Breakdown of Где ты умывался вчера? Это твоё полотенце?
это
this / it is
где
where / wherever
ты
you (singular)
твой
your [informal]
вчера
yesterday
умываться
to wash one's face
полотенце
towel
Questions & Answers about Где ты умывался вчера? Это твоё полотенце?
Why does the verb end in -ся (умывался)? What does that add to the meaning?
The -ся ending makes the verb reflexive, meaning the action is done to yourself. While умывал would mean you washed something else, умывался specifically means you washed yourself, which in Russian usually implies washing your face and hands.
If I am asking a woman this question, does the verb умывался change?
Why is the word for 'your' spelled твоё here instead of твой?
Words for 'my' and 'your' must match the gender of the noun they describe. The word for towel, полотенце, ends in -е, making it a neuter noun. Therefore, you must use the neuter form твоё instead of the masculine твой or feminine твоя.
Where is the verb 'is' in the sentence Это твоё полотенце?
Russian does not use the verb 'to be' (is, am, are) in the present tense. The word Это acts as 'this is' or 'it is', so the sentence literally looks like 'This your towel?' but perfectly translates to 'Is this your towel?'.
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