Breakdown of Я требую, чтобы ты не кричал так громко!
не
not
я
I
ты
you (singular)
громко
loudly
так
so, like this
чтобы
in order to
требовать
to demand
кричать
to shout
Questions & Answers about Я требую, чтобы ты не кричал так громко!
Why is the past tense кричал used when I am telling someone not to shout right now?
This is a key rule in Russian! When expressing an indirect command, request, or wish using чтобы, the verb that follows must always be in the past tense. Even though you are demanding something for the present or future, you must say чтобы ты не кричал (literally 'that you didn't shout').
Where does the -у- in требую come from?
Требую comes from the infinitive требовать (to demand). Verbs ending in -овать drop the -ова- and replace it with -у- when conjugated in the present tense. So, требовать becomes я требую, ты требуешь, and so on.
Why use the imperfective verb кричал instead of a perfective verb here?
In Russian, negative commands or requests (telling someone NOT to do something) almost always use imperfective verbs. Because you want the person to completely avoid the action of shouting, the imperfective кричал is the natural choice.
Could I use такой instead of так for 'so' in this sentence?
No, because громко (loudly) is an adverb describing how the person is shouting. You must use так with adverbs. Такой is used with adjectives and nouns, like if you said такой громкий голос (such a loud voice).
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