Question 1

Why does the sentence use болен instead of the regular adjective for sick?

Accepted Answer

Болен is a short-form adjective. In Russian, short forms are often used to describe temporary conditions or states. Because the brother's sickness was temporary (he is healthy now), we use болен instead of the regular long-form adjective больной, which would sound more like it is a permanent trait or that he is a chronically sick person.

Question 2

If it was my sister who was sick, how would the sentence change?

Accepted Answer

Short-form adjectives change their endings to match the gender and number of the noun they describe. For a feminine subject, болен becomes больна and здоров becomes здорова. You would also change the past tense verb to match: Моя сестра была больна, но теперь она здорова.

Question 3

Why is there a verb for "was" (был) but no verb for "is" before здоров?

Accepted Answer

Remember that Russian generally skips the verb "to be" in the present tense. While you need был to establish that the sickness happened in the past, the present tense simply pairs the subject and the adjective together. Therefore, он здоров literally stands for "he [is] healthy".

Question 4

Why does the sentence use теперь for "now" instead of сейчас?

Accepted Answer

While both words mean "now", теперь is specifically used to show a change in circumstances. It essentially means "now, as opposed to before." Since the brother's health status changed from being sick to being healthy, теперь is the perfect word to highlight that contrast.

Мой брат был болен, но теперь он здоров.

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