Breakdown of Внезапно зрители рассмеялись.
зритель
spectator
внезапно
suddenly
рассмеяться
to burst out laughing
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Questions & Answers about Внезапно зрители рассмеялись.
How does the prefix рас- change the meaning of the base verb смеяться?
While смеяться is the basic imperfective verb meaning to laugh, adding рас- creates the perfective verb рассмеяться. In this structure (prefix раз-/рас- + postfix -ся), it adds the meaning of a sudden, intense onset of an action. Here, it means to burst out laughing rather than just starting to laugh normally.
What is the difference between рассмеялись and засмеялись?
Both describe the start of laughing, but they differ in intensity. Засмеялись (from засмеяться) simply focuses on the onset of the action, meaning they started laughing. Рассмеялись carries that extra developing intensity from the рас- prefix, making it more forceful and sudden, precisely meaning they burst into laughter.
Why is the prefix spelled рас- instead of раз- here?
The prefix раз- changes its spelling to match the voicing of the following consonant. Because the root begins with с, which is a voiceless consonant, the prefix becomes рас- to match it, resulting in the double consonant seen in рассмеялись.
The lesson mentions adding the postfix -ся, but doesn't the base verb смеяться already have it?