Breakdown of Описываемое понятие — это искомый элемент теории.
это
this / it is
искать
to look for
описывать
to describe
теория
theory
Questions & Answers about Описываемое понятие — это искомый элемент теории.
How do we build the present passive participle описываемое?
It comes from the imperfective verb описывать (to describe). The rule is to take the 1st person plural ("we") form of the verb—описываем—and attach an adjective ending. Since it describes понятие (a neuter noun in the nominative case), it takes the neuter ending -ое, giving us описываемое (being described).
Why does the participle искомый have the -ом- suffix instead of -ем-?
Present passive participles normally use -ем- for 1st conjugation verbs and -им- for 2nd conjugation verbs. However, a few older or irregular 1st conjugation verbs take the suffix -ом-. The verb искать (to seek / to look for) is a classic exception, becoming искомый. Here it takes the masculine ending -ый to match the noun it modifies, элемент.
Why is there a dash followed by это (— это) in the middle of the sentence?
When linking two nouns in the nominative case to mean "A is B", Russian drops the present tense verb "to be" and uses a dash. Adding это after the dash is very common in formal definitions or when equating two concepts. Here, it links the core nouns понятие (concept) and элемент (element).
Why is the word теория in the genitive case (теории) here?