Breakdown of Мы всегда обходим это странное препятствие.
мы
we
этот
this [f: эта, n: это]
всегда
always
странный
strange
Questions & Answers about Мы всегда обходим это странное препятствие.
Why do we use the imperfective verb обходим here instead of the perfective обойдём?
The word всегда (always) tells us this is a repeated, habitual action. For repeated actions, you need the imperfective verb обходить. You would use the perfective обойти for a single, successfully completed action, like 'we will go around it tomorrow'.
Does обходить need a preposition like вокруг (around) to work?
No, and that is a key feature of the об- prefix! When a verb of motion uses this prefix to mean 'to go around' or 'to bypass', it takes a direct object in the Accusative case. You just say the equivalent of 'go around the obstacle' (обходим препятствие) without any extra prepositions.
Why hasn't the ending of это странное препятствие changed if it is the direct object?
It actually is in the Accusative case! However, препятствие (obstacle) is a neuter, inanimate noun. For neuter inanimate nouns, the Accusative case looks exactly the same as the Nominative (dictionary) form. The modifiers это and странное follow the same rule and remain unchanged.
Since ходить usually means walking aimlessly or making round trips, does обходить also imply that?