Breakdown of Официальный представитель попросил, чтобы мы ушли.
мы
we
попросить
to ask (to request)
уйти
to leave (on foot, pf) / to retreat into solitude
чтобы
in order to
официальный
official
представитель
the representative
Questions & Answers about Официальный представитель попросил, чтобы мы ушли.
Why is the past tense verb ушли used here when the English translation says 'leave'?
This is the main rule for the чтобы construction when there are two different subjects (the representative and us). If one person asks or wants someone else to do something, you must use чтобы followed by the past tense of the second verb. Even though the leaving hasn't happened yet, the grammar requires the past tense form ушли.
Could I just use an infinitive and say попросил нас уйти?
Yes! With verbs of asking or commanding like попросить, you can use the object plus an infinitive: попросил нас уйти (asked us to leave). Using the чтобы clause instead is just another standard way to phrase it, and it often sounds slightly more formal or puts more focus on the desired outcome.
Why does the verb ушли have the prefix у- here?
The prefix у- combined with a verb of motion adds the meaning of 'away' or 'departure'. So, while the base root means to walk or go, the perfective verb уйти (which becomes ушли in the plural past tense) specifically means 'to leave' or 'to go away'.
Why is the perfective verb попросил used instead of the imperfective просил?
Using the perfective verb попросил indicates that the representative made a single, completed request. If you used the imperfective просил, it would mean he 'was asking' repeatedly or that the request was an ongoing process without a stated conclusion.
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