Breakdown of Предложение, в котором есть деепричастие, требует запятых.
в
in / to (direction)
есть
is, there is, to have
требовать
to demand
который
which / who / that (relative pronoun)
запятая
comma
деепричастие
verbal adverb
предложение
sentence
Questions & Answers about Предложение, в котором есть деепричастие, требует запятых.
Why is запятых used here instead of the accusative запятые?
The verb требовать (to require / to demand) governs the genitive case. While it can sometimes take the accusative for very specific, concrete objects, it strongly prefers the genitive, especially for abstract or unspecified quantities of things. Therefore, 'requires commas' becomes требует запятых.
The lesson is about verbal adverbs, but is деепричастие a verbal adverb here?
No, деепричастие is the standard noun meaning 'verbal adverb' (or 'gerund'). This sentence doesn't actually contain a verbal adverb; rather, it is simply stating the fundamental rule for the current lesson!
Does a sentence with a verbal adverb always require commas, as this sentence claims?
Almost always, yes! Russian strictly isolates verbal adverbs and verbal adverb phrases (деепричастные обороты) with commas on both sides, regardless of where they appear. The main exceptions are when the verbal adverb has completely turned into a regular adverb of manner (like молча - silently) or forms part of a set idiom.
Why does the word for comma (запятая) look like an adjective in the genitive plural form запятых?
The word запятая is an adjectival noun. Historically, it was a participle meaning 'delayed' or 'paused,' but it evolved into a permanent noun. Because of this origin, it follows adjectival declension rules. The genitive plural takes the standard adjectival ending -ых.
What dictates the gender and case of в котором?
The relative pronoun который takes its gender and number from the noun it modifies—here, the neuter singular предложение (sentence). However, its case is determined by its grammatical role inside its own clause. It is in the prepositional case because it follows the preposition в (in).
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