Questions & Answers about Я знаю этого музыканта.
Why is the "г" in этого pronounced like a "v"?
In Russian, the grammatical endings -ого and -его are always pronounced with a "v" sound instead of a "g" sound. So, этого sounds like "eh-tuh-vuh". This is a strict spelling and pronunciation rule you'll see very often with adjectives and pronouns.
Why does музыкант end in -а here? Isn't it the direct object?
Yes, it is the direct object, which means it is in the accusative case. For non-living masculine objects (like a park or a table), the word doesn't change from its dictionary form. But for living masculine nouns—like people and animals—the accusative case borrows the ending from the genitive case. Since a musician is a living person, музыкант adds an -а to become музыканта.
Why did the word for "this" change to этого?
Words like "this" (этот) have to match the gender, case, and "living/non-living" status of the noun they describe. Because музыканта is a living, masculine noun in the accusative case, этот must also change to its living accusative form, which is этого.
Can I just use the basic word это and say "Я знаю это музыканта"?