Questions & Answers about Врач помогает больному.
Why does the word for "patient" (больному) have an adjective ending?
Больной literally means "sick" (as an adjective), but here it functions as a noun meaning "patient" or "sick person." Words like this are called substantivized adjectives. Even though they act as nouns in the sentence, they change their endings exactly like regular adjectives.
Since the patient is receiving the help, shouldn't we use the Accusative case? Why is it больному?
In English, "patient" is a direct object, but in Russian, the verb помогать (to help) always requires the Dative case. Because больной declines like an adjective, it takes the Dative masculine adjective ending -ому, becoming больному.
How would this sentence change if the patient were female?
A female patient is больная. To put it in the Dative case after помогает, you use the feminine Dative adjective ending -ой. The sentence becomes Врач помогает больной. Notice that больной is also the Nominative masculine form, but the grammar and context tell you it means a female patient here!
What if the doctor is helping multiple patients?
You would use the plural Dative adjective ending -ым. The sentence would be Врач помогает больным.
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