Question 1

Why is it по четыре, using the Accusative case, instead of the Dative?

Accepted Answer

This is the special distributive use of по, meaning "each". While по usually takes the Dative case, when expressing "how many each" with the numbers 2, 3, and 4, you must use the Accusative case for the number. This is why we say по четыре instead of по четырём. For 1, and 5 or more, you revert to using the Dative.

Question 2

Why is the noun жетона in the Genitive singular? Does по affect it?

Accepted Answer

The preposition по only affects the number четыре. The noun жетона simply follows the standard rule for numbers: after 2, 3, and 4 in the Nominative or inanimate Accusative, the noun must be in the Genitive singular. So, четыре жетона stays exactly the same when you add по.

Question 3

Why is the verb достаётся in the singular? Shouldn't it be plural (достаются) to match four tokens?

Accepted Answer

When a distributive phrase starting with по acts as the grammatical subject of a sentence, Russian treats it as a single abstract quantity. Because of this, the verb must be in the 3rd-person singular. If this were in the past tense, it would be neuter singular (досталось).

Question 4

What is the difference between saying игрокам достаётся and игроки получают?

Accepted Answer

Both translate to "the players get", but the grammar and nuance differ. Получать is active: the players (Nominative) actively receive something. Доставаться translates closer to "falls to the lot of": it takes the recipient in the Dative case (игрокам) and highlights that the tokens are distributed to them by an external force, like the rules of the game.

В этой игре игрокам всегда достаётся по четыре жетона.

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