Questions & Answers about Я не помню этот фильм.
Since this lesson is about second conjugation verbs, how does the ending of помню work?
The infinitive (dictionary form) is помнить (to remember). Because it ends in -ить, it is a second conjugation verb. To form the я (I) form in the present tense, you drop the -ить and add -ю, creating помню.
Why don't этот and фильм change their endings, since they are the direct object of the sentence?
They are in the accusative case, which is used for direct objects! However, фильм is a masculine, inanimate noun (a non-living thing). In Russian, masculine inanimate nouns and the words that describe them (like этот) do not change their endings in the accusative case. They look exactly the same as they do in the nominative (dictionary) form.
Why is there no Russian word for 'do' in this negative sentence?
Unlike English, Russian doesn't use helper verbs like 'do' or 'does' to make a sentence negative. You simply place the word не (not) directly in front of the main verb. So, не помню translates directly to 'do not remember' or 'don't remember'.
Does the letter м sound different in помню than it normally would?
Yes! The vowel ю makes the consonant immediately before it soft. In помню, the м is pronounced softly, with the middle of your tongue raised slightly toward the roof of your mouth, similar to the 'm' in the English word 'mule'.
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