Expressions of dimension (длиной в...)

Digging Up the Past

When discussing paleontology and excavations, you often need to describe the massive scale of discoveries.

During the excavations, the paleontologists discovered a gigantic skeleton.
Во время раскопок палеонтологи обнаружили гигантский скелет.

To describe exact physical dimensions, use this structure: Instrumental noun of dimension + в + Accusative numeral phrase.

The Formula for Dimensions

To say something is "two meters long" or "five meters tall," combine these elements:

  1. The Dimension (Instrumental case):
    • длиной (in length)
    • высотой (in height)
    • шириной (in width)
    • толщиной (in thickness)
  2. The Preposition: в
  3. The Measurement (Accusative case): The number and unit. Note: Because these measurement units are inanimate, Accusative numbers look exactly like their Nominative forms. The unit noun itself follows standard number rules (Genitive singular for 2-4, Genitive plural for 5+).

Let's look at how to describe length (длиной в...):

We have a unique fossil — a skull two meters long!
У нас есть уникальная окаменелость — череп длиной в два метра!
The gigantic reptile had a tail ten meters long.
У гигантской рептилии был хвост длиной в десять метров.

Height, Width, and Thickness

You can apply this exact same syntax to describe any other physical dimension by swapping the first word:

Paleontologists write that this dinosaur was five meters tall.
Палеонтологи пишут, что этот динозавр был высотой в пять метров.
They found the remains of the reptile and its jaw one meter wide.
Они нашли останки рептилии и её челюсть шириной в один метр.
There are bones three centimeters thick in the skeleton of this dinosaur.
В скелете этого динозавра есть кости толщиной в три сантиметра.
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