Question 1

Could I use поэтому instead of так что in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Yes, they are very similar here. Both express consequence ('so' or 'therefore'). However, так что specifically acts as a subordinate conjunction attaching a consequence to the main event in a single sentence (The concert was cancelled, with the result that we demand a refund). поэтому is an adverb and often starts a new independent clause or sentence.

Question 2

If the concert is the subject of the first part, why is the verb отменили in the plural ('they cancelled')?

Accepted Answer

Концерт is actually not the subject here; it is the direct object in the accusative case (masculine inanimate nouns look the same in accusative and nominative). The first clause has no subject. Using the third-person plural without a pronoun ('they cancelled the concert') is the standard Russian way to express the English passive voice ('the concert was cancelled').

Question 3

Why does the verb требуем lose the -ова- from its infinitive требовать?

Accepted Answer

Verbs ending in -овать or -евать regularly drop that suffix and replace it with -у- or -ю- when conjugated in the present or future tense. So, требовать becomes я требую, ты требуешь, мы требуем, etc.

Question 4

Why is the perfective verb вернуть used instead of the imperfective возвращать?

Accepted Answer

You use the perfective вернуть because you are demanding a single, completed action with a specific result: you want this specific money returned once and for all. If you used возвращать, it would sound like you are demanding that someone make a regular habit of returning money.

Концерт отменили, так что мы требуем вернуть деньги.

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