Breakdown of Директор хочет получить отчёт в кратчайшие сроки, как можно скорее.
хотеть
to want
директор
director
скоро
soon
в
on / during (a time period)
можно
one may, it is allowed
отчёт
report
получить
to receive (perfective)
срок
deadline, term
как
as (in comparisons)
кратчайший
shortest
Questions & Answers about Директор хочет получить отчёт в кратчайшие сроки, как можно скорее.
Why do we use скорее instead of the regular adverb скоро after как можно?
The phrase как можно is the current lesson's focus for maximizing comparatives. It literally translates to 'how it is possible', but it strictly requires a comparative adverb or adjective to work. Therefore, to say 'as soon as possible', you must use the comparative скорее (sooner/faster), not the base adverb скоро.
How is the word кратчайшие formed, and what exactly does it mean?
It is a strong superlative form meaning 'the absolute shortest' or 'briefest', derived from the adjective краткий (brief/short). Russian forms these strict superlatives by adding the suffix -айший or -ейший. Here, the consonant mutates and the word becomes кратчайший. It takes the plural accusative ending -ие here to match сроки.
Why is сроки in the plural when the English translation says 'in the shortest time'?
The noun срок specifically means a deadline, time limit, or set period. While English speakers naturally say 'in the shortest time' in the singular, Russian uses the plural в кратчайшие сроки as a highly common, fixed business idiom meaning 'within the shortest timeframes'.
What case is в кратчайшие сроки and why is the preposition в used?
It is in the accusative case. When the preposition в is used to indicate a deadline or the amount of time within which something will happen, it requires the accusative case. Because срок is an inanimate noun, its accusative plural form looks identical to its nominative plural form.
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