Questions & Answers about Мы плывём домой.
Why does this sentence use плывём instead of the multidirectional verb?
Because плывём is a unidirectional verb. It shows that we are currently on our way, moving in one specific direction (towards home). You would use the multidirectional version, плавать, if you were sailing back and forth or talking about sailing as a general habit.
Why is "home" translated as домой instead of дом or дома?
домой is a special direction word meaning "homewards" or "to home." You must use it when you are moving toward your home. дома means "at home" and is only used to show location when you are already there and not moving.
I learned that this verb means "to swim." Why is it translated as "sailing" here?
Russian uses the exact same verb for any movement through water. It applies to people swimming, but also to boats and ships sailing. The English translation depends entirely on the context of who or what is moving!
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