Word
Мы видим симметрию в обоих полушариях мозга.
Meaning
We see symmetry in both hemispheres of the brain.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Мы видим симметрию в обоих полушариях мозга.
мы
we
в
in / to (direction)
видеть
to see
оба
both (m/n)
Questions & Answers about Мы видим симметрию в обоих полушариях мозга.
Why is 'both' translated as обоих here instead of оба?
The word for 'both' has to match the case of the noun it modifies. Here, we are talking about a location in the hemispheres (в полушариях), which requires the prepositional case. The noun полушарие is neuter, so its base form for 'both' is оба. In the prepositional case, оба changes to обоих. If the noun had been feminine, we would have used обеих.
What is the dictionary form of полушариях and why does it end in -ях?
The dictionary form is полушарие (hemisphere). It is a neuter noun. Because it follows the preposition в (meaning 'in' a location) and refers to multiple hemispheres, it must be in the prepositional plural. Neuter nouns that end in -ие change their ending to -иях in the prepositional plural.
Why is the word for 'symmetry' spelled симметрию instead of симметрия?
It is the direct object of the sentence—the thing that we see (видим)—so it needs to be in the accusative case. Feminine nouns that end in -ия (like симметрия) change their ending to -ию in the accusative case.
Why is the word for brain (мозг) in the genitive case (мозга)?