"Pil jste vodu?"

Translation: Were you drinking water?

[Mark841597]

Interesting! So 'pil' is singular, right? Does this combination of 'jste' and 'pil' imply that 'jste' is used as second person formal singular (to one man) rather than as second person plural? In Russian for instance вы always goes with plural пили even when addressing one person.

[endless_sleeper]

Exactly! Good point! :)

[Mark841597]

To bylo rychle! Díky :-)

[2200Lucia60]

And if it was not a question? Then wordorder wouldn't change, letting "jste" in the second position ? Or we would write "Vodu jste pil." ??

[VladaFu]

Not, it would not change. But "Vodu jste pil?" is a less common form than can be used in this exercise as well.

[BrianSille2]

Does PIL rather than PILA indicate a gender

[VladaFu]

yes, as with all past participles. Just like in Latin.

[O2bagoonerHinata]

Why is it past continuous (were drinking) rather than a simple "did you drink water"? Are both acceptable?

[VladaFu]

They are.