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Syntactic Variants: Alternative Constructions 1
Practice alternative syntactic constructions with the same semantic content
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Browse Verbs practiceQuestion 1
Студенты завтра будут сдавать экзамен / Студентам ___ сдавать экзамен завтра.
English context
Choose the impersonal present-tense verb for an upcoming exam that the students face.
Options
- предстояло
- предстоят
- предстоять
- предстоит
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- предстоит
Correct feedback
Right. Студентам предстоит сдавать экзамен presents the exam as an upcoming event the students face.
Grammar rule
A dative experiencer plus impersonal предстоит and an infinitive presents an upcoming action: студентам предстоит сдавать.
Question 2
Он легко решает задачи / Ему легко ___ задачи.
English context
Choose the infinitive construction with dative experiencer.
Options
- решает
- решать
- решил
- решение
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- решать
Correct feedback
Excellent! Dative + adverb + infinitive expresses ease of action.
Grammar rule
Experiencer constructions use dative subject + evaluative adverb + infinitive.
Question 3
Врач лечит больных / Больные ___ у врача.
English context
Choose the alternative construction with patient as subject.
Options
- лечат
- лечатся
- лечили
- лечение
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- лечатся
Correct feedback
Great! Reflexive construction shifts focus from agent to patient.
Grammar rule
Reflexive constructions can shift syntactic focus from agent to patient.
Question 4
Дождь мешает работе / Из-за дождя работа ___.
English context
Choose the alternative construction with cause as prepositional phrase.
Options
- мешает
- не идёт
- останавливается
- прекращается
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- не идёт
Correct feedback
Perfect! Causal constructions can use prepositional phrases instead of subjects.
Grammar rule
Causal relationships can be expressed through different syntactic constructions.
Question 5
Книга интересует читателей / Читатели ___ книгой.
English context
Choose the alternative construction with human subject.
Options
- интересуют
- интересуются
- заинтересованы
- интересны
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- интересуются
Correct feedback
Excellent! Reflexive shifts from object-stimulus to subject-experiencer.
Grammar rule
Psychological verbs can have stimulus-subject or experiencer-subject constructions.
Question 6
Учитель объясняет урок / Урок ___ учителем.
English context
Choose the passive construction alternative.
Options
- объясняет
- объясняется
- объяснён
- объяснение
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- объясняется
Correct feedback
Great! Passive constructions shift focus from agent to theme.
Grammar rule
Passive constructions shift syntactic focus from agent to theme/patient.
Question 7
Мне нравится музыка / Я ___ музыку.
English context
Choose the alternative with nominative subject.
Options
- нравлюсь
- люблю
- слушаю
- понимаю
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- люблю
Correct feedback
Perfect! Preference can be expressed with dative or nominative subjects.
Grammar rule
Emotional attitudes can use different subject case constructions.
Question 8
Собрание начинается в три / Собрание ___ в три часа.
English context
Choose the alternative active construction.
Options
- начинается
- начнут
- начало
- начиная
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- начнут
Correct feedback
Excellent! Events can have both impersonal and personal subject constructions.
Grammar rule
Scheduled events can be expressed with impersonal or agent constructions.
Question 9
В комнате холодно / Комната ___.
English context
Choose the alternative with room as subject.
Options
- холодно
- холодная
- охлаждается
- холодеет
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- холодная
Correct feedback
Great! Environmental states can use impersonal or subject constructions.
Grammar rule
Environmental conditions can be expressed impersonally or with location subjects.
Question 10
Ему не спится / Он ___.
English context
Choose the alternative construction with personal subject.
Options
- не спит
- не может спать
- не хочет спать
- не засыпает
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- не может спать
Correct feedback
Perfect! Involuntary states can use impersonal or modal constructions.
Grammar rule
Involuntary experiences can use impersonal or modal ability constructions.