Breakdown of Завтра вам нужно доставить этот запас двум поставщикам.
вы
you (plural or formal)
этот
this [f: эта, n: это]
два
two
завтра
tomorrow
нужно
it is necessary
поставщик
supplier
запас
stock
доставить
to deliver (perfective)
Questions & Answers about Завтра вам нужно доставить этот запас двум поставщикам.
Why is it двум поставщикам and not двум поставщика?
This is a crucial rule for declining numbers! When numbers 2, 3, and 4 are in the nominative (or accusative inanimate), the noun follows in the genitive singular (e.g., два поставщика). However, when the number declines into an oblique case like the dative here (двум), the noun must match that case in the plural. So, instead of the genitive singular, we use the dative plural поставщикам.
Why are we using the dative case for двум поставщикам?
The verb доставить (to deliver) requires it. Just like in English, you deliver a direct object (in the accusative case: этот запас) to someone, which acts as the indirect object. In Russian, indirect objects answering "to whom?" take the dative case.
Why does the sentence start with вам нужно instead of using the nominative вы?
Words like нужно and надо (need/necessary) create impersonal constructions in Russian. They require the person experiencing the need to be in the dative case. Literally, it translates closer to "to you it is necessary to deliver..."
Этот запас is the direct object being delivered. Why doesn't its ending change?
It actually is in the accusative case, but because запас (stock/supply) is a masculine inanimate noun, its accusative form is identical to its nominative form. The same rule applies to the demonstrative pronoun этот.
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