Breakdown of Бильярд — это игра, где шары лежат на зелёном сукне.
это
this / it is
где
where / wherever
зелёный
green
на
on, at / by (transport) / to (a place) / to (in answer to)
Questions & Answers about Бильярд — это игра, где шары лежат на зелёном сукне.
Could I use в которой instead of где to connect these clauses?
Yes, you could perfectly well say игра, в которой... (a game in which...). However, just like in English, Russian frequently uses где (where) as a natural-sounding shortcut for abstract spaces, situations, or games where an action takes place.
Why is the word for balls шары here, rather than мячи?
In Russian, a мяч is typically an air-filled, bouncy, or soft ball used in sports like soccer, basketball, or tennis. A шар refers to a solid, hard sphere, making it the correct word for billiard balls, bowling balls, and geometric spheres.
I always forget the rules for the dash (—) before это. Why is it used here?
The dash acts as a structural stand-in for the present tense of the verb "to be" (which is omitted in Russian). It is required here because both the subject (Бильярд) and the predicate (игра) are nouns in the nominative case. The word это is optional but often added to emphasize that you are giving a definition.
What is the dictionary form of сукне?
The nominative form is сукно (a neuter noun). It refers to "baize" or "broadcloth" — the specific type of thick, woven woolen fabric used to cover billiard and card tables. In this sentence, it is in the prepositional case (на зелёном сукне) to show location.