Thread: 5 practice sentences - is my translation correct?

Originally Posted by Valda

1) Karin was kidnapped, the police is organizing a search party.

Карин похищена, полиция организует поисковую группу.

2) Karin wasn't found, so the police is looking for a suspect.

Карин не найдена, так что полиция разыскивает подозреваемого.

3) When the suspect was arrested, the officer search him for clues

Когда подозреваемого арестовали, полицейский обыскал его на предмет улик.

4) We know Karin was abducted because her mother searched everywhere for her.

Мы знаем, что Карин похищена, потому что её мама всюду её разыскивала.

5) We found clues, now we are looking for the location where she is being held.

Мы нашли улики, сейчас мы ищем (ее местонахождение.) (, где ее держат.)

Note that commas are mostly mandatory in Russian.

Когда подозреваемого арестовали, полицейский обыскал его на предмет улик.

Question - why "арестовали"?

Shouldn't we use the past participle short form "арестован" meaning "was arrested"?

You used plural, and past. While the sentence is past particple, singular male.

Originally Posted by Valda

Question - why "арестовали"?

Shouldn't we use the past participle short form "арестован" meaning "was arrested"?

You used plural, and past. While the sentence is past particple, singular male.

Арестовали - "they arrested" - one way in Russian to use impersonal constructions. "They" means no matter who. Somebody. In English it is also used AFAIK even if not so often as in Russian.

Another way is to say the same "он был арестован" - "he was arrested", but it is a bit bookish, official way.

Again the same construction "где ее держат" - "where they held her".