Breakdown of Ему нужно продолжать редактировать эту статью?
он
he / it (for a masculine noun) / it (for a neuter noun)
этот
this [f: эта, n: это]
статья
article
продолжать
to continue
нужно
it is necessary
редактировать
to edit
Questions & Answers about Ему нужно продолжать редактировать эту статью?
Why must редактировать (to edit) be in the imperfective aspect here?
This is the core rule for 'phase verbs' (verbs that express starting, continuing, or finishing an action). After a phase verb like продолжать (to continue), the following infinitive must always be imperfective because you are focusing on the ongoing process of the action.
Why are there two infinitives in a row (продолжать редактировать)?
The word нужно (it is necessary) requires an infinitive to state what is necessary, which gives us продолжать. Since you need to specify what action is being continued, продолжать is then followed by a second infinitive, редактировать.
Why does the sentence begin with Ему instead of Он?
Words that express necessity, like нужно (need to / necessary), require the logical subject to be in the Dative case. So, Он (he) changes to Ему (to him). Literally, the structure reads 'To him it is necessary to continue...'.
Why does the word for 'this article' change to эту статью?
The phrase is the direct object of the verb редактировать, so it must be in the Accusative case. For feminine singular nouns, the endings change. Эта статья (nominative) becomes эту статью (accusative).
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