We have been asked by one of our readers to explain the uses of \u0447\u0442\u043e. This seemingly simple word has several applications. We will go over the most common uses of this word.<\/p>\n
The primary meaning of \u0447\u0442\u043e is “what.” Dictionaries<\/a> will tell you that it is technically a \u043c\u0435\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0438\u043c\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u0441\u0443\u0449\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0438\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0435, a “pronominal noun.” What that means for us in practical terms is that, as most Russian nouns, \u0447\u0442\u043e declines, which has several important consequences.<\/p>\n First, let us look at the declension table for \u0447\u0442\u043e.<\/p>\n You are most likely to encounter \u0447\u0442\u043e referring the direct object of the verb:<\/p>\n An identical form, the nominative case, refers to the subject of the sentence — the thing being asked about.<\/p>\n The conventional translation of “what is…”\/”what are…” is “\u0447\u0442\u043e \u0442\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0435…”<\/p>\n The case of \u0447\u0442\u043e is determined by the verb to which it refers. Unfortunately, there is often no logical explanation other than convention.<\/p>\n All of these forms can be used in subordinate clauses:<\/p>\n Another major usage of \u0447\u0442\u043e is to connect a dependent clause giving more information. In these cases, \u0447\u0442\u043e is technically a conjunction, and the entire dependent clause is the object of the verb of the main clause.<\/p>\n In rare cases, you can have the same sentence with \u0447\u0442\u043e the conjunction and \u0447\u0442\u043e the pronoun — with different meanings.<\/p>\n The way to distinguish these sentences in print is that the “question” what (second example) will have an accent mark over the \u043e in print, even for native speakers, while the first example will not. In speech, the question what will be emphasized for the second example, whereas the verb will be emphasized in the first example.<\/p>\n \u0427\u0442\u043e can also introduce subordinate clauses clarifying which object\/subject is meant:<\/p>\n This is an archaic\/bookish usage; you are more likely to use a form of \u043a\u043e\u0442\u043e\u0301\u0440\u044b\u0439.<\/p>\n
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Introducing Dependent Clauses<\/h2>\n
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