Breakdown of Длина этого карандаша — полтора сантиметра.
этот
this [f: эта, n: это]
карандаш
pencil
полтора
one and a half [f. полторы, obl. полутора]
длина
length
сантиметр
centimeter
Questions & Answers about Длина этого карандаша — полтора сантиметра.
Why do we use полтора here instead of полторы?
We use полтора with masculine and neuter nouns. Since сантиметр (centimeter) is a masculine noun, it takes полтора. If we were measuring a feminine noun like минута (minute), we would use полторы.
In English we say "centimeters" (plural). Why is сантиметра in the singular here?
In Russian, when полтора is in the Nominative or Accusative case, the noun that follows it must be in the Genitive singular. That is why we use сантиметра (Genitive singular) instead of a plural form.
Why is there a long dash (—) in the middle of the sentence?
The dash replaces the present tense of the verb to be, acting like the word is in English. When you link a subject like длина to a number or quantity in the present tense, a dash is used to show that connection.
Why is it этого карандаша and not этот карандаш?
This phrase translates to of this pencil. To express of or show possession, Russian uses the Genitive case. The masculine noun карандаш and its modifier этот both change to their Genitive forms to show whose length is being measured.
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