Breakdown of В этот кабинет можно входить?
этот
this [f: эта, n: это]
в
in / to (direction)
кабинет
office (private room, study)
можно
one may, it is allowed
входить
to enter
Questions & Answers about В этот кабинет можно входить?
How does можно work in this sentence if there is no subject like 'I' or 'we'?
Можно is an impersonal word meaning 'it is allowed' or 'one may.' In Russian, you don't need a subject like 'I' or 'you' when asking about general permission. You simply pair можно with an infinitive verb, like входить (to enter). If you wanted to specify 'May I enter?', you would add the dative pronoun мне: В этот кабинет мне можно входить?
Why is it в этот кабинет instead of the prepositional case в этом кабинете?
Because the verb входить (to enter) implies motion toward a destination. When the preposition в indicates direction or motion into something, it takes the accusative case. Since кабинет is a masculine inanimate noun, its accusative form looks exactly like its dictionary (nominative) form. If you were already inside the office doing something, you would use the prepositional case в этом кабинете.
Why use the imperfective verb входить instead of the perfective войти here?
When asking for permission using можно, Russian speakers often use the imperfective aspect. Using входить focuses on the general rule or the action itself: 'Is entering allowed?' If you used the perfective войти, it would focus more on a single, specific result: 'Can I step inside right now?' Both are possible, but входить is a very standard way to ask if an action is permitted.
Why are the words можно входить at the end of the sentence?
Russian word order is flexible, and the core of the question usually goes at the end. By putting В этот кабинет first, the speaker establishes the topic ('As for this office...'), and then asks the main question ('...is entering allowed?'). You could absolutely say Можно входить в этот кабинет? as well, which is a very natural and common word order.
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