Questions & Answers about После укуса у меня начался зуд на руке.
Why is it после укуса and not после укус?
Because после requires the genitive case.
- Dictionary form: укус = bite
- Genitive singular: укуса
So:
- после укуса = after the bite
This is a very common pattern:
- после урока = after the lesson
- после дождя = after the rain
- после работы = after work
Why does Russian use у меня here? Why not just я?
Russian often uses у + genitive to express something happening to a person, especially with states, sensations, and possession.
So:
- у меня начался зуд literally means something like at me, itching began
- natural English translation: I started to feel itching / I developed an itch
This pattern is very common:
- У меня болит голова. = I have a headache.
- У меня началась температура. = I came down with a fever.
- У меня появился кашель. = I developed a cough.
Using я would not fit this structure.
Why is the verb начался?