: this or it?

Это can mean this, that, or sometimes it, depending on context.

In Это обычный вопрос, it most naturally means:

• This is an ordinary question

It is very commonly used in Russian to identify or define something:

• Это мой друг = This is my friend
• Это книга = This is a book

So even though это often looks like this, in practice it is also part of a very common This is ... structure.