Question 1

Why is на официальном допросе in the Prepositional case, when the preposition на often takes the Accusative?

Accepted Answer

While на takes the Accusative case when showing direction or motion, verbs of conviction and insistence like настаивать (to insist) require на + Prepositional case. In this context, you are dwelling on a thought or demand rather than pointing toward a physical target.

Question 2

How would I say 'The inspector insists that the interrogation be official' using a full clause instead of a noun phrase?

Accepted Answer

You would use the pointer word том (the Prepositional form of то) to connect the verb to a чтобы clause. It would become Инспектор настаивает на том, чтобы допрос был официальным. Verbs that require a specific preposition keep that preposition even when introducing a new clause!

Question 3

The word for interrogation, допросе, looks a lot like вопрос (question). How does the prefix до- change the meaning?

Accepted Answer

The prefix до- often adds the meaning of bringing an action to its absolute completion or limit. While вопрос is a standard question, a допрос is a questioning taken to the extreme end of the process, hence a formal interrogation.

Question 4

What is the perfective form of настаивать, and does it also govern the Prepositional case?

Accepted Answer

The perfective form is настоять. It works exactly the same way and also requires на + Prepositional case. You would use настоять to focus on the successful result of the insistence, whereas the imperfective настаивает used here describes the ongoing demand.

Инспектор настаивает на официальном допросе.

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