Question 1

How does the word по-прежнему fit into the pattern of 'по-' adverbs we are learning?

Accepted Answer

The prefix по- combined with an adjective ending in -ему, -ому, or -и creates an adverb. Here, it is formed from the adjective прежний (former or previous). Literally, it means 'in the former way,' which translates smoothly to 'still' or 'as before.'

Question 2

Can I use ещё instead of по-прежнему to mean 'still' here?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you could say Это ещё плохая привычка, but по-прежнему specifically emphasizes that the situation hasn't changed despite time passing. It implies 'just like before, it is a bad habit,' whereas ещё is just a neutral 'still.'

Question 3

Why does по-прежнему have a hyphen?

Accepted Answer

Adverbs formed with the prefix по- and the suffixes -ому, -ему, -ски, -цки, or -ьи are always hyphenated in Russian. Since it ends in -ему, the hyphen is required! You will see this same rule in words like по-моему and по-русски.

Question 4

Why is плохая привычка in the nominative case instead of the instrumental?

Accepted Answer

When you use это as a subject meaning 'this is,' the noun phrase that follows is almost always in the nominative case. You might remember using the instrumental case to describe what someone is or was, but that happens with a linking verb like быть (to be) in the past or future tense. With a simple present-tense это, stick to the nominative.

Это по-прежнему плохая привычка.

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