Back
Beginner

The Nominative & это

The subject case; 'this is'

The nominative is the subject case

The dictionary form; answers 'who/what?'.

💬 Examples
Кот спит.
Kot spit.
The cat is sleeping.
📝 кот = nominative subject
Дом большой.
Dom bol'shoy.
The house is big.
📝 Nominative subject + adjective
No articles in Russian

A bare noun means a/the.

💬 Examples
Я вижу машину.
Ya vizhu mashinu.
I see a/the car.
📝 No word for 'a/the'
Это книга.
Eto kniga.
This is a book.
📝 это = this is
это = 'this/that is'

A handy invariable pointing word.

💬 Examples
Это мой дом.
Eto moy dom.
This is my house.
📝 это = this is
Это мои книги.
Eto moi knigi.
These are my books.
📝 это is invariable (even with a plural)