Breakdown of Нельзя садиться на этот подоконник!
этот
this [f: эта, n: это]
на
on, at / by (transport) / to (a place) / to (in answer to)
нельзя
one must not
садиться
to sit down (imperfective)
Questions & Answers about Нельзя садиться на этот подоконник!
Why does this sentence use the accusative case (на этот подоконник) instead of the prepositional case?
Because the verb садиться (to sit down) involves a change of position. You are moving onto the windowsill. When a preposition like на indicates the destination of an action rather than a static resting location, it requires the accusative case.
Why do we use the imperfective verb садиться here instead of the perfective сесть?
The word нельзя takes an imperfective verb when it expresses a strict rule or prohibition (meaning 'you must not do it'). If we used the perfective сесть, it would mean it is physically impossible to sit down (for example, if the windowsill were completely covered in plants).
How does the -ся ending change the verb in this lesson's context?
It makes the verb intransitive and reflexive. Verbs of assuming a position often have a non-reflexive counterpart for placing other objects. For instance, сажать means to seat someone else or to plant something, while садиться means to seat yourself.
Is there a trick to remembering the word подоконник?
Yes! It is built from the prefix под (under) and the root of окно (window). A подоконник is literally the structure located under the window.