Breakdown of Бесполезно торговаться насчёт расценок.
насчёт
regarding, about
бесполезно
useless
торговаться
to bargain
расценка
the rate (pricing, piece-rate)
Questions & Answers about Бесполезно торговаться насчёт расценок.
What is the difference between using насчёт here instead of just saying о расценках?
Both mean 'about', but насчёт (which takes the Genitive case) translates closer to 'regarding' or 'concerning'. While о plus the Prepositional case is the standard translation for 'about', насчёт is very common when discussing terms, plans, or specific business issues like rates.
Is насчёт related to the noun счёт (account or bill), and how do I avoid confusing them in writing?
Yes! Historically, it comes from the idea of putting something 'on the account' of a topic. When used as a single-word preposition meaning 'regarding', it is spelled насчёт and takes the Genitive case. If you are talking about literally doing something to a bank account, it is written as two words: на счёт plus the Accusative case (for example, putting money into an account).
What is the dictionary form of расценок and why does it look like this here?
The dictionary form is расценка (rate or valuation). Because насчёт requires the Genitive case, and we are talking about plural 'rates', it becomes Genitive plural. Feminine nouns ending in -ка typically drop the final -а in the Genitive plural, and a fleeting vowel ('о' or 'е') is inserted to make the consonant cluster pronounceable, giving us расценок.
Why is the imperfective verb торговаться used after бесполезно?
Words that express pointlessness or uselessness (like бесполезно, не надо, or не имеет смысла) are almost always followed by an imperfective verb. This is because you are stating that the action itself is a waste of time in general, rather than focusing on the successful result of a single completed action.
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