Question 1

The lesson focuses on "спустя". Since "год" looks like it's in the nominative, how do we know it's in the accusative here? And could I use "через" instead?

Accepted Answer

The preposition спустя always requires the accusative case. Because год is an inanimate masculine noun, its accusative form is identical to the nominative. You could use через год here with the same meaning, but спустя has a special flexible feature: it can also be placed after the noun (год спустя) for a more literary or dramatic effect.

Question 2

How does "пусть" work with the verb "созревает" to mean "let it age"? Don't we need an imperative verb form?

Accepted Answer

Пусть acts as a particle that creates a third-person command or expresses a concession (meaning "allow it to" or "even if"). It is simply followed by the subject and a regular present or future tense verb—in this case, the present tense созревает. You do not use the imperative form of the verb when using пусть.

Question 3

Why is the verb "созревает" used for "aging" cheese? Could I use "стареет"?

Accepted Answer

You wouldn't use стареть (to grow old) here, as that is generally reserved for living things getting older. Созревать literally means "to ripen" or "to mature." In Russian, foods or drinks like cheese, fruit, and wine "ripen" or "mature" rather than "age."

Question 4

Why is the word order "появится плесень" (will appear mold) instead of "плесень появится"?

Accepted Answer

Russian word order places the most important, new information at the very end of the sentence. Since the sudden existence of the mold is the brand-new piece of information being introduced to the scene, the subject плесень goes last to emphasize it.

Пусть сыр созревает в погребе, но спустя год появится плесень.

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