| Grammar Notes: Word-by-Word Breakdown * Спокойная (Spokóynaya) * Meaning: Calm, tranquil, peaceful. * Grammar: An adjective in the feminine singular nominative case. It describes 'река' (river), which is a feminine noun, so the adjective takes the feminine ending `-ая`. * Infinitive/Base Form: спокойный (spokóynyy) - meaning 'calm'. * река (reká) * Meaning: River. * Grammar: A feminine noun. It is the subject of the sentence and is in the nominative case. * с (s) * Meaning: With. * Grammar: A preposition. It is used here to mean 'accompanied by' or 'having the feature of'. * небольшими (nebol'shími) * Meaning: Small, not large. * Grammar: An adjective in the instrumental plural case. It describes 'водопадами' (waterfalls). The preposition `с` often requires the instrumental case. * Infinitive/Base Form: небольшой (nebol'shóy) - meaning 'small'. * водопадами (vodopádamí) * Meaning: Waterfalls. * Grammar: A masculine noun in the instrumental plural case. It is governed by the preposition `с`. * Infinitive/Singular Form: водопад (vodopád) - meaning 'waterfall'. * и (i) * Meaning: And. * Grammar: A conjunction used to connect words or phrases. * высоким (vysókím) * Meaning: High, tall. * Grammar: An adjective in the masculine singular instrumental case. It describes 'водопадом' (waterfall). * Infinitive/Base Form: высокий (vysókiy) - meaning 'high, tall'. * водопадом (vodopádom) * Meaning: Waterfall. * Grammar: A masculine noun in the instrumental singular case. It is connected to 'небольшими водопадами' by `и`. * Infinitive/Base Form: водопад (vodopád) - meaning 'waterfall'. * между (mézhdu) * Meaning: Between, among. * Grammar: A preposition. It is followed by the genitive case. * скалами (skálami) * Meaning: Rocks, cliffs. * Grammar: A feminine noun in the instrumental plural case. While `между` usually requires the genitive, it can also be used with the instrumental case to mean 'between' or 'among', which is the case here. * Infinitive/Singular Form: скала (skalá) - meaning 'rock, cliff'. General Grammar Tip The instrumental case in Russian has several uses. In this sentence, you see two of them: 1. With the preposition `с` (with) to mean 'accompanied by'. 2. With the preposition `между` (between) to indicate location. Related Words * озеро (ózero) - lake * ручей (ruchéy) - stream * гора (gorá) - mountain * лес (les) - forest |
