Breakdown of Мы стояли в полной растерянности.
мы
we
в
in / to (direction)
стоять
to stand
полный
full, complete
Questions & Answers about Мы стояли в полной растерянности.
Why do we use в + the prepositional case (в полной растерянности) for an emotional state?
In Russian, being engulfed in an emotional or mental state is often expressed using в + the prepositional case. It works like a metaphorical location, as if you are physically standing inside the feeling. You will see this pattern in other common phrases like в восторге (in delight) or в отчаянии (in despair).
Why does the prepositional form of the noun end in -и (растерянности) rather than the usual -е?
The dictionary form is растерянность. Because it is a feminine noun ending in a soft sign (-ь), it belongs to the 3rd declension group. For these specific nouns, the prepositional case always ends in -и, just like their genitive and dative forms do.
How is the noun растерянность formed?
It comes from the verb растерять (to lose or drop multiple things). The passive participle is растерянный, which literally means lost but is commonly used for people to mean confused or at a loss. Adding the suffix -ость turns that descriptive word into the abstract noun растерянность (bewilderment).
Why use the imperfective verb стояли here instead of a perfective one?