Breakdown of Я не могу резать этими ножницами.
не
not
я
I
этот
this [f: эта, n: это]
мочь
to be able to
резать
to cut
ножницы
the scissors
Questions & Answers about Я не могу резать этими ножницами.
Why isn't there a word for "with" (like с) before "этими ножницами"?
When you use an object as a tool to perform an action (like cutting with scissors, or writing with a pen), Russian uses the Instrumental case all by itself, with no preposition. If you used с, it would mean "accompanied by," as if the scissors were standing next to you helping you cut!
How do we form the Instrumental plural "ножницами"?
The dictionary form is ножницы (scissors). To make it Instrumental plural, we drop the -ы and add the standard hard ending -ами, giving us ножницами.
Is "ножницы" always plural, just like in English?
Yes! Ножницы is a word that only exists in the plural. Because it is grammatically plural, any word pointing to it must also be plural. That is why we use the plural word этими (these) rather than a singular word for "this".
What ending does "этими" use?
It is the Instrumental plural form of этот (this). In the plural, adjectives and pointing words usually take the Instrumental endings -ыми or -ими. The plural form эти takes the soft ending, becoming этими.
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