Questions & Answers about Этот плащ дорогой.
Where is the 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 raincoat is expensive', you simply put the words together: Этот плащ дорогой (This raincoat expensive).
Why does the adjective дорогой end in -ой instead of the usual masculine ending -ый?
The ending is -ой because the stress (the emphasized part of the word) falls on the very last syllable. Whenever a masculine adjective has the stress on its ending, it takes -ой instead of -ый or -ий.
Плащ ends in a hush consonant (щ). How can I easily tell that it is a masculine noun?
I've seen дорогой used in letters to people. Does it always mean 'expensive'?
No! Besides meaning 'expensive' when talking about prices, дорогой also means 'dear' or 'precious'. If you start a letter with Дорогой друг, you are saying 'Dear friend', not 'Expensive friend'.
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