Breakdown of Кто бы ни сделал ошибку, я не отвернусь.
не
not
кто
who / whoever
я
I
ошибка
mistake
сделать
to do (perfective) / to make (perfective)
бы
would (conditional particle) / concessive particle
ни
not (negative particle in ни с кем, ни о чём)
отвернуться
to turn away (perfective)
Questions & Answers about Кто бы ни сделал ошибку, я не отвернусь.
Why does this sentence use the past tense сделал, especially since the second half is in the future tense (отвернусь)?
The construction кто бы ни (whoever / no matter who) requires the verb to be in the past tense, regardless of when the action actually happens. The particle бы always triggers the past tense form in Russian, creating a hypothetical or generalized meaning here rather than indicating a strict past action.
Why is the particle ни used here instead of не?
In this sentence, ни doesn't negate the verb. When combined with a question word like кто and the particle бы, ни acts as a particle that translates to "-ever" or "no matter". Together, кто бы ни means "whoever". If you used не, it would mean "who wouldn't make...", which completely changes the meaning into a negative statement.
If I am talking exclusively to or about women, should I change the verb to сделала?
What does the prefix add to the meaning of отвернусь?
Отвернусь is the first-person singular future perfective of отвернуться (to turn away). It shares a root with other turning verbs (like вернуться, to return), but the prefix от- specifically adds the spatial meaning of moving, stepping, or turning away from an object or person.
Learn Кто бы ни сделал ошибку, я не отвернусь and more in Russian
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free