Наша бухгалтерия работает до шести, поэтому после работы я туда уже не успеваю.

Breakdown of Наша бухгалтерия работает до шести, поэтому после работы я туда уже не успеваю.

я
I
работа
the work
не
not
работать
to work
после
after
наш
our
до
until
уже
already
поэтому
so
туда
there
шесть
six
бухгалтерия
the accounting department
успевать
to make it in time

Questions & Answers about Наша бухгалтерия работает до шести, поэтому после работы я туда уже не успеваю.

Why is it наша?

Because бухгалтерия is a feminine singular noun, and the possessive наш has to agree with it.

So:

  • наш = masculine
  • наша = feminine
  • наше = neuter
  • наши = plural

Since бухгалтерия is feminine, you say наша бухгалтерия = our accounting department / our accounts office.

What does бухгалтерия mean here exactly?

In this sentence, бухгалтерия usually means the accounting department, payroll office, or accounts office in a company or institution.

It does not usually mean the abstract subject accounting here. It refers to the place or department that handles money, salaries, paperwork, and so on.

So Наша бухгалтерия работает до шести means something like:

  • Our accounting office is open until six
  • Our accounting department works until six
Why is it работает and not a plural verb?

Because бухгалтерия is grammatically singular.

Even though an accounting department contains several people, Russian treats the noun itself as one unit, so the verb is singular:

  • бухгалтерия работает
  • школа работает
  • поликлиника работает

This is very natural in Russian when talking about offices, institutions, or departments being open or functioning.

Why is it до шести and not до шесть?

Because the preposition до requires the genitive case.

The number шесть changes in the genitive:

  • nominative: шесть
  • genitive: шести

So:

  • до шести = until six

This is a very common pattern:

  • до часа = until one
  • до двух = until two
  • до пяти = until five
  • до шести = until six
Why is there no word for o’clock in до шести?

In Russian, when telling time, часов is often omitted if the meaning is obvious.

So до шести naturally means until six o’clock.

You could say до шести часов, but that is more explicit and often less natural in everyday speech if everyone already understands you are talking about time.

What is the role of поэтому?

Поэтому means therefore, so, or that’s why.

It connects the two parts of the sentence:

  • Наша бухгалтерия работает до шести
  • поэтому после работы я туда уже не успеваю

So the logic is:

The accounting office is open until six, so after work I no longer manage to get there in time.

It is a very common linking word in Russian for showing consequence.

Why is it после работы?

Because после requires the genitive case.

The noun работа changes like this:

  • nominative: работа
  • genitive: работы

So:

  • после работы = after work

This is the normal pattern:

  • после урока = after the lesson
  • после обеда = after lunch
  • после работы = after work
What does туда mean, and why is it not там?

Туда means there, to that place and shows motion toward a destination.

  • туда = to there
  • там = there, at that place

Since the speaker means I can’t get there in time, Russian uses туда, not там.

Compare:

  • Я иду туда = I’m going there
  • Я там работаю = I work there

So in this sentence, туда points back to the accounting office / department as a destination.

What does уже mean here?

Literally, уже often means already, but in negative sentences like this it often has the sense of any longer, anymore, or by then.

So:

  • я туда уже не успеваю

is not really I already don’t make it there, which sounds odd in English. A more natural translation is:

  • I can’t get there anymore
  • I no longer make it there in time
  • By then I can’t get there in time

Here уже emphasizes that because of the timing, it is now too late.

What does не успеваю mean exactly?

Успевать / успеть means to be in time, to manage to do something before it is too late, or to make it in time.

So не успеваю means:

  • I don’t make it in time
  • I can’t get there in time
  • I don’t manage to make it

In this sentence, it does not simply mean I am not fast enough. It specifically means there is not enough time because of the schedule.

Why is the verb успеваю imperfective, not успею?

Because the speaker is talking about a usual / repeated situation, not one single future event.

  • не успеваю = I generally don’t make it in time
  • не успею = I will not make it in time

So this sentence describes a regular fact:

The accounting office is open until six, so after work I don’t manage to get there in time.

If you said не успею, it would sound more like one specific occasion in the future.

Why is the sentence in the present tense if it describes a general situation?

Russian often uses the present tense for habitual or general situations, just like English does.

Compare:

  • I work until five
  • The bank closes at six
  • After work I don’t make it there in time

Russian does the same:

  • работает
  • не успеваю

So the present tense here means this is how things normally are.

Why is the word order после работы я туда уже не успеваю?

Russian word order is flexible, and this order sounds natural because it presents the information step by step:

  1. после работы = after work
  2. я = I
  3. туда = there
  4. уже = already / any longer
  5. не успеваю = don’t make it in time

The verb often comes later in the sentence, especially when earlier words set the scene.

You could rearrange parts of it, but the emphasis would change. For example:

  • Я после работы туда уже не успеваю puts a bit more focus on I
  • Туда я после работы уже не успеваю puts more focus on there

The original order is very natural and neutral.

Could this sentence be translated as Our accounting office is open until six, so I can’t get there after work?

Yes, that is a good natural translation.

Just remember that не успеваю adds an extra idea: I can’t get there in time.

So the fullest sense is:

  • Our accounting office is open until six, so after work I can’t get there in time.

If you shorten it to I can’t get there after work, the basic meaning is still clear, but the nuance of timing becomes a little weaker.

Is работает here literally works, or does it mean is open?

Here it effectively means is open or operates.

Russian often uses работать for institutions, offices, shops, and services:

  • Магазин работает до девяти = The shop is open until nine
  • Банк сегодня не работает = The bank is not open today
  • Наша бухгалтерия работает до шести = Our accounting office is open until six

So while the literal verb is works, the natural English translation is often is open.

AI Language TutorTry it ↗
What's the best way to learn Russian grammar?
Russian grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Russian

Master Russian — from Наша бухгалтерия работает до шести, поэтому после работы я туда уже не успеваю to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • AI tutor to answer your grammar questions