Breakdown of Мы смотрим комедию.
мы
we
смотреть
to watch / to look at / make sure (in a warning)
комедия
comedy
Questions & Answers about Мы смотрим комедию.
Why does the word for comedy end in -ю here?
Although your current lesson focuses on using the Accusative case for destinations (like going to a place), this exact same case is also used for the direct object of an action (the thing being watched). The dictionary form is комедия (a feminine noun ending in -я). When it becomes the direct object, the -я changes to -ю in the Accusative case.
Why is the ending for 'we watch' смотрим instead of смотрем?
The verb смотреть (to watch) is a bit of a rule-breaker. Even though its dictionary form ends in -еть, it conjugates like an -ить verb (Second Conjugation). That is why the 'we' form takes the -им ending instead of the -ем ending you might expect.
Does Russian have a word for 'are' to make 'are watching'?
No, Russian does not have a separate continuous tense (am/is/are doing) like English does. The single verb form смотрим covers both 'we watch' as a general habit and 'we are watching' right at this moment. You rely entirely on context to know which meaning is intended.
Could смотрим also mean 'we see'?
Not exactly. Смотреть means 'to watch' or 'to look at', which is an active, intentional process. If you want to say 'to see' (the physical ability, or just noticing something), you would use a different verb: видеть. Since watching a movie is an active process, смотрим is the correct verb here.
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