Breakdown of Этот симптом показывает воспаление, значит, мы должны его лечить.
он
he / it (for a masculine noun) / it (for a neuter noun)
мы
we
этот
this [f: эта, n: это]
показывать
to show
должен
must, have to (должен, должна, должны)
лечить
to treat, to cure
значит
so (therefore / it means)
воспаление
inflammation
симптом
symptom
Questions & Answers about Этот симптом показывает воспаление, значит, мы должны его лечить.
How is значит functioning here? Is it a verb?
In this sentence, значит is not acting as the main verb 'it means'. Instead, it is a discourse marker (an introductory word) meaning 'so', 'therefore', or 'that means'. It introduces a logical conclusion based on the first clause and is typically set off by commas.
Could we use следовательно in place of значит here?
Yes, следовательно also means 'therefore' or 'consequently' and fits perfectly here. The difference is in the tone: значит is extremely common in everyday conversational Russian, while следовательно sounds more formal, scientific, or strictly logical.
Does the pronoun его refer to the symptom (симптом) or the inflammation (воспаление)?
Logically, it refers to воспаление (the inflammation), since you treat the underlying condition. Grammatically, его is the accusative form for both the neuter pronoun оно and the masculine pronoun он. A good refresher: even though an inanimate masculine noun like симптом doesn't change its ending in the accusative case, the pronoun replacing it still becomes его.
Could I use указывает на instead of показывает for 'indicates'?
Absolutely. Этот симптом указывает на воспаление is a very natural and slightly more precise way to say 'indicates' or 'points to'. Показывает literally means 'shows' and is just a simpler, direct way to express the exact same idea in everyday speech.
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