Breakdown of Я не хотел бы ни у кого спрашивать, куда класть папку.
не
not
я
I
спрашивать
to ask
хотеть
to want
куда
where to
у
at, by
никто
nobody
класть
to put, lay (flat)
папка
folder
бы
would (conditional particle) / concessive particle
Questions & Answers about Я не хотел бы ни у кого спрашивать, куда класть папку.
Why do we use куда and класть here instead of где?
The verb класть is a transitive verb of positioning meaning to put or to lay something down. Because you are moving an object to a new destination, it requires the direction word куда (where to). You would only use где (where at) with the intransitive state verb лежать (to be lying down), for example: где лежит папка? (where is the folder?).
Could I say ставить папку instead of класть папку?
Yes, but it changes how the folder is placed! The verb класть is used when putting things down flat, like horizontally on a desk. If you are placing the folder upright—like sliding it vertically into a filing cabinet—you would use ставить (to stand something up). Both are verbs of positioning and take the Accusative case for the object.
Why is the preposition у in the middle of ни у кого?
When a negative pronoun like никто (nobody) is used with a preposition, the preposition splits the word right down the middle. So, the prefix ни- + the preposition у + the Genitive form кого becomes ни у кого. Also notice the double negative: Russian requires не before the verb (не хотел бы) even when using a negative pronoun.
Why do we say спрашивать у кого instead of just using the Accusative or Dative case for the person we are asking?
In English, you directly ask someone a question. In Russian, the verb спрашивать (to ask for information) requires the preposition у + the Genitive case for the person you are asking. Literally, it translates closer to asking a question from someone.
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