Breakdown of Прежде чем лететь в другую страну, купите страховку ради предосторожности.
в
in / to (direction)
купить
to buy (perfective)
страна
country
другой
other
лететь
to fly (one direction)
прежде чем
before (doing something)
ради
for the sake of
предосторожность
precaution (f)
страховка
insurance (f)
Questions & Answers about Прежде чем лететь в другую страну, купите страховку ради предосторожности.
Why is прежде чем followed by the infinitive лететь instead of a conjugated verb?
When the subject performing the action in the 'before' clause is the same as the subject in the main clause, прежде чем is followed by an infinitive. Here, the implied 'you' who should buy insurance (купите) is the same 'you' who will be flying.
Why use the imperfective verb лететь after прежде чем instead of the perfective полететь?
When прежде чем is followed by an infinitive, Russian strongly prefers the imperfective aspect to name the general upcoming action. It treats the event as a broad concept ('the act of flying') rather than focusing on the completed result of setting off.
Why is the destination в другую страну in the accusative case?
The preposition в takes the accusative case when indicating motion toward a destination. Since лететь is a verb of motion directed at a goal, the accusative is required here to answer 'where to?', rather than the prepositional case which answers 'where at?'.
How does the preposition ради affect the word предосторожность?
The preposition ради means 'for the sake of' and always requires the genitive case. Because предосторожность (precaution) is a feminine noun ending in a soft sign, its genitive ending becomes -и, making it предосторожности.
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