Question 1

Why do we use идёт (goes) to say it is raining?

Accepted Answer

In Russian, weather phenomena like rain and snow do not use a dummy subject like 'it' in English. Instead, the rain itself is the subject doing the action. The verb идти (to go) is used for precipitation, so идёт дождь literally means 'rain is going'.

Question 2

Is it also correct to say дождь идёт instead of идёт дождь?

Accepted Answer

Yes, both are grammatically correct. However, Russian often puts the new or most important information at the end of the sentence. Starting with the verb идёт is the most natural, standard way to state the fact that rain is currently happening out of nowhere.

Question 3

Why use надеваю here instead of одеваю?

Accepted Answer

This is a classic trap! Use надевать (to put on) when you are putting an item of clothing onto yourself or someone else. Use одевать (to dress) when the object is a person you are getting dressed. Since you are putting on a raincoat, надеваю is the right choice.

Question 4

Isn't плащ the direct object? Why didn't its ending change?

Accepted Answer

Плащ is indeed the direct object here, which means it is in the accusative case. However, because it is a masculine inanimate noun (an object, not a living being), its accusative form is exactly the same as its basic dictionary form.

Идёт дождь, и я надеваю плащ.

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