Breakdown of Где эти важные письма?
где
where / wherever
письмо
letter
этот
this [f: эта, n: это]
важный
important
Questions & Answers about Где эти важные письма?
Why do we use эти instead of это here?
In Russian, words like this or these must match the noun they point to. Because письма (letters) is plural, we must use the plural form эти (these) instead of the singular это (this).
Why does the adjective важные end in -ые?
Adjectives must match the noun they describe. Since письма is plural, the adjective важный (important) takes its plural ending. For most adjectives in the nominative case, this plural ending is -ые.
Wait, is письма feminine singular or neuter plural? It ends in -а!
It is neuter plural! The singular word for letter is письмо. To make neuter nouns ending in -о plural, the -о changes to an -а. It looks exactly like a feminine singular noun, but the plural words эти and важные right before it give away that it is actually plural.
Where is the word for are in this sentence?
Russian almost never uses the verb to be (am, is, are) in the present tense. You just leave it out entirely and literally ask: Where these important letters?
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