Questions & Answers about Сегодня у нас особый день.
Why is the word есть missing if this means 'is' or 'have'?
In Russian, the present tense of the verb 'to be' is famously omitted. While у нас есть is the standard way to say 'we have' for physical ownership, adding есть here would sound like you physically own the day itself. Leaving it out changes the feeling from ownership to context, making у нас translate more naturally as 'for us' or 'in our case'.
What is the difference between особый and особенный?
They both mean 'special', but they have slightly different flavors. Особый is usually used for things that are distinct, assigned a specific purpose, or out of the ordinary, like a special day or a special task. Особенный often describes someone or something with unique, standout personal qualities or character. Since this day is designated as specific and non-standard, особый fits perfectly.
Why does the translation say 'for us' instead of 'we have'?
The construction у plus the Genitive case literally means 'by someone' or 'in the possession of someone'. At the B1 level, you will increasingly see this structure used to identify the person experiencing a situation, rather than strict physical ownership. Here, у нас simply sets the stage, showing that this special day is happening in our lives.
Could I change the word order to Особый день у нас сегодня?
You could, but it would change the emphasis. Russian uses word order to highlight the most important or newest information by placing it at the very end of the sentence. The original sentence builds up to the main point: that it is a особый день. If you moved сегодня to the end, it would sound like you were specifically answering the question 'When is our special day?'
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