Breakdown of Они отправятся на юг на корабле.
они
they
на
on, at / by (transport) / to (a place) / to (in answer to)
юг
south
отправиться
to depart
корабль
ship
Questions & Answers about Они отправятся на юг на корабле.
Since the current lesson is about using 'по' for 'by means of', why is 'by ship' translated as на корабле instead of using по?
In Russian, physical modes of transport like ships, buses, and trains usually take на + the Prepositional case (на корабле). The preposition по + Dative is used for 'by means of' when talking about communication or sending things (like по телефону - by phone). However, you would use по to talk about the route they are traveling: по морю (by sea).
Why do we use the preposition на twice in this sentence but with different rules for the nouns?
The preposition на triggers different cases depending on what it is doing. In на юг (to the south), it shows direction or motion ('where to?'), so юг is in the Accusative case. In на корабле (on a ship), it indicates the mode of transport ('on what?'), so корабль takes the Prepositional case ending -е.
Why doesn't the verb отправятся have the future tense word будут in front of it?
Отправиться (to set off/depart) is a perfective verb. In Russian, perfective verbs focus on the result of an action and do not have a present tense. When you conjugate them with standard present-tense endings (like the -ят ending here for 'they'), they automatically become the future tense. You only use forms of быть (like будут) with imperfective verbs.
I know the verb ехать means to go by transport. Could I use поедут instead of отправятся here?
Absolutely! Они поедут на юг (They will go south) is very common and completely correct. Отправиться translates more closely to 'to set off' or 'to head out', which gives the sentence a slightly more adventurous or formal tone, perfect for a long journey by ship.
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