Breakdown of Сделайте рукава этой рубашки покороче.
этот
this [f: эта, n: это]
сделать
to do (perfective) / to make (perfective)
короткий
short
рубашка
the shirt
рукав
sleeve
Questions & Answers about Сделайте рукава этой рубашки покороче.
How does the prefix по- change the meaning of короче here?
The prefix по- softens a comparative adjective. While короче means "shorter," adding по- makes it покороче, meaning "a little shorter" or "somewhat shorter." In a request like this, it makes the sentence sound much more natural and slightly less demanding than using the standard comparative.
Why is the comparative of короткий (short) formed as короче?
Короткий has an irregular comparative form. It drops the -к- suffix, and the stem undergoes a consonant mutation where the т changes to ч. This is a common pattern for adjectives ending in -кий, similar to how лёгкий (light/easy) becomes легче.
Is рукава in the accusative or genitive case here?
It is in the accusative plural, acting as the direct object of сделайте (make). The nominative plural of рукав (sleeve) is рукава, and since it is an inanimate noun, its accusative plural looks exactly the same as the nominative.
Why is покороче at the very end of the sentence instead of next to сделайте?
In Russian, the most important new information (the focus of the sentence) naturally falls at the end. Placing покороче last strongly emphasizes the specific change you want the tailor to make to the shirt.
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