Breakdown of Мы можем обсудить это когда угодно после обеда.
Questions & Answers about Мы можем обсудить это когда угодно после обеда.
Why is it Мы можем обсудить and not just Мы обсуждаем?
Можем обсудить means we can discuss or we are able to discuss. It uses:
- можем = we can
- обсудить = to discuss (infinitive)
So the structure is similar to English: we can discuss.
Мы обсуждаем means we are discussing or we discuss, which is a different idea. It does not express ability or possibility.
Why is the verb обсудить in the infinitive?
Because it comes after мочь (to be able / can). In Russian, modal verbs like мочь are followed by an infinitive:
- Я могу прийти = I can come
- Мы можем обсудить = We can discuss
So обсудить stays in the basic dictionary form.
Why is it обсудить and not обсуждать?
This is an aspect question.
- обсудить = perfective
- обсуждать = imperfective
In this sentence, обсудить is used because it means discussing something as a complete action: to talk it over / to discuss it through.
So Мы можем обсудить это... suggests we can have that discussion at some point.
If you used обсуждать, it would sound more like an ongoing or repeated process:
- Мы можем обсуждать это часами = We can discuss this for hours
So here, perfective обсудить is the natural choice.
What case is это here?
Here это is in the accusative, because it is the direct object of обсудить.
However, with это, nominative and accusative look the same, so there is no visible ending change.
Compare:
- Это важно = This is important → nominative
- Мы обсудили это = We discussed this → accusative
Same form, different function.
Why is после обеда in that form? Why not после обед?
Because the preposition после requires the genitive case.
- обед = nominative
- обеда = genitive
So:
- после обеда = after lunch
This is a very common pattern:
- после урока = after the lesson
- после работы = after work
- после встречи = after the meeting
Does после обеда mean after lunch or in the afternoon?
Literally, it means after lunch.
In many contexts, though, that naturally overlaps with in the afternoon, depending on the situation. But grammatically, the phrase is specifically after lunch / after the midday meal.
If someone wanted to say in the afternoon more directly, they might say:
- днём = during the day / in the daytime
- во второй половине дня = in the afternoon
So после обеда is not exactly the same thing, even if the practical meaning may overlap.
What does когда угодно mean exactly?
Когда угодно means whenever, any time, or at any time.
It is made from:
- когда = when
- угодно = a word used in expressions meaning you like / you want / it pleases
So literally it is something like when(ever) you like, but in natural English it usually means:
- whenever
- any time
Examples:
- Приходите когда угодно = Come whenever you like
- Звоните когда угодно = Call any time
Why is когда угодно placed before после обеда?
Russian word order is flexible, but this order is natural.
- когда угодно gives the idea of any time
- после обеда limits that time: after lunch
So together they mean: any time after lunch
You could also hear:
- Мы можем обсудить это после обеда когда угодно
but когда угодно после обеда sounds smoother and more standard in this sentence.
Can the subject мы be omitted?
Yes, often it can be omitted if the context is clear.
- Можем обсудить это когда угодно после обеда.
This still means We can discuss it any time after lunch.
Russian often drops subject pronouns when the verb ending already makes the subject clear. Here можем clearly means we can.
But keeping мы can add clarity, contrast, or emphasis.
Could это go in a different place in the sentence?
Yes. Russian word order is flexible, so you may see variations like:
- Мы можем обсудить это когда угодно после обеда.
- Мы можем это обсудить когда угодно после обеда.
Both are natural.
A slight difference:
- обсудить это is the more neutral order
- это обсудить can give a bit more focus to this
In many everyday contexts, both are fine.
Is there any punctuation needed in this sentence?
No comma is needed here.
когда угодно is not functioning as a subordinate clause here. It is a fixed expression meaning whenever / any time, so the sentence stays simple:
- Мы можем обсудить это когда угодно после обеда.
A learner may expect a comma because когда often introduces clauses, but here it does not.
How would a Russian speaker naturally stress this sentence?
That depends on what is new or important in context. For example:
- Мы можем обсудить ЭТО когда угодно после обеда.
→ focusing on this - Мы можем обсудить это КОГДА УГОДНО после обеда.
→ focusing on the flexibility of time - Мы можем обсудить это когда угодно ПОСЛЕ ОБЕДА.
→ focusing on after lunch, not before
Russian uses word order and intonation together to show emphasis, so the same words can sound slightly different depending on context.
Is this sentence formal or informal?
It is neutral and natural. You can use it in many situations.
It is not especially formal, but it is polite and standard. It would work in conversation, at work, or in everyday communication.
If you wanted a more casual version, you might simply say:
- Можем обсудить это после обеда.
If you wanted to sound a bit more formal, the wording might change depending on the situation, but the original sentence is already perfectly acceptable.
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