Learn Russian: Врач хорошо знает эту болезнь.

Врач хорошо знает эту болезнь.

The doctor knows this illness well.

Breakdown of Врач хорошо знает эту болезнь.

врач

doctor

этот

this [f: эта, n: это]

Questions & Answers about Врач хорошо знает эту болезнь.

Why is хорошо before the verb? In English we say 'knows this illness well'.

In Russian, adverbs of manner (words that describe how an action is done, like хорошо) usually come right before the verb. So the sentence literally flows as 'The doctor well knows this illness.'

How can I tell what gender болезнь is? It ends in a soft sign.

Nouns ending in a soft sign (-ь) can be masculine or feminine, which you usually just have to memorize. However, this sentence gives you a massive clue: the word эту is the feminine form of 'this', proving that болезнь is feminine.

If болезнь is the direct object, why didn't its ending change?

It is indeed in the accusative case (the direct object), but feminine nouns ending in a soft sign (-ь) are a special group. Their accusative form looks exactly the same as their nominative (dictionary) form, so it doesn't change to an '-у' like other feminine nouns do.

Why is the word for 'this' эту instead of эта?

Because болезнь is the direct object of the verb знает, any pointing words attached to it must also be in the accusative case. Эту is the accusative feminine form of эта.