Breakdown of Мне кажется, что мы переплатили за эти билеты.
я
I
мы
we
этот
this [f: эта, n: это]
билет
ticket
Questions & Answers about Мне кажется, что мы переплатили за эти билеты.
How does the prefix пере- change the meaning of the verb here?
The prefix пере- often indicates that an action was done to excess. Added to the base verb платить (to pay), it forms переплатить, meaning to pay too much or overpay. Since you are stating a completed fact, the perfective past tense переплатили is used.
What would be the opposite of this verb if we didn't pay enough?
Following the current lesson theme, you would use the prefix недо- to indicate a deficit or insufficient action. The perfective verb for underpaying is недоплатить, so you would say мы недоплатили.
Why does the sentence start with Мне instead of Я?
The verb казаться (to seem) is used here in an impersonal construction. Instead of an active subject, Russian uses the dative pronoun Мне (to me) and the third-person singular verb кажется (it seems). It translates literally to: it seems to me.
Why do we use the preposition за before эти билеты?
When talking about paying, buying, or exchanging money for goods and services, Russian always uses the preposition за followed by the accusative case. Here, эти билеты is in the accusative plural, showing what the money was exchanged for.