Question 1

Why is the word for "one and a half" spelled полутора here instead of полтора?

Accepted Answer

The preposition около (about/around) requires the Genitive case. The basic forms for "one and a half" are полтора (masculine/neuter) and полторы (feminine), but in all other cases (the oblique cases), they both change to полутора. Since it follows около, it must be in the Genitive case here.

Question 2

Why is it километров (Genitive plural)? Doesn't "one and a half" usually take the Genitive singular?

Accepted Answer

This is a very tricky rule! When "one and a half" is in the Nominative or Accusative case, the noun that follows is indeed in the Genitive singular, like полтора километра. However, when it changes to its oblique form полутора, the noun that follows must be in the plural form of whatever case is required. Since около triggers the Genitive case, we use the Genitive plural километров.

Question 3

Why do парк and дом have the -а ending in от парка до дома?

Accepted Answer

The prepositions от (from) and до (to or as far as) both require the Genitive case. Because парк and дом are standard masculine nouns ending in a consonant, they take the -а ending in the Genitive singular to show distance from one point to another.

Question 4

What is the purpose of the long dash (—) in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

The em dash acts as the verb "is". In Russian, the present tense of "to be" is normally omitted. The dash is often used in writing to replace that missing verb, especially to separate the main subject (расстояние) from the number or description that follows it.

Расстояние от парка до дома — около полутора километров.

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