Breakdown of Фанаты ждут известных певцов.
известный
famous
ждать
to wait (imperfective)
фанат
fan
певец
singer (m)
Questions & Answers about Фанаты ждут известных певцов.
Why do известных певцов look like they are in the Genitive case?
They are the direct object of the verb ждут (are waiting for), which requires the Accusative case here. Because 'singers' are living beings, they are considered animate. In the plural, the Accusative case for animate nouns and their adjectives perfectly copies the Genitive case endings.
What is the dictionary form of певцов and why did the spelling change so much?
The singular dictionary form is певец (singer). This noun has a 'fleeting vowel' — the е in the final syllable drops out when we add most case endings. The stem shrinks to певц-, and then we add the animate Accusative plural ending -ов.
Does the verb ждать (to wait) always use the Accusative case?
Not always! It usually takes the Accusative when you are waiting for a specific person or thing (like these famous singers). If you are waiting for something abstract, indefinite, or if you use a negative sentence, it takes the Genitive case instead. But conveniently, for animate plurals like певцов, both cases share the exact same endings!
Why does the adjective известных end in -ых instead of -ые?
Adjectives always have to match their noun in gender, number, and case. The basic Nominative plural form is известные. However, because певцов is in the animate Accusative plural (which borrows the Genitive form), the adjective must do the same. The plural Genitive and animate Accusative ending for this adjective is -ых.
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