Breakdown of Эта классическая симфония звучит подобно грозе.
этот
this [f: эта, n: это]
гроза
thunderstorm
классический
classical
симфония
symphony
звучать
to sound
подобно
like, similar to
Questions & Answers about Эта классическая симфония звучит подобно грозе.
Why is the word for thunderstorm (гроза) in the Dative case (грозе) here?
The preposition подобно (meaning "like" or "similar to") always requires the noun that follows it to be in the Dative case. You can think of it as literally meaning "similarly to a thunderstorm."
I usually use как to mean "like." Could I say как гроза instead of подобно грозе?
Yes, you could say звучит как гроза. However, подобно is more formal, literary, and poetic. It elevates the tone of the sentence, which fits perfectly when describing a piece of high art like a classical symphony. Note that if you use как, the noun stays in the Nominative case (гроза).
Is подобно related to the adjective подобный?
Yes, подобно is the adverbial form acting as a preposition here, and it comes straight from the adjective подобный (similar, such). You might also recognize this root in the great intermediate adjective бесподобный (incomparable or matchless), which literally translates as "without similar."
Where does the stress fall on the word грозе? Does it shift from the Nominative?
The stress does not shift; it stays on the ending. It is гроза́ in the Nominative and грозе́ in the Dative.
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