Breakdown of Несмотря на то, что применяемые методы старые, они отлично работают.
они
they
старый
old
работать
to work
отлично
excellently
несмотря на то, что
despite the fact that
применять
to apply (a method, rule)
метод
method
Questions & Answers about Несмотря на то, что применяемые методы старые, они отлично работают.
How is the word применяемые formed in this sentence?
Применяемые is a present passive participle meaning "being applied" or "applied". It comes from the imperfective verb применять (to apply). To form it, you take the first-person plural form применяем (we apply) and add the plural adjective ending -ые to match the nominative plural noun методы.
Why do we need на то, что after несмотря? Can I just say несмотря что?
No, you cannot put что directly after несмотря на (despite). The preposition на must point to a noun or pronoun. To introduce a full clause with a subject and verb, Russian uses the dummy pronoun то to satisfy the preposition, followed by что. So несмотря на то, что literally means "despite that, that..." or "despite the fact that".
Why does this sentence use a present passive participle instead of a past passive participle?
Present passive participles describe an ongoing, general, or recurring action. The sentence is talking about methods that are currently or generally being applied. A past passive participle would imply the methods were applied in the past and the action is already finished.
Could I use используемые instead of применяемые here?
Yes, they are very similar in meaning. Используемые comes from использовать (to use) and is more general. Применяемые comes from применять (to apply) and sounds slightly more professional or technical, which pairs very naturally with методы (methods).
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