Question 1

How does the phrase если бы не work here, and what case does it take?

Accepted Answer

Если бы не translates to "If it weren't for" or "Had it not been for." It is followed by a noun in the Nominative case, which is why we see the base form эта пешка (this pawn). It is a very common way to set up a hypothetical, contrary-to-fact condition.

Question 2

Why is the verb была бы in the feminine form?

Accepted Answer

The subject of the main clause is ничья (a draw), which is a feminine noun. Even though результатом (the result) comes earlier in the sentence, it is in the Instrumental case and therefore cannot be the subject. The verb была must agree with the Nominative subject ничья.

Question 3

Why is the word for "result" in the Instrumental case (результатом)?

Accepted Answer

When using the verb быть (to be) in the past, future, or conditional tense (like была бы), the predicate noun is usually put in the Instrumental case. It defines what the subject (ничья) would be or act as in this hypothetical situation.

Question 4

Why does the word for "a draw" (ничья) look like a possessive adjective?

Accepted Answer

Ничья literally means "no one's" or "nobody's" (it is the feminine form of ничей). In sports and games, this adjective became a noun meaning a tie—a victory that belongs to nobody! Because of its origins, it declines exactly like an adjective.

Если бы не эта пешка, результатом матча была бы ничья.

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