Breakdown of Эти дурные слова приносят печаль.
этот
this [f: эта, n: это]
слово
word
приносить
to bring
дурной
bad (foolish, foul)
печаль
sorrow
Questions & Answers about Эти дурные слова приносят печаль.
Why use дурные here instead of the more common word плохие?
While плохой is the generic word for "bad," дурной carries a stronger nuance of being harmful, foolish, or having a corrupting nature. When applied to words, thoughts, habits, or influence, дурной emphasizes that they have a negative, destructive effect.
The verb приносят comes from приносить (to bring by carrying). Why use a carrying verb for abstract things like words?
In Russian, abstract concepts like words, news, or weather "carry" their effects, so they pair with verbs based on носить / нести (to carry on foot). You use приносить for bringing emotions (like joy or sorrow), rather than transitive motion verbs based on driving (возить) or leading (водить).
Is приносят multidirectional or unidirectional here?
Neither! This is a crucial rule for verbs of motion: once you add a prefix like при- to change the meaning, the unidirectional/multidirectional distinction disappears. Instead, they form a standard perfective/imperfective pair. Here, приносят (from the multidirectional root носить) acts as the imperfective verb because it describes a general, recurring fact. Its perfective counterpart is принести (from the unidirectional root нести).
What case is печаль in, and why didn't its ending change?
It is in the accusative case because it is the direct object (the thing being brought). Печаль is a feminine noun ending in a soft sign (-ь), meaning it belongs to the 3rd declension. For these nouns, the accusative form is completely identical to the nominative form.
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