Breakdown of Как только вы напишете заявление, вы сможете обратиться к специалисту.
вы
you (plural)
написать
to write (perfective)
к
towards, to
специалист
specialist, expert
смочь
to manage to, to be able to (perfective)
как только
as soon as
обратиться
to apply
заявление
the application
Questions & Answers about Как только вы напишете заявление, вы сможете обратиться к специалисту.
Why is напишете in the future tense when the English translation says "write" (present tense)?
In English, we use the present tense after time expressions like "as soon as" or "when" even if the event is in the future. Russian is more direct: if the action hasn't happened yet, it uses the future tense. Since writing the application is a future event, Russian uses the future perfective напишете.
What does как только mean, and why isn't it translated word-for-word?
Как только is a set phrase that means "as soon as". If you translate it literally ("how only"), it won't make sense in English. It is a very common phrase used to show that one action will happen immediately after another finishes.
Why is the preposition к used before специалисту?
The verb обратиться (to turn to, to consult) requires the preposition к (towards) followed by the dative case. Think of it literally as "turning towards" a specialist for help. This is why the nominative специалист changes to its dative form, специалисту.
Why do we use the perfective verbs напишете and сможете here instead of imperfective ones?
The perfective aspect focuses on a completed result. The sentence states that only after you have completely finished writing the application (напишете) will you achieve the result of being able (сможете) to consult the specialist. If we used imperfective verbs, it would sound like you are consulting a specialist while in the process of writing.
Since our current lesson is about любой (any), how would I say "consult ANY specialist" in this sentence?
Learn Как только вы напишете заявление, вы сможете обратиться к специалисту and more in Russian
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free