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Questions & Answers about Это узкая улица.
Why do we use the neuter Это when улица (street) is a feminine noun?
When это acts as a standalone pointing word meaning "this is" or "that is," it always stays in the neuter form, no matter the gender of the noun that follows. If you wanted to say "this street" as a single phrase (for example, "This street is long"), you would match the gender and use the feminine form: Эта улица.
Why is there no word for "is" in this sentence?
In Russian, the present tense of the verb "to be" (am, is, are) is almost always left out. You just put the subject (Это) directly next to what it is (узкая улица).
Why does the adjective узкая end in -ая?
Since улица is a feminine noun, the adjective describing it must also be feminine. In the nominative case (the basic dictionary form used for subjects), the standard ending for feminine adjectives is -ая.
How would we say "of these narrow streets" to practice our current lesson on the genitive plural?
You would say этих узких улиц. The demonstrative pronoun becomes этих. For the adjective, remember the 7-letter spelling rule: we cannot write ы after к, so the standard -ых ending changes to -их, giving us узких. Finally, the feminine noun улица drops its vowel ending to become улиц.