Question 1

Why is the word for names имена in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Имена is the plural form of the neuter noun имя (name). Because it is the direct object of the verb ("we preserve the names"), it is in the accusative case. For inanimate neuter nouns, the accusative plural is identical to the nominative plural. Notice how the stem expands with -ен- to form the plural: имя becomes имена.

Question 2

The dictionary word for tribe is племя. Why does it change to племени here?

Accepted Answer

Племя is one of the special neuter nouns ending in -мя. In this sentence, it is in the genitive case because it means "of the tribe". When declining these -мя nouns in any singular case except the nominative and accusative, you replace the -я with the suffix -ен- before adding the standard case ending. For the genitive singular, the ending is -и, giving us племени.

Question 3

Why do we use the singular нашего if we are talking about multiple leaders and multiple names?

Accepted Answer

Modifiers must agree with the exact noun they are attached to. Here, нашего modifies племени (tribe), which is singular—it is "of our tribe", not "of our tribes". Because племя is a neuter noun in the genitive singular, the pronoun наше takes the neuter genitive singular form нашего.

Question 4

How is вождей formed from the dictionary form вождь (leader)?

Accepted Answer

Вождь is a masculine noun ending in a soft sign (-ь). The sentence requires the genitive plural ("of the leaders"). A reliable rule to remember is that masculine nouns ending in a soft sign form their genitive plural by dropping the -ь and adding -ей, which results in вождей.

Мы сохраняем имена вождей нашего племени.

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