Breakdown of Если сделать талию пошире, то пояс нужен подлиннее.
сделать
to do (perfective) / to make (perfective)
длинный
long
нужен
needed (нужен, нужна, нужны)
широкий
wide
если
if
то
then (in that case)
талия
waist
пояс
belt
Questions & Answers about Если сделать талию пошире, то пояс нужен подлиннее.
What does the prefix по- add to шире and длиннее in this sentence?
The prefix по- softens the comparison, adding the meaning of 'a little' or 'somewhat.' While шире means 'wider,' пошире means 'a little wider.' Similarly, подлиннее means 'a little longer' rather than just 'longer.'
Why is подлиннее spelled with a double н while пошире has none?
The comparative form preserves the spelling of the base adjective's suffix. Since the base adjective длинный (long) has a double н, its comparative forms длиннее and подлиннее keep both. The word широкий (wide) has an irregular comparative root (шире), so it doesn't involve that suffix at all.
Why use the infinitive сделать instead of a conjugated verb like сделаешь?
Using the infinitive сделать makes the condition general and impersonal. It translates well to the generic English 'if you make' or 'if one makes,' focusing purely on the action rather than a specific person doing it. It sounds like a general rule of tailoring or design.
Why does the second part say пояс нужен instead of пояс нужно?
The word нужен is a short-form adjective meaning 'needed' or 'necessary,' and it must agree in gender and number with the subject. Since пояс (belt) is a masculine noun in the nominative case here, we use the masculine нужен. You would only use the neuter form нужно if there were no subject noun, or if it were followed by an infinitive verb.
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