Question 1

Why is сутками in the instrumental case here?

Accepted Answer

Сутками is the instrumental plural of сутки (a 24-hour period). Using a time noun in the bare instrumental plural emphasizes an extended, continuous duration or a frustratingly long repetitive action. Here, it gives the dramatic feeling of "for days on end" or "whole days at a time" without needing any prepositions.

Question 2

Doesn't колебаться usually mean "to fluctuate" or "to sway"?

Accepted Answer

Yes, literally колебаться means to sway, oscillate, or fluctuate (like a pendulum or the stock market). Metaphorically, when applied to a person making a decision, it means to "waver" or "hesitate" between choices. The imperfective aspect is required here because the hesitation was an ongoing, continuous state that lasted сутками.

Question 3

What nuance does Ведь add to the beginning of this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Ведь is an emphatic particle often translated as "after all" or "you know." It is used to justify a statement or action by pointing to a fact the listener already knows. Here, the speaker is saying something like, "It makes total sense that we are acting this way, because, as you well know, we agonized over the price for days!"

Question 4

Why use из-за for "because of" instead of от?

Accepted Answer

Из-за (followed by the genitive case, hence цены) is the standard preposition used to point to an external cause, obstacle, or reason for an action ("due to the price"). От is typically reserved for uncontrollable internal, physical, or emotional reactions, such as shaking from the cold or crying from joy.

Ведь мы сутками колебались из-за цены!

Breakdown of Ведь мы сутками колебались из-за цены!

Questions & Answers about Ведь мы сутками колебались из-за цены!

Learn Ведь мы сутками колебались из-за цены and more in Russian