Questions & Answers about После работы я возвращаюсь домой пешком.
Why is it после работы, not после работа?
Because после always takes the genitive case in Russian.
The dictionary form is работа.
After после, it changes to the genitive singular: работы.
So:
- работа = work
- после работы = after work
This is something you usually just memorize with the preposition:
- после урока = after the lesson
- после обеда = after lunch
- после работы = after work
Why does the verb end in -сь: возвращаюсь?
The -сь ending marks the verb as reflexive.
The verb here is возвращаться = to return / to come back.
Its first-person singular present form is я возвращаюсь = I return / I come back.
Compare:
- возвращать = to return something
- возвращаться = to return oneself, to come back
So:
- Я возвращаю книгу. = I return the book.
- Я возвращаюсь домой. = I return home.
In many cases, Russian uses a reflexive verb where English simply uses return.
Why is in the present tense if the sentence talks about a usual action?