Question 1

The lesson teaches похож на (+ Accusative), so why is there no на in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Because the two cities are similar to each other. You only need на when comparing one thing directly to another, like Этот город похож на Париж (This city is similar to Paris). When the subjects are grouped together as one plural subject (эти два города), you just use the plural short-form adjective похожи on its own.

Question 2

Why do we use эти (Nominative plural) if the number два forces the noun into the Genitive case?

Accepted Answer

This is a special rule for the numbers 2, 3, and 4. While the noun itself becomes Genitive singular (города), the demonstrative pronoun pointing to it usually stays in the Nominative plural (эти).

Question 3

Is города here the Genitive singular or the Nominative plural?

Accepted Answer

It is the Genitive singular, which is required after the number два. You can tell by the stress when spoken: the Genitive singular is гóрода (stress on the first O), while the Nominative plural is городá (stress on the final A).

Question 4

Why use the short form похожи instead of the long form похожие?

Accepted Answer

Short-form adjectives are used as the predicate of a sentence, meaning they tell us the state of the subject (translating to "are similar"). You would use the long form похожие if you were modifying the noun directly, like in the phrase похожие города (similar cities).

Эти два города очень похожи.

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