Breakdown of Наш поезд медленно отходит от платформы.
наш
our (наш, наша, наше)
медленно
slowly
поезд
train
от
from
Questions & Answers about Наш поезд медленно отходит от платформы.
Why use отходит instead of уходит for a departing train?
The prefix от- focuses on the exact moment of pulling away or separating from a specific point (like the platform). If you used уходит (with the у- prefix), it would mean the train is leaving or going away entirely, without emphasizing the physical step-by-step separation from the platform.
Why do we use a verb based on ходить (to walk) for a train? Shouldn't it be a riding verb like отъезжать?
It might seem strange, but in Russian, scheduled public transport like trains, buses, and trams usually walk (идти or ходить) rather than ride. Because of this, when adding a prefix to show departure, we build it on the walking verb, resulting in отходить instead of the vehicle-specific отъезжать.
Why does the word платформа change to платформы here?
The preposition от (from or away from) always requires the Genitive case. Since платформа is a feminine noun ending in -а, its Genitive ending is -ы. This от + Genitive combination is the standard grammar pattern to show exactly what an object is moving away from.
The translation says 'is slowly departing'. Why use the imperfective отходит instead of the perfective отойдёт?