Breakdown of Мы читаем текст номер двадцать.
мы
we
текст
text
читать
to read
номер
number (phone, room)
двадцать
twenty
Questions & Answers about Мы читаем текст номер двадцать.
Why do we use the counting number двадцать (twenty) here instead of the word for 'twentieth'?
When you use the word номер (number) to identify something, Russian uses the basic counting (cardinal) number, just like English does with 'number twenty'. If you dropped номер, you would need the ordinal number for 'twentieth' (двадцатый текст).
Why doesn't текст change its ending here, since it is the direct object of 'we are reading'?
текст is indeed in the accusative case because it is the direct object. However, because it is a masculine noun that refers to an inanimate (non-living) object, its accusative form is exactly the same as its dictionary form.
Is the д in the middle of двадцать pronounced?
No, the middle д in двадцать is silent. When speaking naturally, Russians pronounce it as if it were written двацать, but don't forget that the soft sign (ь) at the very end makes the final 't' sound soft!
Does Мы читаем mean 'We read' or 'We are reading'?
It can mean both! Russian does not have a separate continuous tense like the English '-ing' form. Depending on the context, Мы читаем means either 'We read' as a general habit, or 'We are reading' right now.
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