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Because 'жена́' is a feminine noun, and 'свою́' is a feminine form.
If there was a masculine word, you’d use 'своего́':
- Она́ лю́бит своего́ му́жа. 'She loves her husband.' (because му́ж is a masculine noun)
I thought свою was a neutral accusative form... If there is the word своего, i thought there would be a своё. Am i wrong?
Is there a way to distinguish between like and love for people? For example how would one say "he likes his wife but does not love her"?
«Ему́ нра́вится его жена́, но о́н её не лю́бит».
(Since with «нра́вится», the subject of the sentence is «жена́» and not «он», we can't use «своя́» because «своя́» means the owner is the same as the subject of the sentence.)
Свой is the Russian reflexive possessive pronoun. It is used like Мой (my), and has the same forms.
It is used when the owner of something is the subject of the sentence clause. (Its use is required in the 3rd person, and optional in the 1st and 2nd. Although it is almost always used if the subject is ты).
For example, Иван любит свою собаку - Ivan loves his (own) dog.
If i translate this from Russian i could have accidentally cause a homicide.. it still feels like "he loves your wife" or "he loves his(another guys) wife" one thing i am sure that this devoted guy is a cheater.
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Он любит свою жену. ‧ He loves his wife. [ his own wife ]
Они любят своих родителей. ‧ They love their parents. (their own) 14019130 ‧ To whomever they refers. If «they» refers to a son and a daughter then «they» love mom and dad. If «they» refers to an entire graduating class then «своих» is the entire class's moms and dads.
Он любит твою жену ‧ He loves your wife [ not his, your wife ]
Он любит своих жён ‧ He loves their wives [ not his, their wives]
свой ~ one's own ‧ Family tips & notes ‧ English does not have anything quite like this. Essentially, it is a substitute for my, your, his, her etc. that you use when it refers to the person (or thing) that is the subject of the sentence or, at least, the clause you are in.
Accusative.
