Breakdown of Благодаря первому месту мы прошли на этот чемпионат.
мы
we
место
place, seat
этот
this [f: эта, n: это]
на
on, at / by (transport) / to (a place) / to (in answer to)
первый
first (1st)
пройти
to pass (perfective)
благодаря
thanks to
чемпионат
championship
Questions & Answers about Благодаря первому месту мы прошли на этот чемпионат.
Why does the ordinal number первый change to первому in this sentence?
It is modifying месту, which is in the Dative case because of the preposition благодаря (thanks to). Since место is a neuter noun, the ordinal number must match it, taking the neuter Dative ending -ому to become первому.
Is the preposition благодаря related to the verb благодарить?
Yes! It historically comes from a verb form meaning 'thanking'. Over time, it became a standard preposition meaning 'thanks to'. Because you give thanks to a target, it makes sense that it forces the following noun phrase into the Dative case.
Why do we use the Accusative case for на этот чемпионат here?
The verb прошли implies motion or advancing toward a goal. When the preposition на shows direction or destination (going to the championship), it takes the Accusative case. If you were already playing at the championship, you would use the Prepositional case (на этом чемпионате).
Why is прошли used to mean advanced? Doesn't it mean walked?
The perfective verb пройти literally means to go through or to pass. In the context of sports, games, or auditions, it is the standard way to say you 'made it through', 'qualified', or 'advanced' to the next stage.
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