Breakdown of Команда, которой мы уделяем внимание, готовится к соревнованию.
мы
we
готовиться
to prepare
к
towards, to
который
which / who / that (relative pronoun)
Questions & Answers about Команда, которой мы уделяем внимание, готовится к соревнованию.
Why is которой in the Dative case here?
It refers back to the feminine noun команда (team), so it takes a feminine form. It is in the Dative case because the phrase уделять внимание (to pay attention) requires the Dative case for whoever or whatever is receiving the attention. Literally, it translates to 'The team, to which we devote attention'.
Does the verb готовится match with мы or команда?
It matches with команда (the team), which is the subject of the main sentence. The word мы (we) is only the subject of the inserted relative clause (мы уделяем). Because the main subject and verb are separated by commas, it is easy to get confused, but the core sentence is simply Команда готовится (The team is preparing).
Why do we say к соревнованию instead of using для (for)?
In Russian, the reflexive verb готовиться (to prepare oneself) pairs with the preposition к (to/toward) plus the Dative case when you are preparing for a specific event or goal. So, the neuter noun соревнование (competition) changes to its Dative form, соревнованию.
Is уделяем внимание the standard way to say 'pay attention'?
Yes! The verb уделять means 'to allot' or 'to devote', and внимание is 'attention'. In Russian, you 'devote' attention to something rather than 'paying' it, which is exactly why the phrase forces the object you are focusing on into the Dative case.