Breakdown of Крестьянин якобы гоняет скот по лесу.
по
along, around
лес
forest, wood
крестьянин
peasant
якобы
supposedly
скот
livestock
гонять
to chase
Questions & Answers about Крестьянин якобы гоняет скот по лесу.
Why do we use the multidirectional verb гоняет instead of the unidirectional гонит here?
The key is the phrase по лесу (through/around the forest). The preposition по with a verb of motion usually indicates scattered, wandering, or repeated movement covering an area, rather than a single trip in one specific direction. Because the driving of the livestock is multidirectional, we use гоняет.
Livestock are living animals, so why doesn't скот take the animate accusative ending?
Even though скот refers to living animals, it is a collective noun and is grammatically treated as inanimate in Russian. Because it's a masculine inanimate noun, its accusative form (acting as the direct object) looks exactly the same as its nominative form.
What case is лесу in the phrase по лесу?
It is in the dative case. When the preposition по is used to describe movement around, along, or through an area or surface, it requires the dative case.
Could I use наверное instead of якобы to mean allegedly?
Not quite. Наверное means probably and shows you think something is likely true. Якобы means supposedly or allegedly. It is specifically used when you are reporting what someone else claims, often with a hint of doubt or disbelief.
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