Breakdown of Это очень редкий драгоценный камень.
это
this / it is
камень
stone
очень
very
редкий
rare
драгоценный
precious
Questions & Answers about Это очень редкий драгоценный камень.
Why is Это in the neuter form here, even though камень is masculine?
Here, Это acts as a standalone subject pronoun meaning "This is" or "It is." When used this way to introduce or identify something, it stays in the fixed neuter form. If you wanted to say "This rare stone is...", you would use the masculine demonstrative adjective to match the noun: Этот редкий камень...
драгоценный seems to be made of two different words. What are its roots?
You have spotted a compound word! It is formed from the root дорог- (from дорогой, meaning "expensive" or "dear", which appears as драг- due to its Old Church Slavonic origins) and цен- (from цена, meaning "price"). Together, they literally mean "of expensive price," which translates perfectly to "precious."
Does the noun камень have any irregularities when it changes cases?
Yes, камень features a fleeting vowel. The е in the final syllable drops out when you add case endings. For example, in the genitive singular it becomes камня (not "каменя"), and the nominative plural is камни.
I've also heard the word самоцвет. Could we use that here instead of драгоценный камень?
You could, but they carry slightly different nuances. Драгоценный камень is the standard, formal term for "precious stone" or "gemstone" used in commerce and gemology. Самоцвет is a slightly more poetic or traditional term that usually refers to colorful, semi-precious stones (like malachite or amethyst), especially those mined in the Ural Mountains.
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