Questions & Answers about Врач лечит грипп.
Why didn't the word грипп change its ending here, since it is the direct object?
In Russian, when a masculine noun represents a non-living thing (an inanimate noun), its Accusative case form (which is used for direct objects) is identical to its dictionary form. Since грипп (flu) is a masculine, non-living noun, it does not change its ending here.
Does лечит mean the doctor is trying to treat the flu, or that he actually cured it?
It means the doctor treats it in general, or is in the process of treating it. The verb лечить is imperfective, meaning it focuses on the ongoing action of providing medical care. To say the doctor successfully 'cured' the flu, you would use the perfective verb вылечить.
Why does лечит end in -ит rather than -ет?
The dictionary form of this verb is лечить. Because it ends in -ить, it belongs to the second conjugation group. This means it takes -и- in its endings instead of the -е- used by first conjugation verbs. So, for 'he/she/it', the correct ending is -ит.
Could I say доктор instead of врач in this sentence?
Yes, you could. Both words mean 'doctor' and are often interchangeable. However, врач is the standard, everyday word used to describe the profession or job title. доктор is slightly more conversational and is also the word you use as a title (like Doctor Ivanov) or when speaking directly to a physician.
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