Questions & Answers about Это не вода.
Where is the word for "is" in this sentence?
In Russian, the verb "to be" is almost always skipped in the present tense. Because of this, you just place the word for "this" (это) and "not water" (не вода) side by side.
Since вода is a feminine word, why doesn't это change to a feminine form like эта?
When это is used to introduce something, meaning "this is" or "that is", it stays in this frozen neutral form. It doesn't matter if the noun that follows is masculine, feminine, or plural!
Does the negative word не always go right before the noun?
Yes, не is placed directly in front of the exact word it negates. Since we are saying it is "not water", не goes right before вода.
Does adding не change the case or ending of вода?
Not in this type of sentence. When you use это to identify what something is or isn't, the noun simply stays in the nominative case (its basic dictionary form). So, вода keeps its normal ending.
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