Breakdown of Что касается атмосферы, то она была совершенно прекрасной.
она
she / it (for a feminine noun)
что
what
быть
to be
совершенно
absolutely
то
then (in that case)
прекрасный
wonderful
касаться
to concern (impf)
атмосфера
atmosphere
Questions & Answers about Что касается атмосферы, то она была совершенно прекрасной.
Why does атмосфера change to the Genitive case атмосферы after что касается?
The phrase что касается literally translates to "what touches [something]." Because the verb касаться (to touch / to concern) always requires its object to be in the Genitive case, атмосфера takes the Genitive ending here.
Is the word то strictly necessary here, since we do not translate it into English?
Yes, it is highly expected! The structure Что касается [X], то [Y] is a fixed pairing in Russian. The то acts as a structural bridge connecting the topic you just introduced to your comment about it. Omitting it sounds unnatural.
Why is the adjective прекрасной in the Instrumental case rather than the Nominative прекрасная?
When describing how something was in the past using была (or any past or future form of быть), it is standard and most natural to put the adjective in the Instrumental case. It emphasizes a characteristic or state at that specific time in the past.
What is the difference between using что касается here versus the preposition насчёт?
While both can mean "regarding", the construction что касается ..., то ... is a specific device used to clearly and smoothly shift the topic, much like "As for X..." in English. Насчёт is a simple preposition and is more colloquial, like saying "About the atmosphere..."
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