Question 1

Why is the reflexive verb одобряется used here for the passive instead of a short participle?

Accepted Answer

In Russian, passive voice in the imperfective aspect (for repeated or ongoing actions) is almost always formed using reflexive verbs ending in -ся or -сь. Since this action happens обычно (usually) in the present tense, we need the imperfective одобряется. Short passive participles (like одобрена) are formed from perfective verbs and focus on a completed result, which wouldn't fit here.

Question 2

Does using одобряется instead of an active sentence change the tone?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Using the -ся passive instead of the active voice (Директор обычно одобряет...) makes the sentence sound much more formal and bureaucratic. This is a hallmark of the Russian official-business register, shifting the focus entirely onto the procedure and the subject (инвестиция) rather than the person doing the approving.

Question 3

Why is the word for director written as директором?

Accepted Answer

Директором is in the instrumental case. In Russian passive constructions, the agent (the person or thing actually performing the action) is always put in the instrumental case without a preposition. This is the direct equivalent of saying 'by the director' in English.

Question 4

Could I use любая instead of каждая here?

Accepted Answer

They are similar but have a slight difference in nuance. Каждая (each/every) implies going through all items in a specific group one by one. Любая means 'any' (it doesn't matter which one). In the context of a strict business procedure where all items must be reviewed, каждая is the more natural choice.

Каждая инвестиция обычно одобряется директором.

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