Breakdown of На столе уже стоят рамка и ваза, а мама думает, куда поставить цветы.
Questions & Answers about На столе уже стоят рамка и ваза, а мама думает, куда поставить цветы.
Because на столе answers the question where? and uses the prepositional case after на.
- на столе = on the table
- на стол = onto the table
So in this sentence, the frame and vase are already located there, which is why Russian uses на столе.
Because the subject is actually рамка и ваза — the frame and the vase — which is plural as a whole.
Even though each noun is singular, together they form a plural subject, so Russian uses:
- стоит = stands / is standing (singular)
- стоят = stand / are standing (plural)
So:
- рамка стоит = the frame is standing
- ваза стоит = the vase is standing
- рамка и ваза стоят = the frame and the vase are standing