Breakdown of Случись стыковка завтра, мы будем готовы.
мы
we
быть
to be
завтра
tomorrow
готовый
ready
случиться
to happen
стыковка
docking
Questions & Answers about Случись стыковка завтра, мы будем готовы.
Why is the imperative Случись used here if the sentence is not a command?
This is a special conditional structure. By putting a perfective verb in the imperative (случись), you create a hypothetical 'if' clause. It translates closely to 'Should the docking happen tomorrow...' or 'If the docking were to happen tomorrow...'. This form is more expressive and slightly more dramatic than a standard Если стыковка случится (If the docking happens).
Does the imperative verb Случись need to match the subject стыковка in gender or number?
No. When using the imperative to mean 'if', the verb is frozen in the singular imperative form (ending in -й, -и, or -ь) regardless of the subject's gender, person, or number. Even if the subject were plural, the verb would remain Случись.
Could we put the subject first and say Стыковка случись instead?
It would sound unnatural. In this imperative-conditional structure, the verb almost always comes first. Putting the verb at the very beginning of the clause is exactly what signals to the listener that this is an 'if' statement, taking the place of the word Если (If).
Why do we use the short-form adjective готовы instead of the long-form готовые?
Short-form adjectives are heavily preferred when used with the future tense of быть (to be) to express a temporary state, such as being ready for a specific upcoming event. The long form готовые usually implies a permanent characteristic, like a product being 'ready-made'.
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