Word
Однако таможня проверяет чемоданы, если есть сомнения, везёте ли вы алкоголь.
Meaning
However, customs checks the suitcases if there are doubts about whether you are transporting alcohol.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Однако таможня проверяет чемоданы, если есть сомнения, везёте ли вы алкоголь.
вы
you (plural or formal)
есть
is, there is, to have
чемодан
suitcase
проверять
to check
Questions & Answers about Однако таможня проверяет чемоданы, если есть сомнения, везёте ли вы алкоголь.
Why does ли come right after везёте instead of at the beginning of the phrase like the English word 'whether'?
In Russian, the particle ли cannot start a clause. It must come immediately after the specific word being questioned. Since the doubt here is specifically about the action of transporting, ли attaches directly to the verb везёте.
The sentence uses both если and ли. Since they both can translate to 'if', can I use если instead of ли for the second part?
No, and this sentence is a perfect example of the difference! Если is only used for a conditional 'if' (if X happens, then Y). For indirect yes/no questions meaning 'whether or not', you must use ли. You cannot say сомнения, если вы везёте.
Why use the verb везёте for transporting alcohol, rather than несёте?
Везти is the unidirectional verb of motion for transporting something by vehicle. Because going through customs implies you are traveling by plane, train, or car, you use везти. Нести would mean you are carrying the alcohol physically on foot.
The translation says 'doubts about whether', but there is no word for 'about' in the Russian sentence. Where did it go?