"Дима ест яйца?"
Translation:Does Dima eat eggs?
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471
You need to separate "есть", as in "to be" and "ест" meaning "they eat". However you are right saying that "У Дима (...)" is the right way to say it.
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I think this is not even limited to only German. In English, the idiom "You are what you eat" (or as Frank Zappa applied it in one of his songs: You are what you is) would be understood too.
813
Same here. At 607 day streak the area lost internet for a week. Then, my bad left phone in locker for a day. Too bad.
«Ест» is, indeed, both ‘is eating’ and ‘eats.’
However, «я́йца» is ‘eggs’, and «яйцо́» is ‘[an] egg’.
English allows using ‘egg’ (uncountable, without an article) to refer to any amount of eggs. Russian doesn’t do this, so «Дима ест яйца» can be translated ‘Dima eats egg’, that is, indefinite amount of egg(s). But ‘Dima eats an egg’ can’t be translated with «я́йца», only with «яйцо́».
I think it does, for instance, if you're checking specifically for allergies or preference. If you're talking to Dima and asking him if he eats egg, I suppose this would imply you think he's a baby, so possibly not the best place for this construction, but if you're asking his friend or mom and he's not near, then I think this'd work.
Well, «У Ди́мы есть яйца?» is a normal way to ask if Dima has some eggs. Maybe you want to cook a pie but you don't have eggs, so you need to know if Dima can lend you some.
Alternatively, since «яйца» is a slang term for testicles, «У Ди́мы есть я́йца?» 'Does Dima have balls?' can be a very slangy (and impolite) way to ask whether Dima is male. But since Dima is a male name anyway, the question is likely to be metaphorical: 'Is Dima a man?' = 'Does Dima behave like a man?'.
Russian belongs to the nominative-accusative languages. It means that verbs always agree with the person or thing doing the action (linguistically speaking, with the agent) and not with the thing that is affected by the action (not the patient).
I.e. it doesn't matter how many eggs Dima eats. What matters is how many people eat eggs.
Yes, it's audible because it's distinguished by stress: яйцо́ 'egg', but я́йца 'eggs'.
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How do I know if it's a statement or a question? The speaker's voice doesn't go up at the end but then the translation shows me they're asking a question. Is it impossible to tell or are they just showing me that it's possible to have it both ways
So, when we ask a question in English, we have a particular "tune" if you will alongside the change of words to help demonstrate that it is a question we're asking - For example, it would be "Does Dima eat EGGS?" emphasis on last part or if some was to say that Dima ate eggs and I was to hint that the statement may in fact be untrue, or also to show surprise, the emphasis shifts: "DOES Dima eat eggs (though)?" - So, if the word "Does" isn't technically in this sentence how would the vocal "tune" be to ask such a question, where does the emphasis lie to make it sound normal. I ask because the DuoBot says it like it is a statement, and it's only after I got it right that I saw the question mark at the end of the revealed answer. Any help would be appreciated
813
No difference in Russian translation. You only can tell by context so both should be accepted. In English translation though see JBL above for the difference.
It depends on what you're asking. If you want to know if Dima eats eggs in general (i.e. maybe he's observing the Nativity fast?), or if you want to know if he's eating more than one egg now, than you'd use plural. If you want to know if he eats one egg now, than you'd use singular.
Instead of what? There are several possible problems someone might have with this sentence. The question mark tell's it's a question and in speech there's also intonation. The singular of яйца is яйцо. The stress is on different syllables, so the pronounsiation is quite different: in the singular you hear a clear [o] in the end. ест is eat and not a form of "to be" which is есть. Context usually helps with this too, "Dima is eggs" doesn't really sound that good. Hope that helps :)
Something along the lines of "Ya-eets-uh", with the first two syllables blurred together. That's not the best description, but it's the best I can come up with. Try listening to it here and see if that helps.
813
Would a native speaker confirm how to say: Is Dima eating eggs? I have a feeling that may resolve most questions here.
What part of this turns it into a question? Why is it "Does Dima eat eggs?" instead of "Dima eats eggs"
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Because 'едят' is conjugated to the 3rd Plural pronoun 'они' or 'they'. Дима is 3rd person singular and requires the conjugation 'ест'.
2340
No, "Т" and "ТЬ" are different sounds. You need practice to hear the difference between them