Questions & Answers about Эта каша сладкая и вкусная.
Why is there no word for 'is' in this sentence?
In Russian, the present tense of the verb 'to be' is almost always left out. So instead of saying 'This porridge is sweet', you literally say 'This porridge sweet'.
Why do Эта, сладкая, and вкусная all have similar 'a' endings?
Could I change the word order and say: Эта сладкая и вкусная каша?
You could, but it changes the meaning! Because Russian doesn't use the word 'is', word order tells us if it is a full sentence. Эта каша сладкая means 'This porridge is sweet.' But if you put the adjective before the noun (Эта сладкая каша), it just forms the phrase 'This sweet porridge...' and the listener will wait for you to finish your sentence.
Does каша only mean 'porridge' like oatmeal?
It usually translates to porridge, but in Russian culture, каша refers to almost any hot cereal or boiled grain. It could be oatmeal, buckwheat, rice, or semolina.