Question 1

Why does the verb обедали end in -ли?

Accepted Answer

This is the past tense form for plural subjects. The dictionary form (infinitive) of the verb is обедать (to have lunch). To form the past tense, we drop the -ть from the end and add -ли because the subject is мы (we).

Question 2

Would the ending of обедали change if the subject was "I" instead of "we"?

Accepted Answer

Yes! In the past tense, Russian verbs change based on gender and number, not the person speaking (like I, you, or he). If a man says "I had lunch," he drops the -ть and adds the masculine ending -л (я обедал). If a woman says it, she adds the feminine ending -ла (я обедала).

Question 3

Why is the word for "at home" дома and not just дом?

Accepted Answer

Дом is a noun meaning "a house" or "the building." When you want to say that an action happened at home (describing a location), you must use the specific fixed word дома.

Question 4

Could I use домой instead of дома in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

No, because домой means "(to) home" and is only used with verbs of motion to show direction (like "we went home"). Since having lunch happens in a fixed place rather than moving toward it, we use the location word дома.

Да, мы обедали дома.

Breakdown of Да, мы обедали дома.

Questions & Answers about Да, мы обедали дома.

Learn Да, мы обедали дома and more in Russian