Breakdown of Мы уведомляем об отсутствии горячей воды в связи с тем, что сломалась труба.
вода
water
мы
we
горячий
hot
о
about (о, об, обо)
сломаться
to break down (pf) / to break
труба
the pipe
уведомлять
to notify
в связи с тем, что
due to the fact that
отсутствие
absence
Questions & Answers about Мы уведомляем об отсутствии горячей воды в связи с тем, что сломалась труба.
How does the phrase в связи с тем, что work structurally?
It translates to 'due to the fact that' or 'in connection with the fact that'. It is a formal subordinating conjunction used to state an objective reason. Structurally, it is made of the preposition в связи с (in connection with) which requires the Instrumental case, so the demonstrative pronoun то becomes тем. It then connects to the subordinate clause with что.
Why does отсутствии end in -ии here instead of the usual Prepositional -е?
The verb уведомлять (to notify) requires the preposition о or об plus the Prepositional case. The noun отсутствие (absence) is a neuter noun ending in -ие. In the Prepositional case, nouns ending in -ие, -ия, or -ий take an -и ending instead of the standard -е, resulting in об отсутствии.
Why is the word order сломалась труба (broke pipe) instead of труба сломалась?
In Russian, the most important or newest piece of information naturally moves to the end of the clause. While труба сломалась is grammatically fine, placing the subject труба after the verb emphasizes that a pipe is specifically what broke. This Verb-Subject word order is very common in subordinate clauses introducing the cause of a situation.
Is в связи с тем, что common in everyday spoken Russian?
Not usually. This phrase belongs to a formal, official, or business register. You will see it in announcements, news, and official notices like this one. In a casual conversation, you would simply use потому что (because) or из-за того, что (due to the fact that).
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