Breakdown of Мальчик катает пустую тележку по магазину.
мальчик
boy
магазин
store, shop
пустой
empty
по
along, around
Questions & Answers about Мальчик катает пустую тележку по магазину.
Why does this sentence use катает instead of катит?
Катает is the multidirectional (or indeterminate) verb of motion. Because the boy is pushing the cart around the store without a single, specific destination, we use the multidirectional form. If he were pushing it in one direction, like straight to the checkout counter, you would use the unidirectional катит.
Could I use the reflexive verb катается here instead?
No, because катает is a transitive verb here taking a direct object in the accusative case (пустую тележку). The boy is performing the action on the cart. If you used катается, it would mean the boy himself is riding around the store (perhaps sitting inside the cart!).
The English translation says 'pushing,' but doesn't катать mean 'to roll'?
Yes, literally the boy is 'rolling' the cart. In Russian, when you move a wheeled object like a shopping cart, a stroller, or a wheelchair, you use verbs of rolling (катить / катать). In English, we naturally translate this action as 'pushing'.
Why is the phrase по магазину in the dative case?
The preposition по followed by the dative case is frequently used with multidirectional verbs of motion to indicate movement around, along, or all over a surface or area. It perfectly captures the idea of moving randomly through the aisles rather than heading to a specific point.