Questions & Answers about Это стол и стул.
Why do we use это here? Does it change depending on the words that follow?
In this sentence, это is used to introduce or point things out, meaning "this is" or "these are". When used this way, это is invariable. It never changes its form, even if the words after it are masculine, feminine, or plural.
Where is the word for "is" in this sentence?
Russian doesn't use a verb for "am," "is," or "are" in the present tense. You simply put the word for "this" and the objects side by side. So, Это стол literally translates to "This [is] table."
How do we know it means "a table" and "a chair" if there are no words for "a"?
Russian doesn't have articles like "a," "an," or "the." You have to figure out from the context whether we mean a table or the table. Here, since we are just pointing them out, adding "a" makes the most natural English translation.
стол and стул look and sound almost the same. How can I remember which is which?
They are very easy to mix up! Notice the vowel in the middle: стол (table) has an "o" (which looks like a round table), and стул (chair) has a "u" sound (written as у).
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