Word
Пассажиры были в восторге.
Meaning
The passengers were in awe.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Пассажиры были в восторге.
в
in / to (direction)
быть
to be
пассажир
passenger
восторг
delight / awe
Questions & Answers about Пассажиры были в восторге.
Why is "in awe" translated using the preposition в and the prepositional case (в восторге) instead of an adjective?
In Russian, strong emotional or psychological states are often expressed as metaphorical "places" you are currently located in. Just like being physically in a room (в комнате), you can be "in delight" or "in awe" using в + the prepositional case. This is highly idiomatic and usually sounds more natural than using a matching adjective.
What is the base noun for восторге, and does it strictly mean "awe"?
The nominative dictionary form is восторг. While it can mean "awe" depending on the context, it is more frequently translated as "delight," "rapture," or "enthusiasm." The phrase быть в восторге very commonly means to be absolutely thrilled or overjoyed.
Could I say Пассажиры были восторженными using the instrumental case for a past-tense state?
Grammatically you can, since the instrumental case is used with быть for temporary states. However, native speakers heavily prefer the noun phrase в восторге to describe this specific feeling. The adjective восторженный is usually reserved for describing things like a "delighted review" (восторженный отзыв) or someone's permanent character trait.
What are some other common emotions that use this exact в + prepositional structure?