Breakdown of Эти слова кажутся истиной.
этот
this [f: эта, n: это]
слово
word
казаться
to seem
истина
truth (absolute)
Questions & Answers about Эти слова кажутся истиной.
Why is the word for truth in the Instrumental case (истиной) instead of the Nominative (истина)?
This is the core rule for the verb казаться (to seem). It requires the noun or adjective that describes what something seems like to be in the Instrumental case. Since истина is a feminine noun ending in -а, it takes the -ой ending to become истиной.
Could I say Эти слова кажутся быть истиной to mean 'seem to be the truth'?
No, you should not add быть (to be) here. In English we say 'seem to be', but Russian verbs of seeming and equivalence, like казаться and являться, connect directly to the Instrumental noun. Adding быть in this context sounds unnatural.
Why does кажутся end with the reflexive particle -ся?
The verb казаться (to seem) is intrinsically reflexive in modern Russian. It relates to the root казать (to show). By adding the reflexive -ся (which implies doing an action to 'oneself'), the meaning shifts from 'to show' to 'to show itself' or 'to appear/seem'. Since Эти слова is plural, we use the 3rd-person plural form кажутся.
What is the difference between истина and правда, since both translate to 'truth'?
While both mean 'truth', they have different flavors. Правда is everyday honesty or factual correctness (the opposite of a lie). Истина refers to a deeper, absolute, or philosophical truth (like a universal law or a profound fact). Using истина here suggests the words hold a very profound or undeniable meaning.
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