Breakdown of Сейчас водитель доставляет запас трём поставщикам.
сейчас
now
три
three
водитель
driver
поставщик
supplier
доставлять
to deliver
запас
stock
Questions & Answers about Сейчас водитель доставляет запас трём поставщикам.
Why is it трём поставщикам instead of трём поставщика?
When the numbers 2, 3, and 4 are in an oblique case (any case other than Nominative or inanimate Accusative), the rule that forces the noun into the Genitive singular disappears. Instead, both the number and the noun simply take the required case in the plural. Here, the recipient needs the Dative case, so три becomes трём and the noun becomes the Dative plural поставщикам.
What triggers the Dative case for the suppliers here?
The verb доставляет (delivers). Just like in English, you deliver something (the direct object, which takes the Accusative case) to someone (the indirect object, which takes the Dative case).
Is запас in the Nominative case here?
It looks exactly like it, but it is actually in the Accusative case because it is the direct object being delivered. Since запас (stock or supply) is an inanimate masculine noun, its Accusative form is identical to its Nominative form.
Why use the imperfective verb доставляет rather than a perfective form?
The word Сейчас (Right now) indicates that the delivery is actively happening at this very moment. Imperfective verbs are required for ongoing, incomplete actions in the present tense.
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