Breakdown of Ты должен пойти на соревнование, к которому готовятся спортсмены.
ты
you (singular)
на
on, at / by (transport) / to (a place) / to (in answer to)
пойти
to go (perfective, on foot) / to start (of rain, snow)
должен
must, have to (должен, должна, должны)
готовиться
to prepare
спортсмен
athlete
к
towards, to
который
which / who / that (relative pronoun)
соревнование
competition (sports, athletic)
Questions & Answers about Ты должен пойти на соревнование, к которому готовятся спортсмены.
Why does it say к которому instead of just которое?
The word которому refers back to соревнование (competition), which is a neuter noun. It is in the Dative case here because the verb готовиться (to prepare) requires the preposition к followed by the Dative case. So literally, it means 'towards which' the athletes are preparing.
Why do we use the preposition к here when the English translation says preparing 'for'?
In English, you prepare 'for' something, but in Russian, you prepare 'towards' an event using the verb готовиться plus к and the Dative case. Prepositions rarely translate perfectly word-for-word between the two languages!
Why is the word order готовятся спортсмены (verb then subject) instead of спортсмены готовятся?
In Russian relative clauses starting with который, it is very common and natural to put the verb before the subject. You can technically say к которому спортсмены готовятся, but putting the verb first flows much better to a Russian ear.
Why is it на соревнование and not на соревновании?
The verb пойти (to go) shows motion towards a destination. When expressing destination with the preposition на, you must use the Accusative case. Since соревнование is a neuter noun, its Accusative form looks exactly like its dictionary form. If it were на соревновании (Prepositional case), it would mean you are already at the competition, not going there.
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