A Basic Modern Russian Grammar

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A Basic
Modern
Russian
Grammar
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar, Eugenia Nekrasova,1997.

Graphic Design, eBook publisher, Dmitry Pobedimsky, 2002.
ISBN 5-85550-119-1
Ron Maxim, Director,
Government Cargo Support Services, Maersk Sealand, Atlanta, GA, USA:
...Mrs.Nekrasova`s book is very creative...
Frederick Lyons, Resident Representative,
United Nations Development Programme in the Russian Federation
This book very definitely helped me improve my Russian fluency.
With good humour and strong didactic principles it leads through the
difficulties of the Russian Grammar.
Markku Lehto, Chief of Moscow Bureau
of the Finnish Broadcasting Company, Finland
The book is really very helpful. The explanations given in the
book are clear and inventive. The teaching materials have been very
well sorted.
To the Readers
This book is meant both for the learners and the teachers of Russian.
The name of the book speaks for itself: "A Basic Modern Russian Grammar".
The attention is focused on the facts of Modern Russian language which are
basic, of high frequency and in common use.
As most of the learners are not professional linguists the author tried to avoid
unnecessary linguistic terms.
The explanations, charts and presentation of grammar material enable the
learners of Russian understand some practical mechanisms of the language
in a certain logical order .
The teachers of Russian can use it in their practical work.
All the charts originally belong to the author.
The author expresses her deep gratitude to Mr D. Pobedimsky without whom
the book would not have succeeded and to Prof. T. Wade (UK) for his encouragement.
I wish you success,
Eugenia Nekrasova
Shortly about the Author

Eugenia Nekrasova, Moscow, Russia.
M.A. in Philology and Education, Moscow State University.
For many years she has been working as a full-time senior
teacher and lecturer for the USSR / Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Language Service, teaching
Russian, English and related subjects to foreign diplomats,
businessmen and journalists, including the staff of the United Nations Moscow
office, Sea Land CIS Logistics, Caterpillar Overseas, Ernst & Young, the State
Finnish Radio & TV Moscow office and many others.
Now she divides her time between teaching and writing books on language.
She has written five successful books on learning Modern Russian as a Second
Language and on learning English for people speaking Russian:
1. "A Basic Modern Russian Grammar" - 380 pages, "Gummerus", Helsinki,
Finland, 1998. Published in Finnish, translated from English. ISBN 951-20-5264-4
2. "Exercises in Basic Modern Russian Grammar" - 250 pages,
"Gummerus", Helsinki, Finland, 2000. Published in Finnish, translated from English. ISBN 951-20-5507-4
3. "Living & Working in the Former USSR" - 211 pages, colour illustrated,
succesfully practised course book of Modern Russian, best used for crashcourses. ISBN 5-85550-121-3
4. "Popular English Grammar" - 400 pages, "Slavyansky Dom Knigi" Publishers, Moscow, Russia,1999. First print - 25,000 copies. ISBN 5-93220-001-4
5. "English for Work and Travel" - 360 pages, "Slavyansky Dom Knigi" Publishers, Moscow, Russia, 2000, with D.Pobedimsky. First print - 15,000 copies.
ISBN 5-93220-052-9
The author would gladly accept any comments on the book
email: eugnekr@mail.ru
Part 1
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns
in the Singular
AGREEMENT BETWEEN WORDS IN RUSSIAN
There are 2 main types of relations between the words in a Russian
sentence: Agreement and Governing.
Agreement could be in Gender, Number and Person.
THE PRINCIPLE OF GENDER AGREEMENT
Agreement in Gender takes place:
between the long adjectives and the nouns,
between the adjectival pronouns and the nouns,
between the ordinal numerals and the nouns,

between the cardinal numeral one and nouns,

between the long participles and the nouns,

between the nouns/personal pronouns and the short participles
/short adjectives,
between the nouns/personal pronouns and the verbs in the Past
tense form.
Part 1 deals with the first five types of Gender Agreement.
Part 1 covers the problems of Gender Agreement between nouns and
words preceding them in units. I called the words preceeding nouns in
units - the characterizing words.
The characterizing words can be:
adjectives,
adjectival pronouns (possessive, demonstrative etc),
ordinal numerals,
long participles,
cardinal numeral one.
You will learn:
how to establish the Gender of a noun and
how to make the Singular form Gender Agreement between nouns

and words characterizing them.
Part 1
page 1
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
HOW TO ESTABLISH THE GENDER OF A NOUN

All Russian nouns are attributed to one of the three genders:
Masculine (M), Feminine (F) or Neuter(N)

You will be glad to know that the gender of the majority of the Russian
nouns one can tell from the ending of the dictionary form (Nominative
Case).
The gender of nouns is mostly a formal thing.
Now you will learn how to determine the gender of a noun.
Nouns ending in consonants and - are Masculine:
- house
- man
- friend
- city
-museum
- China
Nouns ending in -, -, -, - are Feminine:
- mama, mommy
- Volga
- car
- article
- week
- surname
- Russia
Nouns ending in -, -, -, - are Neuter:
- seat
- sea
- compartment
- building
- TV
- health
But things are never that simple in languages:

irrespective of the Feminine -, - ending
a small group of nouns denoting males
E.g.
has Masculine gender agreement
() +
Notice!
(so called Natural Masculines):
- father, dad
- man
- grandfather
- uncle
The following nouns are Neuter:
- time
Notice!
- name
- interview
Part 1
- menu
- jury
- taxi
page 2
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE GENDER OF SOFT SIGN NOUNS

A very big group of nouns ending in - (soft sign) could be either
Feminine or Masculine.
The Gender of these nouns could be found in the dictionaries.

Nouns denoting males (natural masculines) are Masculine: Notice!
- guest, - driver, - teacher,

- writer, - Tzar, - king,
- goalkeeper etc.
Names of months ending in - are all Masculine:
- January, - February, etc.
Natural feminines are all Feminine:
- mother, - daughter etc.
Nouns ending in -, -, - are Feminine:
- life
- news
- signature etc.
The Gender of other soft sign nouns

has to be learned individually.
h
Notice!
REPLACING SINGULAR NOUNS BY PERSONAL PRONOUNS

A noun could be replaced by the following personal pronouns
depending on the established gender:
Masculine nouns by - he, it
? .
? .
Feminine nouns by - she, it
? .
?
.
Neuter nouns by - it
? .
? .
Part 1
page 3
Eugenia Nekrasova
HOW TO ESTABLISH THE GENDER OF PLACE NAMES

All the place names could be divided into 2 groups:
First group
The place names have the endings which formally fit the Russian system
of endings:
M. , , , , -
F. , , , -
N. -
Second group
There are many place names which do not fit the Russian system of
endings:
, , , , , , ,
These words exist only in this unchangeable (indeclinable) form. Their
gender is established in a special way (through association with the
generic word).
FOREIGN INDECLINABLE NOUNS AND THEIR GENDER AGREEMENT
There is a group of nouns of foreign origin in Russian which do not decline.
E.g.
- highway
- subway
- taxi, cab
- cafe
- compartment
- radio (set)
- movies, cinema
- studio,dress shop
- office
- interview
- overcoat etc.
All these words are Neuter and their Gender agreement and pronoun
replacement is Neuter.
E.g.
- Minsk highway - o
- interesting interview -
- new overcoat -
but - Masculine - hot coffee
h
Notice!
Part 1
page 4
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE GENDER AGREEMENT BETWEEN NOUNS

AND CHARACTERIZING WORDS IN THE SINGULAR
The adjectives and adjectival words are registered in the dictionaries in the
Masculine.
You can make other gender forms on your own if you follow the rules which will
be stipulated further.
The gender agreement between nouns and adjectives

The Masculine adjectival endings which a foreign learner may trace from the
dictionary are as follows:

- like in - new, - famous

- like in - big, large, - bad, expensive, dear
- like in - Russian, - English, good, - small, little, - last
So, these adjectives can be attached to the nouns the gender of
which is marked or established as Masculine, for example:
Masculine adjective + Masculine noun
M.
M.
+
M.
M.
+
M.
M.
+
Feminine adjective + Feminine noun
To make a Feminine adjective to attach it to a Feminine noun, you have to
replace Masculine endings by - ending.
, ,
E.g.
M.
F.
F.

new
new car
M.
large, big
Part 1
F.
F.

big car
page 5
Eugenia Nekrasova
M.
F.
bad
M.
F.

bad car
F.

expensive
M.

English
F.
F.
F.

English school
M.
F.
F.

good, nice
good school
expensive car
F.
Russian
M.
M.
F.

Russian school

small, little
F.
F.

small school
The only exception to this rule presents a limited group of

adjectives ending in - like
- last, - early, - late etc.
h
Notice!
- in - is replaced by -
| | - last page
| | - late autumn
Neuter adjective + Neuter noun
To make the Neuter adjective to attach it to a Neuter noun, you have to
replace -, - or - by -:
- new overcoat
- large window
- bad schedule
- Russian word
- Finnish radio
- small window
Exception
But - is replaced by - if a Masculine adjective ends in
-, -, -, -, -.
E.g.
|
|

|
|
|
Part 1
N.
N.
| - last letter
| - fresh meat
| - good mood
| - hot milk
| - present time
h
Notice!
page 6
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE GENDER AGREEMENT BETWEEN ADJECTIVES

AND NOUNS OF ADJECTIVAL ORIGIN
An adjectival noun has the form of an adjective but functions as a noun.
Most of the adjectival nouns result from the omission of a noun qualified
Notice!
by the adjective, for example:
M. () - scientist
F. () - bathroom
M. () - Russian (nat.)
F. () - embankment
M. ()-unemployed N. () - second course
N. () - main course
F. () - Russian (nat.)
N. - ice-cream
F. () - dining-room
So, the adjectival nouns are qualified like normal nouns:

M.
M.
+ - famous scientist
F.
F.
+ - large dining-room
N.
Notice!
N.
+ - delicious ice-cream
The possessive pronouns used as characterizing words

. M
This is my house.
N
.
This is my seat.
My
.
This is my car.
F
M
.
This is our seat. N
?
Is this your house? M
.
This is our house.
Our
.
F This is our car.
?
?
Your Is this your car?
Is this your house?
N (from ) F
M
?
?
Is this your seat?
?
Your Is this your car?
Is this your seat? N (from ) F
Part 1
page 7
Eugenia Nekrasova
Possessive pronouns (his), (her), (their) do not

change according to the gender principle, they exist only in one
unchangeable form:
(his)
(their)
- his house
- his car
- his place
(her)
- their house
- their car
- their place
h
Notice!
- her house
- her car
- her place
Summary
, , , , , ,
+
, , , , , , +
, , , , , , +
The demonstrative and determinative pronouns

used as characterizing words
- this, the... close to hand
.
M Here is this house.
.
Here is this place. N
... - this is, that is M.
.
This is my house.
F.
this
.
Here is this car.
special case!
.
This is my car.
N.
.
This is my seat.
Notice!
It is necessary to distinguish the characterizing , which changes
according to genders and used in the meaning of this is, that is,
these are, those are. The latter is not a characterizing word, and it does
not change according to genders.
Part 1
page 8
Eugenia Nekrasova
- that one, the one which was meant, distant object

M .
Here is that house.

. N
Here is that place.
that
F .
Here is that street.
- this kind, the same
?
M This kind of house?
this
kind
?
This kind of beer?

?
This kind of car?
used in expressive sentences like:

M !
It is so windy today!
N
!
It is so sunny today!
!
It is so hot today!
- what a..., combines with long adjectives:
!
M
What a heavy wind!
!
What a hot summer!
Part 1
!
What a heavy thunderstorm!
page 9
Eugenia Nekrasova
Similar meaning could be rendered by

- such a..., what a ...
!
M What a heavy wind!
!
What a hot summer! N
!
F What a heavy thunderstorm!
- the same, the same kind as,

combines with long adjectives:
.
The same kind of house.
.
F The same kind of car.
.
The same kind of beer. N
- the very, the most, most
Indicates precise location:

. . It`s the very centre of the city.
Combines with long adjectives to denote superlative meaning:
. M
This is the biggest house.
.
This is the most expensive car.
.
This is the most comfortable seat.
- the same, the very, mentioned before
.
M
.
N
Part 1
.
F
page 10
Eugenia Nekrasova
The Interrogative Pronouns used as characterizing words

The Interrogative Pronouns are used in questions:
- what, which, what kind of, what is the number of..?
?
M
What is your carriage number?

What is the class of your carriage?
What kind of person is he?
What is your telephone number?

What kind of telephone do you have?
? What is the weather like tomorrow?

?
What kind of apartment do you have?

What is the number of your apartment?
What is the number of your compartment?

What is the class of your compartment?
What is the number of your seat?
? - Whose..?
Who is the owner? To whom it belongs?

? ?
M Whose is this house?
N whose? F
?
?
Whose is this compartment?
Part 1
? ?
Whose is this car?
page 11
Eugenia Nekrasova
Other characterizing words
- all, the whole
- the whole day

all,
- all the time N the whole F - the whole country
- one, a...

- one seat, a place N

M - one house, a house
a...
one,

- one car, a car
- is an emphatic pronoun, it can characterize both nouns and

personal pronouns:
M - he himself
- by itself N
...self
F - she herself
THE GENDER OF NOUNS DENOTING PROFESSIONS IN RUSSIAN

Names of professions ending in consonants and the soft sign are
exclusively masculine as originally they were male dominated.
profession
- doctor
Notice!
E.g.:
The characterizing words are always Masculine irrespective of sex:

Some other popular nouns denoting professions:
- announcer, - director, - teacher,

- chairman, - professor, - cook,
- engineer, - bookkeeper, - trainer,
- guide, - film-director, photographer, - editor etc.
Part 1
page 12
Eugenia Nekrasova
Part 2
The Plural of Nouns.
The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
SINGULAR - ONLY NOUNS
Not all the nouns have both Singular and Plural forms.
There are nouns which exist only in the Singular.
They include nouns which denote:
collectives:
h
Notice!
- dishware, - furniture, - footware, weapons,

- clothes, - cosmetics, etc.
human activities:
- policy/politics, - industry,
- economy/economics, - medicine, - sports,
- television, - radio, etc.
substances; foods, cereals, fruits and vegetables:
- gold, - oil, - wool, - oil, butter,

- beer, - rice, - meat, - flour, - grapes,
- raisins, - cabbage, - onion, chocolate, etc.
feelings and sensations: - happiness, - envy, etc.
FORMATION OF PLURAL NOUNS
The nouns of all Genders make Plural forms with the help of 2 groups
of endings: First Group
- or - ending: Big Group of Masculine& Feminine Nouns
Second Group
- or - ending: Small Group of Masculine & Neuter Nouns
First Group: Masculine & Feminine Nouns
- ending (hard line) after hard consonants
Singular
Plural
M.

M.
M.
- suitcases
- computers
- foreigners etc.
- ending instead of -
F. - cars
F. - apartments
F. - women
etc.
Part 2
page 13
The Plural of Nouns. The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
Eugenia Nekrasova
Singular
M.
M.
M.
M.
F.
M.
F.
F.
Plural

days
dictionaries
roubles
guests
nights
museums
weeks
photos
, , ,+
Singular
Special cases!
Plural
F. - books
M. -textbooks
F. - matches
M.
- rumours
F.
etc.
M.
M.
M.
, , , +
Singular
Plural
- skies
- knives
- doctors
- raincoats
etc.
Second Group: Masculine and Neuter nouns
This group is much smaller than the -, - group but the nouns are
frequently used.
- ending (hard line) after hard consonants in the Masculine nouns
Singular
Part 2
Plural

- cities, towns
- houses
- forests, woods
- trains
- evenings
- islands
- colors
- banks, coasts
- passports
- bills, accounts
- numbers, hotel rooms
- craftsmen etc.
page 14
Eugenia Nekrasova

- ending (soft line) instead of -, - and -
ending instead of -o in Neuter nouns (hard line)

also
- lakes
- words
- faces
- armchairs
- eggs
- letters
- windows
- window glasses etc.
- times
- names
- ending (soft line) instead of - in Neuter nouns
- fields
- buildings
- sentences, offers
SPECIAL CASES OF PLURAL NOUN FORMATION
Singular
Plural

- friends
- trees
- brothers
- sons
- chairs
- leaves

Singular
Part 2
Plural

Singular
Plural
- neighbours
- sirs,
ladies & gentlemen
- owners
- apples
- ears
- children
- people
page 15
Eugenia Nekrasova
Singular
Plural

- kittens
- chiken
- Christians
-Muslims
- citizens of Russia
- English
- Danes
-peasants
- citizens
- Armenians
- Gypsies
etc.
etc.
PLURAL-ONLY NOUNS
Some nouns do not have the Singular form. They exist only in the Plural
form (registered in the dictionaries in the Plural form). These words denote:
objects which consist of two parts:
- glasses, - scissors, - scales, swings, - gate, - trousers, - jeans,

- pants, - tights etc.
collective actions:
- school or university vacation, negotiations, - elections, - tour (of artists),

- funeral, - farewell party, - hide and
seak, - childbirth etc.
also the following words:
- money, - chess, - clock, watch,

- chimes, - subtitles, - curls, - sledge,
- saw-dust, - wallpaper, - firewood, memoirs, - abacus, - applause etc.
Part 2
page 16
Eugenia Nekrasova
- perfume, - cabbage-soup, - spaghetti,
- preserves, - cream etc.

- 24 hours period, - dusk, - early frost
Some place names
some mountains:
, , , etc.
some islands:
, , , , etc.
some countries:
, ,
also
- tropics, - jungle
, , and lot of other geographic names mainly
denoting villages and towns on the territory of the former Soviet Union.
PERSONAL PRONOUNS IN THE PLURAL

All the plural nouns can be replaced by the personal pronoun
they
E.g. .
.
These are my books.
.
They are on the shelf.
Part 2
These are my friends.

.
They live in London now.
page 17
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN NOUNS AND CHARACTERIZING WORDS

IN THE PLURAL
The Plural of Adjectives
Characterizing words also have the Plural form. All three Singular forms
- Masculine, Feminine and Neuter fall into one Plural form:
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
Plural
, group, for example:
Plural
Singular
M.
F.
N.
- new houses
- new cars
- new words
- new house
- new car
- new word
Singular
M.
F.
N.
Plural
- golden bracelet
- gold medal
- golden ring

- gold medals
Summing - up table
M.
F.
N. Plural
- - - -
- - - -
group, for example:
- last lesson
F. - last page
N. - last word
M.
Plural
Summing - up table
M.
N.
Plural
- - -
Part 2
F.
- last lessons
- last pages
- last words
page 18
Eugenia Nekrasova
MIXED PLURAL ADJECTIVAL ENDINGS

A big group of commonly used adjectives has the following peculiarities in
the Plural formation:
The adjectives with stems ending in , ,
have - Plural ending
(both spelt and pronounced), for example:
-, -, -,
-, -, -
group
strict
M.
F.
N.
Plural
M.
F.
N.
Russian
M.
F.
N.
M.
F.
N.
Plural
sity, urban
Plural

M.
F.
M.
F.
N.
expensive, dear
Plural

bad, poor
Plural

N.
quiet, calm
Plural

Summing - up table
M.
F.
N.
Pl.
- - -
- - -
- - -
Part 2
M.
F.
N.
Pl.
- - -
- - -
- - -
page 19
Eugenia Nekrasova
The adjectives with stem in , , ,

have their Plural form spelt with -,
but pronounced -, e.g.:
-, -, -,
-, -, -
group
M.
F.
N.
fresh
Plural
M.
F.
N.
M.
F.
N.
M.
F.
N.
good, nice
hot
Plural
M.
F.
N.
Plural
M.
F.
N.
big, large
Plural

alien
Plural
present, real, true, genuine

Plural

Summing - up table
M.
F.
N.
Pl.
- - -
- - -
- - -
M.
F.
N.
Pl.
- - -
- - -
- - -
Memorize
fresh hot good big crunchy buns
Part 2
page 20
Eugenia Nekrasova
The Possessive pronouns in the Plural

my
M.
F.
N.
Plural

- my keys
our
M.
F.
N.
your from
M.
F.
N.
Plural

- your keys
Plural

- our keys
your from
M.
F.
N.
Plural

- your keys
But his - , her - , their - have only one form for all Genders
and Numbers:
- his keys, - her keys, - their keys
The Demonstrative pronouns in the Plural
M.
F.
N.
M.
F.
N.
Plural
Plural
M.
F.
N.
Part 2

- these keys

- this kind of keys
M.
F.
N.
M.
F.
N.
Plural

- those keys
Plural

!
- What kind of idiots
they are!
Plural

- same kind of keys
page 21
Eugenia Nekrasova
M.
F.
N.
M.
F.
N.
Plural

- most expensive shops
Plural
- same kind of keys
The Interrogative Pronouns in the Plural
What kind of?

What?
Whose?
M. ?
F. ?
N. ?
M. ?
F. ?
N. ?
Plural
? ?
What are your plans?
Plural
? ?
Whose are these keys?
- only, alone, a pair of ...

M.
F.
N.
h
Notice!
Plural
- one pair of glasses
.
There were only children there. etc.
The Plural of Other Characterizing Words - all, the whole

M.
F.
N.
M.
F.
N.
Plural
- all the things

- all the people
Plural
...selves
-they themselves
also - many (people)
- some (people)
Part 2
page 22
Eugenia Nekrasova
Part 3
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives
and Adjectival Words in the Singular
In this part you will learn the main case forms (declension types) of
nouns in the Singular
adjectives and adjectival characterizing words in the Singular
GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE CASE SYSTEM
THE CASE SYSTEM AS THE RESULT OF THE GOVERNING PROCESS
As mentioned in Part 1 there are two main types of relations between the
words in a Russian sentence: the Agreement and the Governing.
The Agreement in units was discussed in the first two Parts.
Part 3 of the Grammar Book deals with the Governing.

Words and units being put together to form a Russian sentence (to express
some idea) are practically never equal.
Some words (or simple constructions) govern other words causing changes
in their endings.
Various kinds of endings have been pigeon-holed or classified into the cases.
The governors are mainly as follows:

verbs with or without prepositions

prepositions
all quantitative words including cardinal numerals from 2
nouns in the qualifying combinations
negative constructions
impersonal constructions
The subordinates of the governing process are mainly as follows:

nouns
units (characterizing words + nouns)
personal pronouns
interrogative, indefinite and negative pronouns,
based on personal pronouns
numerals, both cardinal and ordinal
Part 3
page 23
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
There are 6 cases in Russian:
1. The Nominative
4. The Accusative
2. The Genitive
5. The Instrumental
3. The Dative
6.The Prepositional
The Singular case endings of nouns and units (which are

characterizing words + nouns), fall into two main groups:
First group
Masculine & Neuter
Second group
Feminine
The Plural case endings of nouns and units form one group :
N
M
Plural
Special attention has to be paid

to the mosaic-like Genitive Plural endings of nouns.
h
Notice!
Try to memorize the case endings

in combinations with prepositions
or verbs most typical for this case.
Part 3
page 24
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE DECLENSION OF MASCULINE NOUNS IN THE SINGULAR

All nouns are registered in the dictionaries in the Nominative case form.
Hard-ending Masculine nouns

All Masculine nouns, full first names and place names ending in a hard or
hissing consonant decline on the following pattern:
Nom.
.
Gen.
. Ivan has a dog.
Dat.
. I have to call Ivan.
Acc. =Gen.
Instr.
Prep.
Type
. I know Ivan.
. I go with Ivan.
. We spoke about Ivan.
Mind that the case endings are attached to consonants

but replace vowels, and (soft sign).
h
Notice!
Nom.
- lesson
Gen.
- after the lesson
Dat.
. He is not ready for the lesson.
Acc. =Nom.
Instr.
Prep.
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
. He missed (skipped) the lesson.

- before the lesson
- at the lesson
.
.
He lives not far from Petersburg.
.
We walked about Petersburg.
Acc. =Nom.
Instr.
Prep.
Part 3
. I am going to Petersburg.
. It is close to Petersburg.
. He lives in Petersburg.
page 25
Eugenia Nekrasova
Soft-ending Masculine nouns
The ending vowel can vary depending on the stem consonant.

If a stem consonant is soft (ends in a soft sign) or ends in ,
then a Masculine noun declines on the following pattern:
Type
Nom.
Gen.
. Nikolay has the tickets.
Dat.
. I have to call Nikolay.
Acc. = Gen.
. I know Nikolay.
Instr.
. I go with Nikolay.
Prep.
. We spoke about Nikolay.

Nom. .
Gen.
.
The teacher has the book.
Dat.
.
I have to call the teacher.
Acc.=Gen.
. I saw the teacher.

Instr.
. I go with the teacher.
Prep.
. We spoke about the teacher.
Part 3
page 26
Eugenia Nekrasova
Nom.
Gen.
. There is no hockey today.
Dat.
- World hockey championship
Acc. = Nom.
. - He is fond of hockey.
. He goes in for hockey.
. He talks only of hockey.
Instr.
Prep.
Summing-up table of hard and soft Masculine case endings

Hard
Gen.
Dat.
Instr.
Soft
/
/
/
THE ACCUSATIVE OF MASCULINE NOUNS IN THE SINGULAR

The Accusative of Masculine nouns does not have any special ending.
Here Russians use the concept of Animacy and Inanimacy.
Animate nouns, which are nouns denoting human beings and
representatives of the animal world, take the form of the Genitive case.
E.g.
. - Nom.
. - Acc.
. - Nom.
. - Acc.
Part 3
page 27
Eugenia Nekrasova
Eugenia Nekrasova

Inanimate nouns take the form of the Nominative case, so the Accusative
of inanimate nouns does not differ from the dictionary form, for example:
Nom.
Acc.
Summing-up table of Masculine nouns and names in the Accusative

Accusative of
Animates=Genitive
.
.
.
.

Accusative of
Animates=Genitive
.
.
.
.
Some special case endings of the Masculine nouns in the Singular

There is a group of Masculine nouns denoting a place

which take / instead of e in the Prepositional Case.
Here are some of them:
h
Notice!
- on the floor
1985 - in 1985
. We were sitting in the garden.
- in the port
- at the airport
. We walked in the forest.
. The files are in the bookcase.
. There is a traffic jam on the bridge.
Part 3
page 28
. I lived before in the Crimea.
. The box is in the corner.

. The house stood on the bank.
- in hell
- in paradise
Some Masculine nouns ending in , , , and take -e
ending instead of -o when the ending is unstressed:

Some Masculine nouns ending in (soft sign) take - ending
in the Instrumental Case:
! Happy birthday!
- with a dictionary
THE DECLENSION OF NEUTER NOUNS IN THE SINGULAR

The Neuter nouns have the same
case endings as the Masculine nouns
h
Notice!
Hard ending Neuter nouns

Neuter nouns ending in decline like the Masculine noun ,
for example:
Nom.
Gen.
. Here is the lake.

.
Our summer cottage is not far from the lake.
. This road goes to the lake.
Dat.
Acc. = Nom.
Instr.
Prep.
. I am going to the lake.

. Our summer cottage is close
to the lake.
. Our summer cottage is on the lake.
Part 3
page 29
Eugenia Nekrasova
Neuter nouns ending in - decline like the soft Masculine noun

, for example:
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
. - Here is the sea.

.
He lives not far from the sea.
.
This road goes to the sea.
Acc. = Nom.
Instr.
Prep.
. - I like sea.
.
He lives close to the sea.
.
Our summer cottage is on the sea.
Nom. = Acc. = Prep.
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
. - This is the Moscow region

.
Here is the map of the Moscow region.
.
He travels a lot about the Moscow region.
Acc. = Nom.
Instr.
Prep.
.
He knows the Moscow region very well.
.
This area borders the Moscow region.
.
He lives in the Moscow region.
Nom. = Acc. = Prep.
Part 3
page 30
Eugenia Nekrasova
Neuter nouns ending in -, like decline like ,

except for the Prepositional, for example:
Nom.
- schedule, timetable
Gen.
- no schedule
Dat.
- on schedule
Acc. = Nom.
- I saw the schedule

Instr.
- problems with the schedule

Prep.
Notice!
- in the schedule
Several Neuter nouns, like - time, - first name,

and some others, decline as follows:
Nom.
- time
Gen.
|.
h
Notice!
Ivan has no time.

Dat.
| to pay according to time
Acc. = Nom.
.
He only lost time.
Instr.
|.
Ivan is always short of time.
Prep.
|.
He forgot about time.
Part 3
page 31
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE DECLENSION OF FEMININE NOUNS IN THE SINGULAR

Main types of endings

Type
Type
Type
Type

Type
Type
Gen. .
Dat. .
Acc. .
Instr. .
Prep. .
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
.
.
.
?
.
.
Gen. .
Type
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
Here is the map of Russia.

.
I travelled a lot about Russia.
.
I came to Russia a year ago.
.
We signed a treaty with Russia.
.
Now I live in Russia.
Type
Type
Nom.
Gen.
D a t.
Acc.
Instr.
P r ep .
Part 3
Type

near the square
-,- Dat. by the square

-
-
Type
Type

Gen. -
Acc. ?
Do you see the square?

- Instr. behind the square
-/
Prep.
-
- in the square
Nom.
Gen.
D a t.
Acc.
Instr.
P r ep .
page 32
Eugenia Nekrasova
There are 3 additional mixed types of Feminine noun case forms:

Mixed types of endings
Type
Type
Type
Type
-,-,-
nouns
nouns
nouns
Follows Type ,
but in the Genitive Case - is used instead of -:
,
Type
-,-,
-,-
- -
Follows Type ,
but in the Instrumental Case - is used instead of -:
- -
Type
Follows Type , but has two irregularities:

in the Genitive Case - is spelt instead of -:
, - -
in the Instrumental Case - is used instead of -:
, - -:
Type Natural Masculines follows similar types
of Feminine Nouns, for example:
Part 3
like
like
h
Notice!
, like
, like
page 33
Eugenia Nekrasova
Summing-up table of the Masculine

and Neuter noun declension in the Singular
Hard declension
Nom.
Gen.
-
Dat.
-
Soft declension
Nom.
Gen.
-
Dat.
-
Hard declension
Soft declension
Anim.=Gen.
Inanim.=Nom.
A cc.
=Gen.
=Nom.
=Nom.
=Nom.

Instr.
-
Prep.
-
Part 3
, but
Anim.=Gen.
Inanim.=Nom.
A cc.
=Gen.
=Gen.
=Nom.
=Nom.
Instr.
-
Prep.
-
but
page 34
Eugenia Nekrasova
Summing-up table of the Feminine noun declension in the Singular
, , ,
Nom.
,
,
,
Acc. ,
,
, ,
Gen. , ,
,
, , ,
, ,
Dat.
, ,
,
Instr.
, ,
, ,
, , , ,
,
Prep.
Declension of the Feminine nouns and
Special case!
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
Part 3
/
/
/
/= Nom.
/
/
h
Notice!
page 35
Eugenia Nekrasova
ADJECTIVAL TYPE OF DECLENSION IN RUSSIAN

The following categories of Russian words have the adjectival case forms:
all types of adjectives
possessive pronouns - , , ,
all demonstrative pronouns - , ,

and other pronouns in combination with them
interrogative/relative pronouns - , , - which, who
indefinite and negative pronouns based on , , ,
- only Plural
possessive reflexive pronoun -
determinative pronouns - , - whole, - each, every
all long participles - , , etc.

ordinal numerals - - first, - 21-st
adjectival nouns - - person on duty, - ice-
cream, - embankment etc.

participial nouns -
- a wounded person, - a passer by etc.

family names of adjectival origin - , etc.
place names and names of subway, railroad stations, hotels etc. -
(earlier village, now a part of Moscow),

(town), (station), (subway
station), also (hotel) etc.
generalizing/replacing words -
- this, that, - everything, - everybody,

everyone (only Plural), - many (only Plural).
Part 3
page 36
Eugenia Nekrasova
As for the declension types all the adjectives and adjectival words
can be grouped as follows:
Masculine and Neuter
Singular adjectives

Type

Type

Type
Feminine
Singular adjectives

Type
Type
Type
Type
The declension of Masculine and Neuter adjectives in the Singular

Nom. . This is our new
Gen. .
director.
The new director has a nice car.

Dat. . I am going to the new director.
Acc. . I have already seen the new
director.
Instr. . I spoke with the new
director.
Prep. . I told about the new
director.

The following words belong to this declension type:

all Masculine and Neuter long adjectives, long participles, ordinal
numerals and adjectival pronouns ending in - or -,
all possessive adjectives like and their Neuter forms.
Exception:
words with , , and , stems.
Part 3
Notice!
page 37
Eugenia Nekrasova
. This is the last lesson.

Gen. .
He came after the last lesson.
Dat. .
He came by the last lesson.
Acc. .
He missed the last lesson.
Instr. .
He came before the last lesson.
Prep. .
He slept at the last lesson.
Nom.
Type
The following words belong to this declension type:

Masculine long adjectives ending in -, -, -, -, -,
-, long participles ending in - or - and their Neuter forms.
For example:
, , , etc.
Note that the Instrumental ending - and - is only spelt
with , but pronounced with .
Also the numeral - third.
Notice!
Type
Nom.
- the Russian language

Gen. - Russian lesson
Dat. - Russian exam
Acc. . - I learn Russian.
Instr. . - I study Russian.
Prep. - Russian books
To this declension type belongs a very big group of commonly used

long Masculine adjectives ending in
-, -, -, -, -, -, -, - , -
and their Neuter forms:
/ - small, little
/ - English
/ - strict
/ - quiet, calm
/ - city, urban
/ - other, another
Part 3
page 38
Eugenia Nekrasova
/ - big, large
/ - alien, strange
The adjectival pronouns /, /
and the Numeral / decline on the same pattern.
/ - bad
Summing-up table of the Masculine and Neuter adjectival

declension in the Singular
Type
Nom.
Gen.
D a t.
Acc.
Instr.
P r ep .
THE DECLENSION OF THE FEMININE ADJECTIVES IN THE SINGULAR

There are 3 declension types:
Type
Type
Type
Type

Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
. Here is Red square.

.
The museum is near Red square.
. We walked in Red square.
? Have you seen Red square?
Part 3
page 39
Eugenia Nekrasova
Instr.
.
The cathedral is close to Red square.
Prep. . We were in Red square.
Gen. = Dat. = Instr. = Prep.
To this type belong all - ending adjectives including ,
etc., the adjectival pronouns , and the numeral .
Exception:
Adjectives and participles ending in unstressed -, -, -.
h
Notice!
Type

To this declension type belong all - ending Feminine adjectives .
Type

To this declension type belong Feminine adjectives and participles
ending in unstressed -, -, - like , ,
.
The summing-up table of declension of the Feminine adjectives
and participles in the Singular
Type
G.
G.
D.
D.
A.
A.
I.
I.
P.
P.
Part 3
page 40
Eugenia Nekrasova
Part 4
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives
and Adjectival words in the Plural
THE GENITIVE PLURAL OF NOUNS
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival Words in the Plural
Eugenia Nekrasova
Within the Plural declension of nouns special attention has to be paid to

the most frequent but irregular forms - the Genitive Plural forms of nouns.
These forms have to be treated separately and in first turn.
The formation of the Genitive Plural of nouns is based mainly on the
Nominative Singular forms, and only in limited number of cases it is
based on the Nominative Plural forms. You can find the formation of the
Nominative Plural of nouns in Part 2.
The Genitive Plural noun endings can be grouped as follows:
zero ending
group
- group
100
- group
Part 4
- group
- group
100
page 41
Group 1
- group
Model
100
This group includes only the Masculine hard stem

nouns:
Nom. Singular
100
100 meters
10
at 10 o`clock
100
100 kilometers
100
100 liters
100
100 percent
Gen. Plural
100
100 dollars
100
100 sheets

a lot of lessons

a lot of parks

a lot of mushrooms
Also some common Plural - only nouns:
etc.
- without glasses
- no jeans
- during the negotiations
- after the elections
- no watch
- a lot of memoirs
- a lot of applause
- a bottle of perfume
- a box of canned food
- near Luzhniki (Moscow area)
Part 4
page 42
Eugenia Nekrasova
Group 2
zero-ending group This group includes the hard-stem Feminine
Model
nouns with - ending in the Nominative Singular:

Nom. Singular
Gen. Plural

and can be introduced
- a lot of cars
- a lot of dogs
- a lot of women
- a lot of problems
- a lot of books
10 - 10 minutes
10 - 10 thousand
between
the final consonants for easier pronounciation

h
Notice!
- a lot of mistakes
100 - 100 marks/poststamps
10 - 10 packs
10 - 10 kopecks etc.
The hard-stem Neuter nouns ( - ending nouns) :

- no seats
- a lot of lakes
- a lot of words
- a lot of windows
12 - twelve eggs etc.
The Feminine - ending nouns can also be considered a part

of the zero-ending group:
Part 4

5 - 5 weeks
- a lot of villages
- a lot of honey-melons
page 43
Eugenia Nekrasova
The zero-ending group also includes some commonly used Masculine

nouns:
Nom. Singular =
Gen. Plural

Coll.
Coll.

10 - 10 people/persons
- many times
100 - 100 grams
10 - 10 kilograms
- a lot of Gypsies
Also - words denoting people:
- many muslims
and other words like:
- - a lot of Russian people

- - a lot of Christians
- - a lot of peasants
- - a lot of English people
- - a lot of Danes
- - citizens have... etc.
Nouns from the baby group:
Nom. Plural
Also
Gen. Plural
- a lot of children
5 - 5 kittens
- a lot of chicken etc.
- no owners
- a lot of apples
N.
Part 4
- a lot of names
page 44
Eugenia Nekrasova
The zero-ending group includes the following Plural-only nouns:

Nom. Plural
Gen. Plural
- a lot of money
- near the gate
- no scissors
- no sledge
- after the vacation
- after the funeral
- no firewood
- a pack of cream
- two days (and nights)
- near the Alps
- near the Kuril islands
- near the Philippines

Group 3
- group
Model 100
Nom. Singular
M.
M.
M.
M.
Part 4
This group includes the soft - stem Masculine

and Feminine nouns (ending in the soft - sign
or a hissing consonant , , , ):

Gen. Plural
100 - 100 roubles

10 - 10 days
- a lot of guests
- a lot of teachers
page 45
Eugenia Nekrasova
Nom. Singular
M.

F.
F.
F.
F.
F.
Gen. Plural
- a lot of doctors
- a lot of news
10 - 10 notebooks
5 - 5 nights
- a lot of horses
- a lot of mice
The Neuter - ending nouns:

- a lot of fields
- 5 seas
Special case
Nom. Singular
Nom. Plural Gen. Plural
M.
- a lot of friends
M.
- a lot of sons
- a lot of children
- a lot of people
- a lot of neighbours
F.
- mothers have
F.
5 - 5 daughters
Part 4
page 46
Eugenia Nekrasova
Group 4
- group
Model
To this group belong Masculine nouns ending

in - and - in the Nominative Singular:

Gen. Plural
- a lot of Japanese
- a lot of foreigners
( is fleeting)
10 - 10 months
- a lot of museums
Nom. Singular
Several Masculine and Neuter nouns having the Plural Nominative

ending in -:
Nom. Plural
Gen. Plural
- a lot of trees
- a lot of brothers
- a lot of chairs
- a lot of leaves
Group 5
This small group includes Feminine nouns
ending in -, - and the Neuter Nouns ending
Model
in - in the Nominative Singular:
- group
Nom. Singular

F.
F.

N.

N.
N.

N.
F.
Part 4
Gen. Plural
- a lot of photos
- a lot of illustrations
- a lot of families
- a lot of buildings
- a lot of sentences, offers
- a lot of exercises
- a lot of competitions
page 47
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE ACCUSATIVE PLURAL OF NOUNS

There are no special endings for the Accusative Plural of nouns.
As in the Masculine Singular, the Nominative Plural and the Genitive Plural
of nouns are used for the Accusative Plural of nouns.
The following scheme illustrates this:
The Accusative Plural

of Masculine and Feminine
Inanimates, also Neuter
nouns = Nominative Plural
of Masculine and Feminine Animates

= Genitive Plural
E.g.
Gen. Pl.
M.
. - from
He invited some guests.

Gen. Pl.
Nom. Pl.
F.
. - from
F.
. - from
He likes dogs.
For the formation of the Genitive
Plural see the previous pages.
He bought the skies.

Nom. Pl.
M.
. - from
He bought the tickets.

Nom. Pl.
N.
. - from
He learned the words.

THE DATIVE, INSTRUMENTAL AND PREPOSITIONAL PLURAL
OF NOUNS
There are two types of endings in these cases:

Hard endings
Dat.
Instr.
Prep.
Part 4
-
-
-

Soft endings
Dat.
-
Instr.
-
Prep.
-
page 48
Eugenia Nekrasova
Eugenia Nekrasova
The attribution of nouns to one of these groups is determined by the

Nominative Plural endings:
Hard ending group
- ending nouns:

,
- ending nouns:
, ,
-, -, - ending nouns:
, ,
-, -, -, -
ending nouns: ,
-, - ending nouns:
,
Soft ending group
- ending nouns:
, ,
,
-, -, - ending nouns:
, ,
THE DECLENSION OF THE HARD ENDING NOUNS IN THE PLURAL

Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.=Nom.
(Inanimate)
.
These are my skies.
. (See the Genitive Plural of Nouns).

There are a lot of skies in the shop.
.
There are boots for skies.
.
I bought the skies.
Instr.
.
I go in for skiing now.
Prep.
. I like skiing.
Part 4
Type
page 49
THE DECLENSION OF THE SOFT ENDING NOUNS IN THE PLURAL
Type
Nom.
.
Gen.
.
My brother has a lot of friends.
Dat.
.
He often calls his friends.
Acc.=Gen.
(Animate)
Instr.
Prep.
.
My brother invited his friends.
.
My brother plays hockey with his friends.
(but , , )
.
He aIways tells about his friends.
THE DECLENSION OF THE PLURAL ADJECTIVES

AND ADJECTIVAL WORDS
All Plural characterizing words (adjectives and adjectival words)
fall into two ending groups:
First group
comprises words with
, endings in the
Nominative Plural.
Part 4
Second
group
comprises words with
, endings in the
Nominative Plural.
page 50
Eugenia Nekrasova
+
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Here you can find the examples with both types of endings:
.
Here are my new skies.
.
It`s the wax for my new skies.
.
I have to buy boots to my new skies.
.
My friend has not yet seen my new skies.
(Inanimate = Nom., Animate = Gen.)
Instr.
Prep.
.
My friend showed some interest in my new skies.
!
It`s nice to ride my new skies. (= Gen.)
Here you can find the summing-up table of the Plural adjectival endings:
First group
Second group
Nom.
Gen.
D a t.
Acc.
animates
-
inanimates -,
-
inanimates -,
Instr.
P r ep .
animates
Gen. = Prep.
Part 4
page 51
Eugenia Nekrasova
Here you can find a list of words in the Nominative Plural declining like :
all adjectives ending in , like , etc.
all possessive adjectives ending in , like etc.
participles ending in
majority of the adjectival pronouns:

-
-
-
-
adjectival surnames like

ordinal numeral
Here you can find a list of words in the Nominative Plural declining like :
all adjectives ending in , like etc.
all possessive adjectives ending in , like etc.
ordinal numerals , etc.
participles ending in , like
few adjectival pronouns:
, , , ,
adjectival surnames like
Two adjectival pronouns and have slightly different endings:
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
Part 4
,
,
,
Animates - , ( = Gen.)
,
, ( = Gen.)
h
Notice!
Inanimates - , ( = Nom.)
page 52
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE DECLENSION TABLES OF THE ADJECTIVAL PRONOUNS,

BOTH SINGULAR AND PLURAL
The declension of the Possessive pronouns
M.
N.
N.
N.
F.
F.
Pl.
G.
G.
D.
D.
A.
A. , ,
I.
I.
P.
P.
N.
N.
M.
N.
F.
F.
Pl.
G.
G.
D.
D.
A.
A . , ,
I.
I.
P.
P.
M.
N.
N.
N.
F.
F.
Pl.
G.
G.
D.
D.
A.
A. , ,
Part 4
I.
I.
P.
P.
page 53
Eugenia Nekrasova
M.
N.
N.
N.
F.
F.
Pl.
G.
G.
D.
D.
A.
A.
, ,
I.
I.
P.
P.
M.
N.
N.
N.
F.
F.
Pl.
G.
G.
D.
D.
A.
A.
, ,
I.
I.
P.
P.
The declension of the Demonstrative pronouns
N.
N.
Part 4
M.
N.
F.
F.
Pl.
G.
G.
D.
D.
A.
A.
, ,
I.
I.
P.
P.
page 54
Eugenia Nekrasova
M.
N.
N.
N.
F.
F.
Pl.
G.
G.
D.
D.
A.
A.
, ,
I.
I.
P.
P.
The declension of the Determinative pronoun
N.
N.
M.
N.
F.
F.
Pl.
G.
G.
D.
D.
A.
A.
, ,
I.
I.
P.
P.
The declension of the Interrogative/Relative pronouns
M.
N.
N.
F.
F.
Pl.
G.
G.
D.
D.
A.
A.
Part 4
N.
, , ,
I.
I.
P.
P.
page 55
Eugenia Nekrasova

N.
N.
M.
N.
F.
F.
Pl.
G.
G.
D.
D.
A.
A.
, ,
I.
I.
P.
P.
The declension of the Relative pronoun
M.
N.
F.
F.
Pl.
N.
N.
G.
G.
D.
D.
A.
A.
I.
I.
P.
P.
The use of the Possessive - reflexive pronoun (someone`s own)

appears in the Nominative only in the possessive constructions,
for example:
. I have my own key.

In other cases qualifies the object which has a kind of ownship
relation with the subject, for example:
. He does not like his job.

. I will call my friend.
declines like
Part 4
page 56
Eugenia Nekrasova
Part 5
The Declension of Names, Geographic Names
and Noun-replacing Pronouns
THE DECLENSION OF RUSSIAN SURNAMES
Russian common male surnames usually end in -/-/-
$
#
or -/-, for example:
, , ,,
Russian common female surnames usually end in -/-/-

, , ,,
The Plural forms of Russian surnames usually end in -/-/-

, , ,,
All these types of Russian surnames decline on the

pattern of //:
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Instr.

Part 5
Acc.
$
#
#$
#$
Prep.

page 57
The Declension of Names, Geographic Names and noun-replacing Pronouns
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE DECLENSION OF RUSSIAN ADJECTIVAL SURNAMES

Many common Russian surnames decline like adjectives.
There are two main types:
Type
Type
The Nominative ends in

- M.
-
-
The Nominative ends in

-
M.
-
-
F.
Pl.
They decline on the pattern of

- Mixed declension type
F.
Pl.
They decline on the pattern of
- Hard declension type
Type
Acc.
Nom.
M.
F.
Pl.
Gen.
Dat.
Part 5
Instr.
Prep.
page 58
Eugenia Nekrasova
Type
Nom.
M.
F.
Pl.
Gen.
Dat.

Acc.
Instr.

Prep.
THE DECLENSION OF RUSSIAN PATRONIMICS
Russian Male Patronimics end in -/-/- like
, , .
$
#
Russian Female Patronimics end in -/-/- like
, ,
All Russian female patronimics decline on the pattern of :
= =
For example:
Nom.
.
Gen.
.
Dat.
.
Acc.
.
Instr.
.
Prep.
.
Part 5
page 59
Eugenia Nekrasova
All Russian male patronimics decline on the pattern of ,
except for the Instrumental (-/- instead of -).

For example:
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.=Gen.
Instr.
.
(- in )
Prep.
h
Notice!
THE DECLENSION OF NON-RUSSIAN PEOPLE`S NAMES

First names
Male names
Foreign first male names decline, only if they end in a consonant -/-,
or a soft consonant (consonant + ).
For example:

,
,
,
,

Female names
Foreign female names decline only if they end in -, -, - or -.
For example:

Part 5
,
,

page 60
Eugenia Nekrasova
So, the majority of non-Russian first names,

both male and female, are indeclinable in Russian.
Notice!
For example:
SURNAMES
Only consonant - ending male surnames can decline.

For example:

,
etc.
THE DECLENSION OF NON-RUSSIAN GEOGRAPHIC NAMES
Russians decline (as nouns) only those non-Russian geographic
names which are transcribed in Russian with the final consonant (both
hard and soft), -, -, -, - or -.
For example:

,
,
,
/ ,
/ ,

,

etc.
Plural-only nouns:
,
,

etc.
Part 5
page 61
Eugenia Nekrasova
PERSONAL PRONOUNS
Russian personal pronouns are as follows:
Singular
Plural
1. - I
1. - we
2. - you (informal), - you (formal) 2. - you - (referring to
3. - he, it, - she, it, - it
3. - they more than one)
THE USE OF AND
The use of and in Russian, when referring to one person, presents
a certain difficulty for a foreign learner.
Here you may find the main guidelines:
Talking to strangers in public places

adult & child
adult & teenager or young person

young person & young person
adult & adult

#$
middle-aged adult & elderly person
Part 5
page 62
Eugenia Nekrasova
Talking to a familiar person

friends and relatives always use
friend & friend
relative & relative
at work
same status
younger person & older person
different status
lower status & higher status
is used seldom
The choice depends

on many factors!
at kindergartens, schools, colleges and universities

kindergarten
school
child & teacher
schoolchild & teacher

Part 5
page 63
Eugenia Nekrasova
college or university
student & student
student & teacher

children and teenagers use only to each other.
If is used instead of to an unknown adult

in a public place, it can be taken for an insult.
Referring to God, nature and animals we use .
h
Notice!
THE DECLENSION OF THE PERSONAL AND OTHER

NOUN-REPLACING PRONOUNS
All the pronouns can be divided into
2 groups

First group
Pronouns
used as words
characterizing nouns
Part 5
Second group
Pronouns
replacing nouns
and proper names
page 64
Eugenia Nekrasova
The first group was described in Part 1 and Part 2.

Now I will describe the second group.
Among these pronouns are:
the personal pronouns ///////,

the Interrogative/Relative pronouns /,
the Reflexive pronoun ,
the Nominative pronoun ,
the generalizing words like , .
the Indefinite pronouns based on /,
THE DECLENSION OF THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS

The third-person pronouns he, it, it, she, it,
they
A noun is replaced by these pronouns depending on the formally
established gender.
Same pronouns are used both
for the animate and inanimate objects.
Notice!
The case forms are as follows:
The case forms of he, it

Nom. . =
Gen.
This is my friend.
Part 5
.
He has a car.
Dat. .
I will visit him in the summer.
.
or
I called him in the morning.
Acc. .
I met him in Paris.
Instr. .
We went to school together.
Prep. .
I often think of him.
page 65
Eugenia Nekrasova
Nom. . = Gen. .
This is my house.
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
There is a parking neat it.

.
A big bus came up to it.
20 .
It was built 20 years ago.
.
There is a parking behind it.
6 .
There are 6 entrances in it.
The same case forms has the Neuter pronoun it.
h
Notice!
The case forms of she, it

Nom. . = Gen. .
Here is my (girl)friend.
Dat.
or
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
Part 5
She has a dog.

.
I will go to her in the summer.
.
I will call her tomorrow.
.
I saw her yesterday.
.
I will go to Paris with her.
.
page 66
Eugenia Nekrasova
Nom. . = Gen. .
Here is my summer cottage.
There is a big lake near it.

Dat. .
We drove up to it early in the morning.
Acc. .
We built it many years ago.
Instr. .
There is a big garden in front of it.
Prep. .
I live in it only in the summer.
The case forms take initial - when governed by a preposition:

/, / etc.
h
Notice!
The case forms of the pronoun - they
. =
Gen. .
I stayed with them in the summer.
Dat. .
I will go to them tomorrow.
or
.
I called them yesterday.
Acc. .
I met them in London.
Instr. .
I will go with them to Paris.
Prep. .
I often think of them.
Nom.
Part 5
Eugenia Nekrasova
page 67
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
Eugenia Nekrasova
=
These are the new regions.
.
There is usually a forest near them.
.
There is one big road going to them.
. I don`t like them.
.
There is usually a bus line between them and a metro station.
. They don`t have a metro line.
The case forms of I, me
Gen.
. I have no car. - Special case!
Dat.
. He didn`t call me.

.
He will come to me tomorrow.
. He doesn`t know me.
. He goes with me.
? Did John speak of me?
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
The case forms of you (informal)

Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
? - Special case!
Do you have a car?
. I`ll call you tomorrow.
. I`ll come to you tomorrow.
. I love you.
. I`ll go with you.
. I often think of you.
Gen. = Acc.
Dat. = Prep.
Part 5
h
Notice!
page 68
The case forms of you - polite singular or plural form

Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
? - Special case!
Do you have a fax machine?
.
I`ll call you.
.
I will come to you tomorrow.
.
I don`t know you.
.
I`ll go with you.
.
I heard much of you.
The case forms of we
Gen.
. - Special case!
We don`t have a car.
Dat.
.
He didn`t call us.
.
He will come to us tomorrow.
Acc.
.
They don`t know us.
Instr.
.
They go with us.
Prep.
.
They don`t know anything about us.
Part 5
page 69
Eugenia Nekrasova
Eugenia Nekrasova
SUMMARY TABLE OF THE THIRD-PERSON PERSONAL PRONOUNS

Nom.
Acc.
,
M, N F
F
M, N
Pl
Pl
Gen.
() M, N
()
Instr.
F ()
() M, N
Pl
Pl
()
()
Dat.
M, N
()
()
Pl
()
THE DECLENSION OF THE PRONOUNS
Prep.
M, N
Pl
The Interrogative/Relative pronoun refers to people.

It is used both in the direct questions like:
? Who is that person? and in the indirect ones:
, . He asked who would go to Kiev.

Here are the case forms of :
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
Part 5
? Who is that man?

? Who has a car?
? Whom did you tell it?
? Whom are you going to?
? Whom do you know here?
? Whom are you going with?
? Whom are you talking about?
page 70
The Interrogative / Relative pronoun
refers to a thing, animal or an action

? What is that?
? What is that?
? What is he doing?
Like , can be used both in direct and indirect questions:

Nom. ? What is that?
Gen. ? What are you afraid of?
Dat. ? What is he delighted with?
Acc. ? What do you like?
Instr. ? What are you dissatisfied with?
Prep. ? What are you thinking about?
The case forms of and are similar

to the Masculine adjectival endings.
h
Notice!
The combination ?
This combination is used as an equivalent of the pronoun especially when the answer with a specifying word is expected, as in:
- ? What kind of building is it?

- .
The combination is used only in the Nominative of all genders and
numbers.
Compare:
S.
Pl.
Part 5
?
What kind of program is it?
?
What kind of people are they?
page 71
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE DECLENSION AND THE USE OF THE INDEFINITE PRONOUNS

The Indefinite particles -, -, - can be attached to ,
(also to , , , , , , )
-, -
- takes the Masculine form even when reference is to a Female:
- . Someone called you.

- takes the Neuter form:
- . Something fell down.
- . Something awfull.
- - someone, denotes an unknown or forgotten person,
- - something, denotes a definite object or a thing,
details of which are unknown to a speaker.
-, -
Forms in - denote someone or something indefinite, still to be
decided or selected.
- forms are mostly used in questions, after imperatives,
in conditional constructions:
- ? Has something happened?

- ? Has anyone called?
- .
Will you buy something for breakfast.
- , .
If someone arrives, call me.
The Case Forms of these pronouns are similar to and forms:
Notice that - and - do not change.
Gen.
- ?
Notice!
Does anyone have a car?
Dat.
?
Did you call anyone?
Acc.
- ?
Do you know anyone here?
Instr.
-?
Did you talk to anyone?
Prep.
- ?
Did you discuss anyone with John?
Part 5
page 72
Eugenia Nekrasova
-, -
Eugenia Nekrasova

The Indefinite pronouns - and - decline like and ,

- forms refer to people or things which are not specified purposely,
- does not decline,
- - refers to a group of people,
- - refers to a thing or two:
- . I have some things to do.

If prepositions are used, they appear between - and the case form:
. I have to talk to someone.
THE DECLENSION AND THE USE OF THE REFLEXIVE PRONOUN

The Reflexive pronoun and its case forms are used for all persons
and both numbers irrespective of Gender.
It may correspond to:
forms with -self,
combinations with possessive pronouns or combinations with own,
or it is not translated at all.
This pronoun does not have the Nominative Case form.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
Part 5
.
John is at his office.
.
I invite you to my place.
.
He loves only himself.
?
Do you have any papers with you?
.
He thinks only about himself.
page 73
THE REPLACING GENERALIZING PRONOUNS AND

These pronouns can be used in a sentence both as a subject and an object.
Their gender and number agreement is as follows:
/ + the Neuter of the Past tense verbs
E.g.
. It was interesting.
. Everything was all right.
/ + the 3-d person Singular of the Present/Future tense verbs.
E.g.
. It will be interesting.
. Everything will be all right.
When used as an object and have the following case forms:
Nom.
. It is interesting.
Gen.
. She is afraid of it.
Dat.
. She believes it.
Acc.
. She knows it.
Instr.
. She is interested in it.
Prep.
. She knows it.

Nom.
. Everything is good.
Gen.
. She is afraid of everything.
Dat.
. She believes everything.
Acc.
. She knows everything.
Instr.
. She is interested in everything.
Prep.
. She knows everything.
Part 5
page 74
Eugenia Nekrasova

Part 6
The Case Usage
THE USE OF THE NOMINATIVE CASE

The forms of the Nominative Case coincide with the dictionary form.
The Nominative is used as follows:
It is used to denote the subject of an action or a state:
. My car is in the garage.

. I live in Moscow.
It is used in phrases:
. This is my house.
. These are my friends.
It is used in phrases:
. Here is my house.
. Here are my documents.
It is used in possessive constructions:
? Do you have a car?

. Lena has a spare ticket.
It is used in definitions:
- .
Bulgakov is my favourite writer.
THE USE OF THE GENITIVE CASE

The Genitive is the most frequently used Russian case.
It comprises about 70 % of all the case forms.
The Genitive case can be used both with or without prepositions.
We can speak about:

Part 6
the Genitive of Negation / Absense / Exception

the Genitive of Possession
the Genitive of Relation / Description
the Genitive of Quantity
the Genitive of Time
the Genitive of Place
the Genitive used after certain prepositions
the Genitive used after certain verbs
the Genitive of Comparison
the Genitive of Special Descriptive characteristics
page 75
The Case Usage
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE GENITIVE OF NEGATION / ABSENSE / EXCEPTION

The Genitive is used to express an absense or non-availiability
of a person, object or quality, for example:
Gen.
. - He is not available.
. - Natasha was not at home.
Gen.
. - I have no car.
Two prepositions - - without and - except are used in the

same meaning, for example:
- without sugar
, - everyone except Natasha
THE GENITIVE OF POSSESSION

The combination with the preposition is used to denote possession
of an object or some characteristics, for example:
Gen.
.
Natasha has a dog.
The Genitive is used to denote an owner:
. It`s my brother`s car.
THE GENITIVE OF RELATION / DESCRIPTION

An object or a person is described in relation to another object/person,
for example:
Gen.
noun or
noun or
proper name
proper name
Part 6
- map of Russia
- train schedule
page 76
The Case Usage
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE GENITIVE OF QUANTITY

The Genitive is used after words of indefinite or relative amount,
for example:
- more
- less
- few, little
- many, much
-- not a few
- not many, a few
- several
- how many, how much
- so many, so much
- (coll.) - a bit
Gen. Pl.
of countables

many books

much snow
The Genitive is used after words denoting certain amount, measure,

containers, set of objects, for example:
Gen. Pl.
of countables
Gen. Sing.
of uncountables
Gen. Sing.
of uncountables
The Genitive is used to denote part of a whole, for example:

, .The Genitive is used also after
- 1 1/2
Gen.
- 2 1/2
+
- -1/3
- 1/4
Only the Genitive Singular
3
- /4
is used after these words.
Notice!
Part 6
page 77
The Case Usage
Eugenia Nekrasova
The Genitive is used to denote the exact number of persons or objects:
cardinal numerals + Gen.

E.g.
10
100
2
12
There is a certain rule which regulates the use of the Genitive

Singular or the Genitive Plural after the cardinal numerals.
See below:
2, 3, 4
any number ending in 2,
3, 4
h
Notice!
take the Genitive Singular
E.g.
2 , 22 , 102 etc.
any number from 5 to
19
any number ending in a numeral from

any number ending in
5 to 19
take the Genitive Plural
E.g.
5
15
125
120
Cardinal numeral 1 and any number ending in

take the Nominative Singular, for example:
1 , 21 etc.
h
Notice!
The Genitive Plural is used after the following collective and double
numerals:
, , , , ,
for example:
The Genitive Plural is used after the following words:
- thousand, - million, - billion (1012),

for example:
, .
Part 6
page 78
The Case Usage
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE GENITIVE OF TIME

The Genitive of Time can be used both with or without prepositions.
The Genitive is used to denote:
dates of events
Gen.
Gen.

intervals
1300 1400
Gen.
Gen.
Gen.
Gen.
time points
Gen.
. He works here from September.

age points or limits
Gen.
.
He started smoking from the age of 14.
phases or parts of time words
1941
Gen.
1945
Gen.
Gen.

1991
Gen.
Gen.
Gen.

Gen.
coll. 6 - 6 a.m.
Gen.
2 - 2 p.m.
Part 6
Gen.
6 - 6 p.m.
Gen.
2 - 2 a.m.
page 79
The Case Usage
Eugenia Nekrasova
approximate time
coll. - about twelve o`clock
time of the day
first part of an hour:
Gen.
05
05
11 , 23 -
second part of an hour:
Gen.
30
30
11 , 23 -
Gen.

Gen.
55
55
11 , 23 -
THE GENITIVE OF PLACE
The Genitive of Place is used only after prepositions.
It is used to denote the position of an object/person in relation
to another object/person - both stationary and moving.
The following prepositions and adverbial combinations are used here:
- near
- near, at
- not far from
- close to
- far from
- far from
- opposite
/
- in the middle of

- among
+
E.g
- to the left from

- to the right from
- in front of
/ - behind
- inside
- outside
- around
- along
- across

- by, passing by
Genitive
Gen.
- not far from our house

. We stayed at our friends.
Part 6
page 80
The Case Usage
Eugenia Nekrasova
The Genitive is used to denote a place from where the action is directed
(the starting point of motion). The following prepositions are used:
, , - from a place
- - from behind
- - from beneath
Genitive
E.g.
.
He came back from Paris yesterday night.
800.
I usually leave home at 800.
.
He came from work very late.
.
We went from Stockholm by bus.
The Genitive is used to denote distance between two or more objects/
persons or part of the way:
+ Gen.
+ Gen.
.
From Moscow to Kiev we were driving the whole night .
After preposition the Genitive is used to denote a place of
destination:
? How to get to the railway station?

() ?
How long does it take to get to London by air?
also
.
I can`t reach you (by phone).
Part 6
page 81
The Case Usage
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE GENITIVE USED AFTER CERTAIN PREPOSITIONS.

The Genitive can be also used after several other prepositions
or in other meanings than described earlier.
Preposition is used to denote a sender of an object:
.
To denote relation between two objects or phenomena:
- key to the car (lit. key from the car)
- anti-allergic medicine
Preposition - is used to denote a reason or a cause:
- .
I came late to work because of a traffic jam.
Preposition means for, meant for:
.
The paper is for the printer.
Preposition is used mostly with the following verbs:
/ - to make
/ to make, to manifacture, to produce
/ - to build
/ - to cook
- to consist of
/ - to sew
/ - to knit
Genitive
E.g. .
Part 6
This box is made of wood.

.
This book consists of five chapters.
page 82
The Case Usage
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE GENITIVE USED AFTER CERTAIN VERBS

The following verbs take the Genitive:
- to wish
E.g. ! I wish you succes.
Very often the verb is omitted:
! All the best to you!

It comes from !
/ - to wait
E.g. . We are waiting for your reply.
- to lack, to be short of- used only impersonally
E.g. . I am short of time.

E.g. . He does not want any scandal.
. He does not want the watermelon.

The Genitive is also used after some other verbs:
- to be afraid of
- to avoid
- to be shy, to feel uneasy
- to achieve, to gain
, - to get to, to reach
- to be worth
- to take from someone
- to ask someone
- to ask someone to do or give something
- to buy something from a person or a company
/ ... - to translate from
E.g. . She is afraid of dogs.
. I`ll ask my brother.

.
You have to translate it from English.
Part 6
page 83
The Case Usage
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE GENITIVE OF COMPARISON

As an alternative to + Nom. the Genitive is used to denote an object
or a person of comparison:
.
My brother is younger than me. = , .
THE GENITIVE OF SPECIAL DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERISTICS
The Genitive is used without any preposition to describe some
characteristics of an object or a person: colour, model, size, dimension,
age, brand etc.
E.g. .
He bought the latest Volvo model. (lit. a Volvo of the latest model).
Very often the Genitive descriptive combinations are used in questions:
Asking about...
..?
..?
..?
..?
..?
..?
..?
..?
..?
..?
size
model, type
breed (of dogs, cats etc.)
height of a person
length
width
height
depth
brand, sort, type
quality
THE USE OF THE DATIVE CASE

The Dative of Person
The primary meaning of the Dative Case is to denote a person for whom
an action is performed, for example:
Dat
. Help me.
The main verbs which take the Dative of Person are as follows:
/ - to speak/say/tell
/ - to answer/reply
/ - to tell
/ - to call/phone
/ - to show
/ - to give
Part 6
page 84
The Case Usage
Eugenia Nekrasova

The Dative of Person can be used in formally impersonal senteces.

When Russians wish to specify the state of a person they use
the Dative, for example:
. - I am cold. (lit. To me it is cold).

The Dative is used to denote age:
20 . - I am 20 years old.
The Dative is also used in formally impersonal sentences with a

general meaning of necessity, possibility or obligation:
E.g. . - I have to make a phone call.
(lit. It is necessary to me...)
also with , - it is necessary, one has to...
- may, it is possible/permitted
- it is not allowed, one must not
The Dative is used after prepositions.

Two common prepositions and take the Dative Case.
- towards, to + verbs of motion
. Come to see us.

.
We approached Moscow late in the evening.
- by, along, about, according to, across, in
It is the vaguest of all Russian prepositions, see some examples:
- to go by Tverskaya (street)
- Russian exam (exam in/about
Russian)
- to travel about/around Russia

- according to the law
- in the mornings
Part 6
page 85
The Case Usage
Eugenia Nekrasova

/ - to send
/ - to bring
/ - to pay
/ - to help / - to send
/ - to bring
/ - to help
Preposition is also used with communication verbs to denote

means of communication:
/ - to show
/ - to watch, to see
- to say
/ - to call phone
/ - to speak, to talk
/ - to send
/ - to send
/ - to send
/ - to recieve
/ - to hear
/ - to broadcast
/ - to broadcast
/ - to speak
Dat.
+
Dat.
+
Dat.
+
+

Dat.
THE USE OF THE ACCUSATIVE CASE

The Accusative can be used both with or without prepositions.
The Accusative is used:
to denote an object of an action (without prepositions),
to denote a direction of an action (with prepositions),

with a number of prepositional verbs and combinations,
with preposition (about)
with a great number of time-expressions (both with or without
prepositions).
The Accusative without prepositions is used after transitive verbs
to denote an object of an action (Direct object), for example:
subject
Part 6
action
expressed by
transitive verbs
. - I bought a dog.
object
in Accusative
page 86
The Case Usage
Eugenia Nekrasova
The Accusative is also used with the same model to denote cost,
measure, distance:
.
The dog costs one thousand dollars.
.
We drove a thousand kilometers.
The Accusative is used to denote the direction of an action or a place

of destination after prepositions , , , , , for
example:
subject
action
expressed by
motion verbs
. I am going to London.
object in Accusative
Some other examples include:
.
I am going to the exhibition.
.
I sent a fax to London.
.
He put the money into the safe.
.
He was admitted to the university.
.
I made a call to Paris.
.
He put a box under the table.
.
He went to work abroad.
.
I am going to the countryside.
.
He shot a policeman.
.
He was wounded in his knee.
Part 6
The Case Usage
Eugenia Nekrasova
page 87
The Accusative is used after certain prepositional verbs:
-to pay for the ticket

- to believe in God
- to sell for one thousand dollars
- to punish for a crime
- to vote for the Greens
- to spent money on books
- to answer a question
- to fall in love with a neighbour
- to play football
- to knock on the door
- to converse through an
interpreter
The Accusative is also used in some combinations:
- prescription for antibiotics

- flight to London
- ticket for the concert
- bill for May
- money for the ticket
In everyday conversation the preposition (about) followed by

the Accusative is used instead of
Prepositional:
about followed by the
- to tell about the trip

Some prepositional verbs with preposition are used to denote the
date or the time for which something has been arranged:
.
To arrange the meeting for January the second.
Other verbs which are used in the construction include:
- to order for
- to postpone to...
- to postpone to...
Part 6
page 88
The Case Usage
Eugenia Nekrasova
The Accusative can be used in the following time-expressions:
with days of the week:
- on Monday
- on Tuesday
- on Wednesday
- on Thursday
- on Friday
- on Saturday
- on Sunday
with festivals and public holidays:
/ - at the New Year

/ - at Christmas
- at Easter
to denote a period of time:
. I spent a week in Spain.

. I am going to Spain for a week.
after - in
. In a week I am going to Spain.

with - ago
. I went to Spain a week ago.

after - to denote the time taken to complete the action:
.
It took us an hour to get to the town.
The Case Usage
Eugenia Nekrasova
to denote frequency of occurence:
- once a week
- once a month
- once a year
Part 6
page 89
with - in, during, in the time of...

- in bad weather
- when it`s hot

during the war
- when it`s cold
(coll.)
- in winter time
- in the middle ages
- in our time
-in Stalin`s time
- in stagnation period
- at midday
- at midnight
- at one o`clock
- at the last minute
, , - this, last, next Tuesday
- on the first day
- that morning
- in the reign of Peter the First
Note + Gen is used mostly for the distant past.

THE USE OF THE INSTRUMENTAL CASE

The case got its name from one of its uses,
it is the case form for the instrument used to do something, as in:
- to cut oneself with a knife.

However, it is not the most important use to learn.

More important is its use after six prepositions:
, , , , ,
The Preposition
- with, don`t confuse it with + Gen., meaning from
. - I go there with Natasha.
.
-Yesterday I spoke to... (lit. with Natasha)
also - together with - .
- caviar sandwich (lit. sandwich with caviar)
The Instrumental is used after some verbs taking the preposition c :
- to congratulate on
- to settle with somebody
- to meet with
Part 6
page 90
The Case Usage
Eugenia Nekrasova
The Instrumental is used after 5 prepositions to denote a place of an object:

- behind
. The car is parked behind the house.
- between
.
The car is parked between the houses.
- above, over, on
. We flew above the Alps.
- in front of, before
.
The car was parked in front of the house.
Preposition can also be used in time-expressions:
- before breakfast
- under
.
There is a big garage under the hotel.
also - near Moscow
The Instrumental is used after a number of verbs of which
the most common are /:
h
Notice!
. He was a famous photographer.

. He will become a surgeon.
... When I was small...
Also , ,

Some other verbs which take the Instrumental:
- to be
- to seem
- to be considered
- to remain, to stay
- to be proud of
- to delight in
- to be obsessed with
- to boast of
- to be distinguished by
- to smell of
- to trade in
Part 6
- to command
to control
to manage, to run
- to own
-sacrifice
- to be sick
- to pay (in)
- to feed (with)
- to reward (with)
page 91
The Case Usage
Eugenia Nekrasova
The Instrumental case is used after some prepositional verbs:
. He worked on a contract.
. He laughed at his friend.
Preposition is also used to denote a purpose of action:
. I am going to buy bread.

The Instrumental without a preposition is used to denote the time of

events (parts of the day, seasons):
- in the morning
- in the afternoon
- in the evening
- at night
- in (the) winter
- in (the) spring
- in (the) summer
- in (the) fall/autumn
Also . He is satisfied with his job.
THE USE OF THE PREPOSITIONAL CASE

The Prepositional case is used only after the following prepositions:
, - to denote a place or time,
- about, - in the time of
The Prepositional is used after and to denote a place:
. I live in Moscow now.

. I have been to the exhibition.
- in January etc.
- last year
- next month
- this week etc.
( ) .
- It was in 1948.
. He lived in the 19-th century.
Part 6
page 92
The Case Usage
Eugenia Nekrasova
Some other verbs used with this case after prepositons , :
/ - to work
/ - to study
/ - to be (situated)
/ - to take a walk
/ - to be born
/ - to stay
/ - to sit
/ - to lie
/ - to hang
- to play (sports)
- to play (music instruments) and some others.
After or the Prepositional is used to denote means of transport:
. I will go by car.
The Prepositonal is used with the following verbs after the preposition :
... - to think
... - to speak, to talk
... - to write
... - to read
... - to tell
... - to ask
... - to know
E.g
.
He does not like to talk about his work.
After the Prepositional is used to denote a period in history:
- in tzar time
- in Stalin`s time
Part 6
page 93
The Case Usage
Eugenia Nekrasova
Part 7
Verbs
THE SYSTEM OF THE RUSSIAN VERB

Russian verbs have the following forms:
The Infinitive - - to read
Present Tense - - I read, I am reading
The Indicative mood Past Tense - , - I read, I have read
Future Tense - - I will read,
I will be reading
The Imperative - , ! - Please, read!
The Conjunctive mood - Past Tense + ,
- I would read,

The verbs also have some other forms:

The participles and
The adverbial participles or gerunds
Many verbs have the reflexive particle - (-) attached to all their
forms, for example:
- to return,
- to study etc.

When studying the Russian Verb system you have also to bear in mind
such an unusual characteristics as the Aspect.
The verbs of motion, particularly non-prefixed verbs, form a peculiar
group which needs special treatment.
THE INFINITIVE AS A BASE FOR THE VERB FORMS
In the dictionaries the Russian verbs are registered in the Infinitive.
The Infinitive is the form which does not have any ending indicating
the Tense. It is possible to say that the Infinitive is the naked form
of the verb. So, to dress the verb you have to add the Tense endings
to it. Further you will learn how to do it.
There are three Tenses in Russian:
The Present Tense
The Past Tense
The Future Tense
Part 7
page 94
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE USE OF THE INFINITIVE IN RUSSIAN

The infinitives end in: -, -, -, -, -, -, -
The combinations with the Infinitive can be represented by the following
scheme:

Verbs

Infinitive
It is phrases
with forms
The Infinitive is normally combined with a great many verbs:

. I like reading.
. I want to go sightseeing.
. He asked me to come.
. I will always help you.
The Infinitive is used in the sentences with the meaning of obligation,

supposition, permission or prohibition, for example:
. I have to work. / I must work.

.
He should come tomorrow.
He is supposed to come tomorrow.
.You can go by subway.
.You cannot park your car here.
It`s forbidden to park your car here.
The infinitive is used with the ... - forms in
phrases like:
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
.
It is difficult to drive a car in Moscow.
Part 7
page 95

THE ASPECT
The Russian verb has an extra characteristics: the Aspect.
The action expressed by a verb may be viewed from different stand
points: completion, frequency of occurance, action in progress,
statement of fact etc.
The Aspect is manifested through prefixes or suffixes and not through
the endings as the tenses do. Practically each Russian verb belongs
either to the Imperfective or the Perfective Aspect.
Most Russian verbs go in pairs of Imperfective and Perfective verbs,
for example: - - to do
The Aspect of the Verb is always marked in the dictionaries.
E.g.
Notice!
- Imperfective
- Perfective
The verbs which make up an Aspect pair generally have the same
meaning, i.e. they name one and the same real action, for example:
/ - to do,
- to do,
-lit., to have something done.
The Tense formation scheme:

Stem
of the verb
Tense ending
The Aspect formation scheme:

Suffix
Prefix
Stem
of the verb
Tense
ending
Mind that the Aspect goes through the whole system of the verb:
Aspect
Aspect
Infinitives
Part 7
Tenses
Imperatives
Participles
page 96
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE ASPECT IN THE TENSE SYSTEM

The Aspect is a kind of a rod which goes through the Tense system
of the Russian verb.
With reference to the Aspect, the Tense system of the Russian verb can
be presented by the following scheme:
Imperfective Aspect (First Form)

PAST TENSE
PRESENT TENSE
FUTURE TENSE
These verbs are simply called the Imperfective verbs.
Perfective Aspect (Second Form)

PAST TENSE
FUTURE TENSE
These verbs are simply

called the Perfective verbs.
THE PRESENT TENSE OF THE VERBS

Only the Imperfective verbs can be used in the Present Tense.

Imperfective verb
PAST TENSE
PRESENT TENSE
FUTURE TENSE
h
Notice!
In the Present Tense verbs change for person and number - they conjugate.
Each person has its own ending. There are two types of personal endings,
in accordance with which verbs fall into
-st
and
conjugation

-nd
conjugation
As a base for the Present tense formation we use part of the Infinitive,
for example:
The infinitive
Part 7
Present tense stem
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
page 97

-ST CONJUGATION, REGULAR FORMATION

Many Russian 1-st conjugation verbs are conjugated on the pattern
of (vowel stem):

,

The 1-st conjugation ( conjugation) comprises the verbs ending in
-, -, -, -, -, -, -, -.

The Present Tense endings are as follows:

Singular
Plural
- - after consonants
-/-
-/-
- - after vowels
- - after consonants
and (soft sign)
-/ -
, -/ -
- - after vowels and

(soft sign)
Exception!!! Some - verbs
also belong to the 1-st Conjugation:

- to live, - to drink, - to pour and some others.
-ND CONJUGATION, REGULAR FORMATION
Many Russian 2-nd conjugation verbs are conjugated on the pattern

of (consonant stem):

,

The 2-nd conjugation comprises verbs ending in - .

The Present Tense endings are as follows:
Plural
Singular
- - after , , , , , .
- - in other cases.
-
,
-
Part 7
-
-
- after , , ,
, , .
- in other cases.
page 98
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
Exception!!!
A big group of common verbs ending in -, - and -

also belongs to the 2-nd Conjugation ( Conjugation).
Among them are:
h
Notice!
- to watch,
- to be silent
to look at, to see - to shout, to scream
- to see
- to depend on
- to hear
- to knock
- to lie
- to hold, to keep
- to sit
- to breathe
- to stand
and many others.
- to sleep
E.g.

Prefixed verbs of both conjugations follow the same conjugation

pattern as their root verbs, for example:
- 2-nd conjugation - to see -
- 2-nd conjugation - to see (suddenly)-
h
Notice!
THE IRREGULAR 1-ST CONJUGATION

With some verbs the Present Tense stem differs from the Infinitive stem.
See them below.
Dropping of some parts of the Infinitive
Verbs in -:
- to give
- is dropped.
The stem is -

also - - to recognize
- to get up etc.

Verbs in -/-:

- to vote

-- is dropped, -- is added.
also - - to demand
- etc.
Part 7
page 99
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
changing of the stem vowel
- to sing
- to take

- appears in conjugation:
- to live

Verbs in -:
- to drink

also - - to swim
also
- to strike,
- to pour,
- to sew, etc.
Verbs in -:
- to wash

Part 7
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
page 100
Verbs in - with consonant interchange throughout conjugation:

- to write, / interchange
/
- to look for, to seek

,
/ - - to whisper -
/ - - to weep -
/ - - to knit -
- verbs:
to go
, ,
, ,
to convey
, ,
, ,
to grow
, ,
, ,
to carry
, ,
, ,
to lead
, ,
, ,
Verbs in - like:
- to wait

,
Part 7
also
- to tear,
- to lie
page 101
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
Verbs in -/:
- to place

,
The verbs described before had the peculiarity gone throughout

the conjugation. But now you`ll meet with a special case:
Verbs in -:
- to be able

,
h
Notice!
// interchange

/
- to flow
interchange
/
- to bake

,

also
THE IRREGULAR 2-ND CONJUGATION

Regular - verbs are conjugated as :
consonant stem
vowel stem
- to remember, - to smoke,
- to believe, - to teach, to learn,
- to give (as a present).
- to build, - to coast
also
- to stand
- to fear
Irregular conjugation of verbs
A consistent feature of the second conjugation is the change
(mutation) of the consonant in the first person Singular of verbs
ending in - and -.
So, the 1-st Person Sigular differs from other forms.
h
Notice!
Part 7
page 102
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
- appears in the 1-st Person Singular:

- to love, to like

,

also
| - to cook, to prepare - ,
| - to put - ,
| - to sleep - ,
| - to feed - ,
| - to catch - ,
| - to tolerate - and some others
/ interchange:
-to see

,
also | - to sit
| - to iron
| - to go, to walk
/ interchange:
-to fly

,
/ interchange :
-to pay

,
Part 7
/ interchange:
-to ask

,
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
page 103
IRREGULAR VERBS NOT FOLLOWING ANY PATTERN

A number of verbs do not follow any of the above patterns.
Some of them also include the elements of both conjugations.
See them below:
| - to want

,
(also
- to eat

,
Notice!
|
|
|
interchange)
| - to run, also

,
/ interchange
- to be
Only one form is used - ,
which is the 3-d Person Singular and Plural
h
Notice!
THE PAST TENSE OF THE VERBS

The Past Tense formation is based on the Gender Principal (Singulars).

The stem which serves as a base for the Past Tense formation comes
from the infinitive.
The infinitives end in: -, -, -, -, -, -, - .
As for the Past Tense Formation all the verbs
fall into 2 groups

First Group
-, -
verbs
Regular Past Tense formation,
modern productive type of verbs,
vowel stem.
Part 7
Second
Group
-, -, -, -,
-, several - verbs
Irregular Past Tense formation,
non-productive old type of verbs,
consonant stem.
page 104
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
First Group, Regular Past Tense Formation
- verbs, vowel stem

Let us take, for example, the verb to be - .
To give the Masculine Past we have to replace - by -:

he was, he has been
Stem + -
The Feminine Past - we replace - by -:

she was, she has been
Stem + -
The Neuter Past - we replace - by -:
,
it was, it has been
Stem + -
The Past agrees also in Number:
- we were, we have been

- you were, you have been
- they were, they have been
Stem + -
So, the full table is:

Inf.
Singular
M. , ,
F. , ,
N. ,
Part 7
Plural & Polite
, ,
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
page 105
- verbs
E.g.
as part of the Regular Group
- to fall down
To get the Past tense forms we have to replace - by -, -, -

or -.
So, the full table of the Past Tense formation of this type of verbs is
as follows:
Inf.
Singular
Plural & Polite
M. , ,
F. , ,
, ,
N. ,
Some other verbs of the same type:
- to eat, - to steal
- to get to,
- to disappear, to vanish.
The use of Personal pronouns and with the Past Tense.
Personal pronouns - I and (informal you)
are of Common Gender.
So, the Gender agreement is determined by the real sex
of a person.
- I was -
- I fell down -
Part 7
h
Notice!
- you were -
- you fell down -
page 106
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
IRREGULAR PAST TENSE FORMATION

Verbs ending in
Some types of verbs have no - in the Masculine Past.
These are mainly the oldest verbs of the Russian language which
have the consonant stem.
No - is added to this stem in the Masculine Past.
In addition to that the stem consonant is very often replaced
by its interchanging pair consonant : by , by etc.
h
Notice!
Let us take for example the verb - to be able to,

will be replaced by . So, the Past Tense forms are:
Singular
M. , ,
F. , ,
N. ,
Plural & Polite
, ,
Some other verbs of the same type of the Past Tense Formation:
- to help
- he helped
- she helped
- it helped
- they helped
/ - interchange
- to flow

/ - interchange
- to cut (hair), grass

- to bake

/ - interchange

/ - interchange
Part 7
- to lie down

/ - interchange
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
page 107
Eugenia Nekrasova

- to save, to keep, to guard, to protect

- to light, to switch on a lamp
/ - interchange

or a match

/ - interchange
- to cross, to intersect

/ - interchange
Similar Past Tense formation have lot of other verbs.
Some - verbs (consonant stem) also have the Irregular Past

Tense Formation - no - in the Masculine Past, for example:
- to die.
So, the Past Tense forms
are as follows:
- he died
- she died
- they died
To this type belong

some other verbs:
- to lock,
- to wipe etc.
A lot of - verbs (consonant stem):
- to get used to
the stem is So, the Past Tense forms are:
Part 7
Verbs
- he got used to
- she got used to
- they got used to
page 108
Some other verbs of the same type:
- to perish
- to freeze
- to become dry
- to go out (about light)
- to go out (about light)
- to disappear, to vanish
- to become blind
- to become sour
- to become wet
- to become rotten etc.
Irregular Past Tense forms of verbs ending in -, -, -, -.
A lot of frequently used verbs ending in -, -, -, -
have the following forms in the Past Tense:
Non-prefixed basic motion verbs
Infinitive
Past Tense
going verb
, , ,
carrying verb , , ,
, , ,
leading verb , , ,
different
stems
These Past Tense forms serve as basic forms for other verbs,
for example:
Inf. - to go (from )
Past Tense
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
, , ,
Part 7
page 109
- to leave
(from )
Inf.
Inf.
- to come
(from )
Past Tense
Past Tense
, , ,
, , ,
carrying verbs
(from )
(from )
Past Tense
Past Tense
, , ,
, , ,
Inf.
Inf.
leading verbs
(from )
Inf.
(from )
Inf.
Past Tense
Past Tense
, , ,
, , ,
There are many other

prefixes which not only
add some new shades
of meaning but can
also change the
meaning of a verb.
But the formation of
the Past Tense is
always based on the
Past Tense forms of
non-prefixed verbs of
motion.
Part 7
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
page 110
Some other verbs with the same peculiarities in the Past Tense formation:
Past Tense forms
Infinitive
to grow - , , ,
to save,
to rescue - , , ,
to bloom - , , ,
to shake - , , ,
to sweep - , , ,
to row , ,
to climb up - , , ,
to crawl - , , ,
The above mentioned verbs can have different prefixes

or meanings, but their Past Tense Formation retains
the same peculiarities.
Notice!
THE FUTURE TENSE OF THE VERBS

Depending on the Aspect of a verb, there are 2 ways to form

the Future Tense:
The Compound Future for the Imperfectives and
The Simple Future for the Perfectives
THE COMPOUND FUTURE FOR THE IMPERFECTIVES
consists of two verbs:
The Future Tense
of the verb
- to be
The Imperfective
Infinitive
So,
Summary
So, the Imperfective verbs have the following Tense forms:
PAST TENSE
Part 7
PRESENT TENSE
FUTURE TENSE
page 111
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE
SIMPLE FUTURE FOR THE PERFECTIVES consists of one verb.
In most of the cases the Perfectives borrow the patterns of their Future
Tense formation from the Imperfective Present Tense Forms:
The Present Tense Form of the Imperfective:
.
The Future Tense Form of the Perfective:
Summary
So, the Perfective verbs have the following Tense forms:
PAST TENSE
FUTURE TENSE
The Future Perfectives follow all the patterns

of the Present Imperfectives of the same root.
h
Notice!
Here are some difficult forms of the Future Perfectives:
- to give

- I will give

- to sell

- I will sell

- to start, to begin

- I will start

- to understand

- I will understand

- to take

- I will take

Part 7
- to get up

- I will get up

page 112
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
- to translate

- I will translate

- to arrive

- I will arrive

- to come

- I will come

- to say, to tell

- I will tell

- to show

- I will show

THE IMPERATIVE OF THE VERBS
When asking people to do things Russians make such requests with a form
of the verb called the Imperative + the word (please).
FORMATION OF THE IMPERATIVE
Both Aspects may have the Imperatives.
There are 3 possible endings for the Imperative:
-
-
-
If you are speaking

to someone you call
If you are speaking to someone called , drop the -.
The basis for the Infinitive is the Present Tense Stem.
! form,
! form.
Part 7
page 113
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova

- to find
- to sit, to take a sit

- I will find
- I will sit

The most common ending IS -().

Use it if a stem ends in a consonant.
Infinitive
to say, to tell
to buy
to forgive
to write down
to come
to go
to wait
to talk, to speak
to call
to bring
to enter
to help
Present Stem
Imperative
- /
- /
- /
()
()
()
()
()
()
()
()
()
()
()
()
vowel stem + -()

Infinitive
Imperative
()
Infinitive
to open
to give
to pass
to find out
Present Stem
Imperative
- /
-
()
()
()
()
The rarest ending is -(),

it is used also after the consonant stems:
- to forget

- to answer
- to be
Special case!
()
()
()
If the verb is reflexive it retains the reflexive ending /:
h
Notice!
! / ! Have a seat!
! / ! Come back!
Part 7
page 114
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
MAIN TYPES OF PARTICIPLES

Short Participles
Short
Passive Participles
from Perfectives
(only transitive verbs)
.
The shop has been already
closed.

Short Active Participles
Used only in the official or bookish style!
There are always ways to avoid them,
you have only to recognize them.

from Imperfectives
= While/when doing smth
h
Notice!

from Perfectives
= Having done smth
,
. from |
,
. from
While/when closing the door,

he dropped the keys.
ending in -, -,
(-, - if Reflexive)
Having come back home he went to bed

at once.
ending in -,
(-, if Reflexive)
Long Participles
Long Passive Participles
from
Imperfectives
-, -
- favourite film
from
Perfectives
-, -, -

- unfinished novel
- broken glass
Long Active Participles

from Imperfectives
-,-,-,-
,
from - the
passenger who might miss the
train
Part 7
from Perfectives
-
,
from - the passenger
who has missed the train
page 115
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SHORT PASSIVE

PERFECTIVE PARTICIPLES
The Short Passive Perfective Participles are used to describe states
which are the results of some actions.
They end in -, -, - and -
These participles agree with the subject in gender and number:
- to do, to have smth done

M.
F.

M.
F.
N.
Pl.
N.
Pl.
. - The renovation has been done.

. - The work has been done.
. - Everything has been done.
. - All the things have been done.
The agent of the action may be rendered by the Instrumental, for example:
Instr.
.
These works were painted by Renoir.
Some participles take from - to occupy
from - to open
from - to close
from - to dress
from - to wash etc.
The short Passive Perfective Participles are used only as a
complement to the verb - to be(in Compound Predicates),
Notice!
for example:
Past tense
Present tense
Future tense
Part 7
.
The shop was closed yesterday.
.
The shop is closed today.
.
The shop will be closed tomorrow.
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
page 116
LONG PARTICIPLES AS ADJECTIVES AND NOUNS

Many long participles are also used as adjectives or nouns.
Most common long participles used as adjectives:
- next
- next
- present, real
- suitable
- outstanding
- favourite
- respected,
honourable
- indispensable,
necessary
- independant
also
- broken lock
- roasted meat
- pickled
cucumbers
- smoked sausage
- ground coffee
- grated cheese
- whipped cream
- sliced sausage
etc.
Long participles used as nouns (participial nouns):
- the present
- the future
- the past
- a madman
- a wounded person
- the accused
- a convict
- a passer-by
- a civil servant
- pupils, students
- people present at...
All long participles are declined as ordinary adjectives
h
Notice!
Part 7
page 117
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova

USAGE (MEANING) OF THE ASPECTS

Imperfective verbs describe:
action in progress

.
He was writing his novel for the whole year.
repeated action

. He wrote every day.

statement of fact
- ? What did he do last year?

- . He wrote a novel.
succesion of events
, , .
On Saturday he read, took a walk, played tennis and wrote his
novel.
Perfective verbs describe
the completion of a single action.

Usually, a result is implied, for example:
.
He has written a novel.
SOME FACTORS WHICH DETERMINE THE CHOICE OF AN ASPECT

If you are asked a question with an Imperfective verb you have to use
an Imperfecive verb in your reply, for example:
Imp.
- ? What did you do yesterday?

Imp.
- . I worked.
Aspect in Question
Follow the rule: Imperfective

Perferfective
Aspect in Answer
Imperfective
Perferfective
The Imperfective aspect is used with the time expressions denoting

frequency or occurence:
- often
1 - once a week
- sometimes
- many times
- always
- every day
- never
other expressions with
- seldom
- in the mornings
- several times - on Mondays etc.
Part 7
page 118
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
A PRACTICAL TABLE OF MOST COMMON VERBS

Below you will find a practical table of basic forms of most common verbs
of both Aspects:
The verb - to be
Past
Present
Future
, ,
- is used

, ,
only in the

Possessive
,
, ,
Constructions

/ - can, to be able to, to manage

Past
, , /
, , /
/
, , /
Present

,

Future

,

- to want, to wish
Past
, ,
, ,

, ,
Present

,

/ - to give
Past
, ,
, ,

, ,
Present

,

Future

,

/ - to eat
Past
, ,
, ,
, ,
, ,
, ,
, ,
Part 7
Present

,
Future
etc.
page 119
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
Past, Masc.
Inf. & Present, 3-p., Sing.
Future, 3-p., Sing.
, ,
/ - to take
,
/ - to see
,
/ - to return
,
/ - to get up
,
/ - to talk, speak, say

,
, ,
, ,
, ,
, ,
, ,
, ,
, ,
/ - to do
,
, ,
/ - to wait
,
,
,
- to live
,
, ,
/ - to call, to phone
,
,
/ - to put
,
/ - to go to bed, to lie down

,
, ,
, ,
, ,
, ,
, ,
, ,
, ,
Part 7
- to lie
,
- to love, like
,
,
,
/ - to find
,
/ - to open
,
/ - to write
,
page 120
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
Past, Masc.
Inf. & Present and 3-p., Sing.
Future, 3-p., Sing.
, ,
,
/ - to sing
,
,
,
, ,
/ - to show
,
, ,
/ - to buy
,
, ,
/ - to get, recei ve
, ,
,
/ - to help
,
, ,
/ - to understand
,
, ,
/ - to send
,
, ,
/ - to ask to do smth
,
, ,

/ - to sit down, to take a sit

,
,
, ,
- to sit
,
, ,
- to listen
,
/ - to happen
N.
, ,
,
/ - to hear
,
, ,
,
/ - to watch,
to see, look at
,
, ,
/ - to ask
,
, ,
,
/ - to read
,
,

,
Part 7
,
,
page 121
Verbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
Part 8
Verbs and Constructions
This part deals with:

The Reflexive Verbs (- verbs)

Modal Verbs and Constructions
Possessive Constructions
Russian Word Order
THE REFLEXIVE VERBS (- verbs)
The suffix - () was originally the Accusative of the Reflexive
pronoun - self. In many verbs the reflexive meaning of the
suffix has been lost, but there are also verbs in which this meaning
has been preserved: the so called true reflexives.
The conjugation of a reflexive - verb does not differ from its
non-reflexive pair verb.
The ending - is attached to verb forms ending in a consonant
or -:
consonant or - + -
Eugenia Nekrasova
E.g. |.
|.
|!
- is also attached to all active participles.

- is attached to forms ending in a vowel, for example:
|.
vowel + -
Part 8
page 122
There are also 2 Aspect forms:

Imp.
Perf.
/
MAIN USE OF THE REFLEXIVES
The true Reflexives
A group of true Reflexives is limited to groomingverbs:
Imperfective
Perfective
- to make up one's face
- to dye one's hair
- to do one's hair
- to change one's clothes
- to dress oneself
- to undress oneself
- to put on one's shoes
- to wash oneself
- to go to sauna
- to wash one's hands and face
- to bathe oneself
- to shave oneself
- to find him/herself in/at
- to get oneself ready
Part 8
page 123
Eugenia Nekrasova
The Reflexives can be used in the sentences with inanimate objects

and the action is presented as if preformed by itself:
. The door opened.

1900. The performance starts at 1900.
. Suddenly the computer switched off.
? When does the shop open?
. My car broke.
Imperfective
Perfective
also
- to close
- to switch on
- to spill
- to continue
- to decrease, to lessen
- to increase, to grow
- to improve
- to deteriorate
- to stop
- to get lost
and some others
The Reflexives with the passive meaning

Reflexive suffix adds the passive meaning to many transitive verbs:
non - Reflexives
Reflexives
?
- How is this word spelt?
?
- How is this word pronounced?
?
- How to wash this sweater?
?
- How is this word translated?
?
- How to switch on this stove?
?
- Where is this bank situated?
There is usually a third-person subject in these sentences.
Part 8
page 124
Eugenia Nekrasova
The Reflexives are used to denote a purposeful action:
/ - to try
/ - to attempt
/ + gen. - to achieve
The Reflexives are used to describe human states or feelings:
Imperfective
+ gen. - to fear
+ gen. - to get frightened
- to seem
+ acc. - to hope for
Imperfective / Perfective
/ + dat. - to like (used only impersonally)

/ + dat. - to smile
/ + instr. - to laugh at
+ instr. - to be proud of
/ + dat. - to be surprised
/ - to worry
/ - to get excited
/ + dat. - to rejoice
/ + - + gen. - to get upset
/ + acc. - to get angry with
/ - to wake up
/ - to have a good sleep
/ - to get drunk
Special case:
.
My dog does not bite.
Notice!
The Reflexives are also used to denote human activities or actions:

Imperfective
+ instr. - to go in for, to study

- to study
Imperfective / Perfective
/ - to ride
/ - to come back
/ - to get involved into
/ - to make a mistake
Part 8
page 125
Eugenia Nekrasova
The Reflexives are used to denote a joint action:
. We met in Moscow.
.
.
The counterpart is expressed by c + Instrumental -
Other verbs with a similar meaning:
Imperfective
Perfective
- to settle, to agree
- to see each other
- to gather
- to marry, to get married

- to say hello
- to say good-bye
- to unite
- to divorce
- to quarrel
- to settle peace
- to kiss
- to embrace each other
MODAL VERBS AND CONSTRUCTIONS

The sentences with the modal verbs or constructions can be:
Personal

sentences
with /
with
or

Impersonal sentences
with or
with /
with /
Part 8
page 126
Eugenia Nekrasova
PERSONAL SENTENCES
Personal sentences with / + Infinitive,
/ - can, be able to
Infinitive
Perfective:
Present
/
Future
Imperfective:
Past, Masc.
Past
/
E.g. . I cannot come.
. I could not come./I failed to come.
Personal sentences with + infinitive

They express obligation, necessity or supposition, for example:
.
I have to go = I must go = I have to go.
.
She should be here soon.
changes according to gender and number,

like the Past Tense forms of the verbs:
Masc.
Fem.
Pl. & Pol.
Part 8
Eugenia Nekrasova
, ,
, ,
, ,
page 127
IMPERSONAL
SENTENCES
Impersonal sentences with or + infinitive.

They express necessity or obligation, for example:
.
.
I have got to go.
I must go.
I have to go.
is more conversational.
Impersonal sentences with / + infinitive.
Sentences with denote permission:
?
May I see? May I have a look?
Sentences with also denote possibility:
?
How can I get there?
Sentences with denote prohibition:
! You may not come here!

or impossibility:
.
You cannot get there by the subway.
Impersonal sentences with / + Infinitive

denote possibility or impossibility:
, .
I think, it is possible to do this.
, .
I think, it is impossible to do this.
Part 8
page 128
Eugenia Nekrasova
The Tense forms of modal constructions

Modal constructions are based on the verb - be forms:
Future
Past
Present
,
,
,
,
Present
M. + inf.
F. + inf.
N. + inf.
Pl. + inf.
Future
M. + inf.
F. + inf.
N. + inf.
Pl. + inf.
,
,
+
Past
M. + inf.
F. + inf.
N. + inf.
Pl. + inf.
POSSESSIVE CONSTRUCTIONS
(I have / I do not have)

The Possessive construction is the Russian equivalent to the verb have,

for example:
I have a dog. = .
+ +
Genitive
person
who possesses
Nominative
object
which is possessed
Thus, literally There is a dog by me.

So, the Genitive denotes a person or a thing which possesses an
object.
The object functions as a subject of a sentence and is denoted by
the Nominative.
= there is, is
The Possessive construction can be used without when the
object is specified:
.
I have a big dog.
Part 8
page 129
Eugenia Nekrasova
Eugenia Nekrasova

The Negative of the Possessive Construction
Positive
Negative
.
I have a dog.
.
I have no dog.

In the Negative Possessive construction the negated object
Gen.
is expressed by the Genitive: .
The Tense forms of possessive constructions
POSITIVE
Present
Past
M.
F.
N
Pl.
Future
S.
Pl.
used depending
on the gender and
number of the
possessed objects
NEGATIVE
Present
Past
used depending
on the number
of the possessed
objects
Future
These verb forms are used only in one form, irrespective of gender
or number of possessed objects:
+ + .
h
Notice!

Part 8

page 130
RUSSIAN WORD ORDER

The direct word order
The order Subject + Verb + Object is encountered in the vast
majority of sentences which contain these three elements,
for example:
bought
Subject
+ Verb
+
a car
+ Object
A Pronoun object may precede the Verb:
I can not hear you.
I do not know anything.
The reverse word order

Impersonal sentences normally have the reverse word order:
Indirect object
+
Verb
Subject
The position of characterizing words in a sentence

The long form of the adjectives, all adjectival pronouns and

ordinal numerals precede the noun or the pronoun they qualify:
. I bought a new car.

The long adjective follows the noun/pronoun when used

as a complement to the verb:
. He is very old.
Russian equivalent to There is / There are sentences
In such sentences the place modifiers always come first:
.
There are many new hotels in Moscow.
Part 8
page 131
Eugenia Nekrasova
The position of adverbs and adverbial phrases

Some adverbs usually precede the verb:
.
He has not come yet.
Some other adverbs of this kind:
, , , ,
Time expressions like , , ,
, 1948 , etc. normally

occupy the final position, for example:
.
He came early in the morning.
.
I went there in the winter.
1948 .
He was born in 1948.
19 .
He lived in the 19-th century.
The order of the elements in a sentence is often determined by

the necessity to place the new or important information towards
the end of a sentence, for example:
.
Ivan does not love Masha.
Part 8
h
Notice!
page 132
Eugenia Nekrasova
Part 9
Verbs of Motion
GENERAL REMARKS
The group of motion verbs in Russian is quite big. It presents a

certain difficulty for a foreign learner. The group of motion verbs
embraces such types as going, carrying, flying, leading,
running and many other types of verbs.
Many of these verbs can be used in a special meaning, not denoting

the motion as such.
This chapter deals with a big group of non-prefixed and prefixed

going verbs and with the most common prefixed verbs of
carrying and flying.
Non-Prefixed going verbs
In contrast to the prefixed verbs of going which mainly follow the

standard grammatical verb characteristics, non-prefixed going
verbs cannot be easily pigeon-holed.
The category of the Aspect cannot be successfuly and logically applied

to non-prefixed verbs of going.
In connection with going and carrying verbs, we have to mention

such a phenomenon as pairing of the verbs: each element of the
pair differs in submeaning but has the same grammatical usage.
Further you will find the basic forms of the pairs of non-prefixed
going verbs and the description of their submeaning differences.
Part 9
page 133
Verbs of Motion
Eugenia Nekrasova
BASIC FORMS OF NON-PREFIXED PAIR-VERBS OF GOING

First Pair
Present & Future Tense
2

/
Second Pair
Present & Future Tense
1

/
Third Pair
Past Tense
Summing-up pair
1
Infinitives
Part 9
Verbs of Motion
Eugenia Nekrasova
/
/
/
/
page 134
PAIR-DIFFERENCE IN MEANING
1 /,
These verbs are used in two cases:

When a person goes on foot (some walking distances),
for example:
.
- I am going to bed.
.
- I am going for a walk.
When a person visits some places of interest within
the city limits, like theater,cinema, stadium, restaurant,
exhibition, concert, friends, school, university, work, doctor
etc., for example:
.
- I am going to the theater tonight.
.
- I did not go to school yesterday.
PAIR - DIFFERENCE IN MEANING
2 /, (e verbs)
These verbs are used when a person travels with a help of car,
train, subway, bus, tram, bicycle, horse etc.
This group is always used when a person travels beyond the
city limits, for example:
.
I am going to my summer cottage.
.
I have been to Spain.
Part 9
Verbs of Motion
Eugenia Nekrasova
page 135
THE GRAMMATICAL USAGE OF NON-PREFIXED GOING VERBS

To be used properly non-prefixed goingverbs have to be divided
as follows:

Unidirectional verbs

Verbs of
single motion
Verbs of habitual
/repeated motion
Verbs of
motion in progress
Multidirectional verbs
Verbs of general ability or capacity
Verbs with special (figurative) meaning
UNIDIRECTIONAL VERBS
Verbs
of single motion
Present and Future Tense
First Pair

/
The verbs of the first pair describe a single (one-time) motion in a

definite direction (visits), either actually taking place at a given time or
planned to be accomplished, for example:
.
We are going to the theater tonight.
/ .
I am going to London in a week.
Part 9
page 136
Verbs of Motion
Eugenia Nekrasova
Here are the Present and the Future Tense forms of unidirectional
verbs of a single motion.
These verbs usually combine with the following time-expressions:
- now
- today
- tomorrow
- soon
, ,
- in a week, month, year
,
, - next week, month, year
- in January etc.
Verbs of habitual/repeated motion

Second Pair
Present and Future Tense

/
The verbs of the second pair are used to describe motion

in a definite direction when it is repeated or habitual:
E.g. .
I go to the pool every Saturday.

. I often visit London.
The following time-expressions accompany the verbs:
- often
- every day
- always
- every week
- usually
- every month
- sometimes
- every year etc.
- once a week
- every other day
- on Saturdays, etc.
Part 9
page 137
Verbs of Motion
Eugenia Nekrasova
Here are the Present and the Future Tense forms of unidirectional verbs
of the repeated/habitual motion:
Present Tense
Future Tense
Present Tense
Future Tense
and
The Past Tense forms of verbs of both single and habitual/repeated
motion (within the unidirectional verbs)
It so happened that both groups of verbs (single motion and
habitual/repeated motion) have one and the same Past Tense forms:
Present & Future
Repeated or habitual motion
in a definite direction
Present & Future

Single motion in a definite direction
/
/
/
/
Past Tense
/
/
M. , , ,
F. , , ,
Pl.&Pol. , , ,
Part 9
Verbs of Motion
Eugenia Nekrasova
page 138
The Present and the Past Tense Forms of Verbs denoting

Motion in Progress (within the unidirectional verbs)
The following verbs and time-expressions are used for that:
- now
- for a long time
- slowly
- fast, quickly
Present Tense
/
Past Tense
/
For example:
/ , .
When I was going/driving home I met Natasha.
Here are the Tense forms:

Present Tense
/
/
/
/
/
/
Past Tense
, , /
, , /
,
, , /
Multidirectional going verbs

The verbs and are used to denote visiting
different places, for example:
.
We were shopping (going round the shops) the whole day.
.
We were driving about the city for several hours.
Present Tense
/
Future Tense
/
Past Tense
/
Part 9
page 139
Verbs of Motion
Eugenia Nekrasova
Going verbs denoting ability or capacity to perform
an action
(or used when talking of likes and dislikes)
Only the verbs and are used in these meanings,

for example:
, 10 .
My daughter started to walk when she was 10 months old.
.
Natasha cannot ride a bicycle.
. I don`t like going by subway.
. I like walking.
Here are some other common verbs of motion used in these meanings:
. - I dislike jogging.
. - I cannot swim.
. - I cannot drive a car.
. - I like skiing.
Non-prefixed goingverbs with special (figurative) meaning

Here we use the following forms:
Present - ,
Past - , , ,
Future - ,
or ,
Some examples:
. - The film is on.

. - The lesson is on.
. - It is snowing.
. - This cap suits you.
. -Time goes fast.
Part 9
page 140
Verbs of Motion
Eugenia Nekrasova
SOME COMMON PREFIXED VERBS OF MOTION

Various prefixes can be added to the verbs of motion to specify the action:
to or away from a place, happening or a person; into or out of a place,
happening or a person etc.
In contrast to non-prefixed verbs of motion the prefixed ones form the

standard aspect pairs (through internal modification), for example:
Imperfective -
Perfective -
Prefixed verbs of going and carrying form submeaning pairs

(as their root non-prefixed verbs do), with reference to the mode of action:
Group 1
Someone either goes on foot or visits some place of interest or a
working place without reference to transport used to perform an action.
Imperfective
Perfective
Group 2
Some means of transport are used to perform an action.
Imperfective
Perfective
See:
Group 1 .
Group 2 .
Part 9
page 141
Verbs of Motion
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE TENSE FORMS AND THE GENERAL MEANING OF THE ASPECT

PAIRS OF MOST COMMON PREFIXED VERBS OF MOTION
First table
Imp.

Present
Past
Future
Perf.

Past
Future
Meaning: coming, arriving at a place, visiting someone either on foot

or the motion is unspecified
Imp.

Present
Past
Future
Perf.

Past
Future
Meaning: coming, arriving at a place, visiting someone by transport

(also by planes)
Imp.

Present
Past
Future
Perf.

Past
Future
Meaning: coming by air, arriving at a place

Imp.

Present
Past
Future
Perf.

Past
Future
Meaning: coming on foot (or the motion is unspecified) and bringing

(delivering) something or someone to somewhere or somebody.
Imp.

Present
Past
Future
Perf.

Past
Future
Meaning: coming by transport and bringing (delivering) something

or someone to somewhere or somebody
Part 9
page 142
Verbs of Motion
Eugenia Nekrasova
Second table
Imp.

Present
Past

Future
Perf.

Past

Future
Meaning:
leaving a place or a person, going either on foot or the motion is unspecified
Imp.

Present
Past
Future
Perf.

Past
Future
Meaning: leaving a place or a person by transport

Imp.

Present
Past

Future
Perf.

Past
Future
Meaning: leaving a place or a person by air

Imp.

Present
Past
Future
Perf.

Past
Future
Meaning:
taking a thing or a person, going either on foot or the motion is not specified
Imp.

Present
Past
Future
Perf.

Past
Future
Meaning: taking a thing or a person to some place by transport
Part 9
page 143
Verbs of Motion
Eugenia Nekrasova
Here you can find a table of the PREPOSITIONS AND CASES

ACCOMPANYING some common PREFIXED VERBS OF MOTION
coming, arriving at
/
/
/

- to a place
- to a place
or happening
- to a person
- from a place
- from a place
+ Gen.
or happening
- from a person
+ Acc.
+ Dat.
delivering, carrying to
/
/
- from a place
- from a place
+ Gen.
or happening
- from a person
Part 9

- to a place
+ Acc.
- to a place or happening
to a person - with or
without preposition + Dat.
page 144
Verbs of Motion
Eugenia Nekrasova
going away, leaving,

departing
/
/
/
- from a place
- from a place
+ Gen.
or happening
- from a person
- to a place
+ Acc.
- to a place
or happening
- to a person + Dat.
delivering, taking to
/
/

- to a place
+ Acc.
to a person
with or without preposition + Dat.
setting off for destination

- to a place
+ Acc.
- to a person + Dat.
Part 9
page 145
Verbs of Motion
Eugenia Nekrasova
Part 10

Adverbs
THIS PART DEALS WITH

Adverbs, including predicative adverbs (- forms and modal words).
The degrees of comparison of some adverbs,
also the degrees of comparison of some adjectives.
The short form of some adjectives.
ADVERBS
Adverbs can originate from different parts of speech, for example:
- in the evening, comes from a noun (evening);
- in a group of two,
comes from a collective numeral (a group of two) .
If an adverb is not registered in a dictionary you can try to form it on

your own from an adjective:
Adjective
Adverb
Most adverbs derived from adjectives have the ending -o:

-
-
-
-
From adjectives denoting nationality the adverbs are usually

derived by means of the ending - in a combination with the prefix -:
-
-.
-.
Some adverbs can be used in a sentence as a compliment to some

verbs (predicative adverbs):
- forms
. It was cold yesterday.
. It is hard to say.
Modal words , , , :
The Adverbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
. I have got to go.

? May I have a look?
Part 10
page 146
Common Adverbs of Measure and Grade
- . It`s very hot today.

- . He works a lot.
- . He sleeps little.
- - - . (coll.) He was a bit late.
- . The tea is too hot.
- . It is almost dark.
- . It`s rather cold today.
- - double expensive
- - much more expensive
- . He came twice.
- .
He does not know anything at all.
.
The meat has burnt completely.
also - partially, - fully.
Adverbs of Time
Here you can find a list of most common Adverbs of Time:
? - when?
- in (the) winter
- in (the) spring
- in (the) summer
- in (the) autumn
- yesterday
- today
- tomorrow
- the day before yesterday
- the day after tomorrow
- in the morning
- in the afternoon
- in the evening, at night
- at night
Part 10
page 147
The Adverbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
Adverbs of Place and Direction

Some adverbs of place and direction present a certain difficulty for a foreign
learner. Below you can find a table containing these adverbs.
adverbs of place
adverbs of direction
? Where?
K?
Where (to)?
? Where from?
? From what side?
,
.
He lives here.
!
Come here!
.
He left (from here) an hour ago.
.
He lives there now.
. .
I will go there tomorrow. I will come back (from there) in a week.
,
.
...
I do not see anything in front of me. Go straight on...
Part 10
.
You have to bypass trams from the front.
page 148
The Adverbs
Eugenia Nekrasova

- long time ago, for a long time
- before, earlier
- not long ago, recently
- now, nowadays
- now
- afterwards
- then
- early
- late
- at once, immediately
- immediately
- finally, at last
- beforehand
- often
- seldom
- always
- sometimes
- usually
- never
- (for a) long time
- for a long time, for long
- forever
- ago
- daily
- weekly
- monthly
- annually
adverbs of pl ace
adverbs of di recti on
,
.
He stood i n the back and I
di d not noti ce them.
,
.
We wi l l go back at once.

- return ti cket

.
You have to bypass
buses from the back.

.
The shop i s on the ri ght.
/

. You have to turn
t o t h e r i gh t n ow .

. Wi l l you, pl ease,
move a bi t to the ri ght.

.
Arabs wri te from
ri ght to l eft.

.
The shop i s on the l eft.
/

. You have to turn
to the l eft now.
.
Wi l l you, pl ease, move a
bi t to the l eft.

.
We wri te from l eft to
r i gh t .
/
.
He i s wai ti ng upstai rs.
.
There i s a knob at the top.
/
.
He went upstai rs.
!
H a n ds u p !

.
You`d better dri l l
from the top.
/
.
He i s wai ti ng downstai rs.
.
There i s a knob at the
bottom.

.
He went downstai rs.

.
You`d better dri l l
from the bottom.

.:
.
The fax machi ne does not
work: the paper got stuck
i nsi de.

...
Fi rst i nsert the card...

K-
.
Someone l ocked the
door from i nsi de.

.
He was wai ti ng outsi de.

.
The door opens outsi de.

K-
. Someone
l ocked the door from
outsi de.
.
He i s at home now.
.
I am goi ng home.
but

- from home
Part 10
page 149
The Adverbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
It is not always easy to pigeonhole even common adverbs.

Below you can find some of them.
.
He has already come.
.
He does not sleep anymore.
.
He is still sleeping.
- .
- .
.
- .
Indefinite Adverbs
-, - - somewhere, anywhere
-, - - somewhere (to), anywhere (to) - direction
-, - - some time, any time, ever
-, - - for some/any reason
-, - - for some/any reason
The Adverbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
Negative Adverbs
- no place, no room, nowhere

- no place, no room, nowhere - direction
- no reason, useless
Part 10
page 150
THE DEGREES OF COMPARISON OF SOME ADVERBS.

Only the adverbs of manner can have the degrees of comparison.
The Comparative Degree
The Comparative Degree of the adverbs is formed with the help
of suffixes //, for example:
Comparative
- faster, quicker
Since many of these comparatives are very irregular in their formation,
it is better to learn them as new vocabulary items:
Comparative

- better
- worse
- less, fewer
- more
Also:
- more expensive,
- cheaper
- more difficult,
- easier,
- colder,
- warmer,
- hotter,
- more convenient, comfortable,
- earlier,
- later,
- louder,
- more quiet,
- softer,
- more delicious,
- more complicated,
- easier,
- further,
- closer,
- higher, taller,
- lower,
- wider,
- narrower etc.
In colloquial style the comparatives can be prefixed with - :
! Will you, please, come a bit earlier.

Part 10
page 151
The Adverbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
The comparatives can be emphasized by the following words:
much (much more)
For example:
- much quicker
- much better
- much earlier
A person or an object compared to can be expressed in two ways:

by the Genitive, which is more common:
Gen.
.,
or by + Nominative combination:
, .
THE SUPERLATIVE DEGREE OF THE ADVERBS
The Superlative Degree is formed as follows:
- faster than anyone when compared to a group of people or objects.
- best of all when compared to something abstract.
Summary of the degrees of comparison:
Part 10
Notice!
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
page 152
The Adverbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE DEGREES OF COMPARISON OF SOME ADJECTIVES

Only the qualitative adjectives can have the degrees of comparison.
There are two Comparative Degree forms: Simple and Complex.
Their choice depends on the position (function) of the adjective in a sentence.
The Simple Adjective Comparative and the Adverb Comparative coincide:
Adverb
Comparative

Adjective

THE COMPARATIVE DEGREE OF THE ADJECTIVES

SIMPLE FORM
link verb + adjective/adverb ending in //
E.g.
, .
Nikolay`s car is more expensive than John`s car.
COMPLEX FORM
+ adjective + noun
E.g.
, .
Nikolay bought a more expensive car than Ivan.
- does not change.

The Comparative forms can be emphasized by the following words:
much more
E.g.
, .
Nikolay`s car is much more expensive than Ivan`s car.
Part 10
page 153
The Adverbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE SUPERLATIVE DEGREE OF THE ADJECTIVES

Most common is the complex form with (declines as an adjective):
.
Nikolay bought the most expensive car.
Sometimes the complex form is used with , for example:
.
He bought the most expensive car.
Some adjectives can form the Superlative Degree with the suffixes /:
E.g.
- the latest model
Special Case
Four most common adjectives have the following forms:
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
h
Notice!
THE SHORT FORM OF THE ADJECTIVES

Some Russian Adjectives can be used in two functions:
as characterizing words
as a compliment to the link verb

+ adjective
adjective + noun
As a compliment to the verb (function )

some common adjectives can be used in a shortened form, for example:
| - free, vacant
. He is free.
The short adjectives can have the following forms:

M.
F.
, ,
The Adverbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
N.
, ,
()

Pl. & Pol.
, ,
Part 10
page 154
To avoid difficulties with this tricky subject check the list

of most common short adjectives:
// - glad
. - I am very glad.
// - to agree
? Do you agree?
// - sure
? Are you sure in that?
/// - guilty
. No one is guilty.
// - satisfied, pleased
? Are you satisfied?
/// - similar, alike
. You look very much alike.
/// - free, vacant
? Are you free tonight?
/// - must, have to
. You have to do it today.
/// - necessary, need
. You have to go. It is necessary to go.
/// - right
. - He is not right.
/// - healthy, recovered
. She has already recovered.
Part 10
page 155
The Adverbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
/// - sick, ill

. Natasha is sick.
/// - obliged, must
. You must go.
The short adjectives are used in some forms of politeness:
, ...
, ...
!
!
Would you (be so kind)

Be careful!
Be healthy!
The short adjectives are used also as Size- adjectives:
, , , - too small
, , , - too big
E.g.
.
This suit is too small.
.
This suit is too big.
Many other
adjectives can be
used in the short
form by the native
speakers.
Part 10
page 156
The Adverbs
Eugenia Nekrasova
Part 11
THE
Negative Sentences
SIMPLE NEGATIVE WITH
You can negate any meaningful word in Russian with the help of the particle .
The particle always preceeds the negated word:
.
He did not come.
.
I am not going to London.
, .
I am not going to London, but I am going to Paris.
.
It`s not my car.
.
It`s not a new car.
.
It`s not cold today.
Here is the summary table of the use of the Simple Negative in Russian:

etc.
/
/
etc.

etc.
Part 11
etc.

etc.

etc.
page 157
Negative Sentences
Eugenia Nekrasova
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE COMPOUND NEGATIVE
A lot of Russian negative sentences can have the following pattern:
verbs + words
This pattern is called the Compound Negative, for example:
Russian: word verb
English: not verb
any word
I do not know
anything.
or Russian: word verb
English: no word
Nobody
.
verb
came.
words can be :
Negative pronouns
and their case forms
based on /:
N. /
G. /
D. /
A. /
I. /
/
P. /
/

Negative adverbs:

Negative adjectival
pronouns:
- never
- nowhere
- nowhere (direction)
- not at all
- in no way
- not once
- from nowhere
and their case forms.
Prepositions are inserted between and the pronoun,

for example:

Part 11
h
Notice!
page 158
Negative Sentences
The use of the Negative pronouns

and its case forms
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
- no one, nobody, anybody
.
Nobody came.
.
He did not ask anybody.
.
He did not tell anything to anybody.
.
I don`t know anybody here.
.
I didn`t speak to anybody about that.
.
He is not guilty in anything.
and its case forms

Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
Part 11
- nothing, anything
.
Nothing interests him.
.
I don not have anything.
.
I don not believe anything.
.
I don not know anything.
.
He is not interested in anything.
.
He is not sure in anything.
Negative Sentences
Eugenia Nekrasova
page 159
The use of the Negative adverbs
.
He has never been to England.
.
She does not work anywhere.
.
He did not go anywhere.
.
I am not tired at all.
.
He does not get letters from anywhere.
Some other negative adverbs include:
+ verb - not yet
. She has not come yet.

- not yet
- ? Has he arrived?
- . Not yet.
is used when the verb is omitted.

+ verb
+ verb
no longer, not any more
.
.
He does not live here any more.

replaces when the verb is omitted:

- ?
Is he still in Moscow?
- . .
Not any more. He has left for London.
Part 11
page 160
Negative Sentences
Eugenia Nekrasova
The Negative constructions denoting non-existence or non-availiablity

These constructions are always impersonal.
.
He is not at home.
Present
. Future
He will not be at home.
Past
Present
Future
.
I will not have time.
.
He was not at home.
.
I have no time.
Past
.
I did not have time.
The Negative sentences denoting unadvisable actions or prohibition.

These sentences are used with the following words:
- you should not, do not
.You should not go there.

- you should not, it`s not necessary
.
You should not do it.
It`s not necessary to do it.
- should not
.You should not come late.

- you can not, it`s forbidden, you should not
.
You should not smoke so much.
Part 11
page 161
Negative Sentences
Eugenia Nekrasova
Part 12

Impersonal Constructions
By impersonal constructions the Russians understand the sentences

without any subject or without a subject expressed by the Nominative.
The impersonal constructions are used quite a lot in Modern Russian.
The impersonal constructions reflect the old thinking of the Russian folk
who considered themselves to be a part of a collective or an object affected
by fate, pagan gods or an external force. With time the group of affecting
factors also included the authorities.
The impersonal constructions present an important, vast and productive
type of Russian grammatical constructions. They are used quite a lot in
Russian literature, particularly poetry and songs.
The impersonal constructions may deal both with people and with
natural phenomena.
THE
IMPERSONAL CONSTRUCTIONS INVOLVING PEOPLE
In these constructions a person (people) may be presented by

one of the three forms:

by the Dative

by the Accusative

by the Genitive
The Detailed Description of the Impersonal Constructions with the

Dative of Person.
The Dative of Person is used in constructions denoting age:
20 . I am 20 years old.
lit. To me 20 years were given.
Part 12
Dative
page 162
Eugenia Nekrasova
Constructions denoting the internal state of a person or feelings:
. - I am feeling cold.
. - I am feeling hot.
. - I am feeling bad.
. - I am feeling better.
. - I am scared.
. - It hurts.
... - I like...
. - I feel thirsty.
. - I do not feel sleepy.
... - It seems to me...
... - I had a dream...
Constructions denoting objective necessity :

- I have to, I need

- I had to
Constructions denoting permission (asking permission) or prohibition:
? - May I take it?

. - He is not allowed to jog.
Constructions with the verbs denoting chance, luck or succes:
. - I was very lucky.

. - He is always lucky.
... - I succeeded...
The verbs in the Present Tense are used in the third - person:
. - He is always lucky.
h
Notice!
In the Past Tense the verbs are used in the Neuter:
. - He was lucky.
Constructions with /, ,
could be used in different tense forms:
I need, I have to
Present Tense
Future tense
I will have to
Past Tense
I had to
Part 12
page 163
Eugenia Nekrasova
The impersonal constructions with the verbs taking the Dative

(they constructions):
, - I was told, they told me

- I got (the message)
- I got it as a present
- They bought me a bicycle
- I got a phone call
- They showed me or I was shown
- I have been operated etc.
In the Past Tense the verbs are used in the Plural:
.
- They called me in the evening.
In the Present Tense the third-person Plural is used:
.
- They normally call me in the morning.
Notice!
Accusative=
Genitive
The Detailed Description of the Impersonal

Constructions with the Accusative of a Person.
The Passive Constructions.
The Accusative of Person is used in the impersonal constructions with
verbs taking the Accusative and in the sentences involving an external
force or the authority. Quite often these sentences deal with accidents
or unpleasant situations:
. - He was dismissed/fired.
. - He was killed.
. - He was wounded.
. - He was arrested.
. - He was fined.
. - He was cheated.
. - He was transferred/moved.
. - He was taken to hospital.
Part 12
page 164
Eugenia Nekrasova
. - He was robbed.
. He was transferred into another unit.
. - He was poisoned. etc.
In the Past Tense the verbs are used in the Plural:
. - He was cheated.
In the Present and Future tense the verbs are used
in the third-person Plural.
. - He is always cheated.
Notice!
Here are some common Present Tense examples:
() . - You are wanted on the phone.

. - Someone is (some people are) waiting for me.
? - What is your name? (lit.) How do they call you?

The Impersonal constructions with the Genitive of person

The impersonal constructions with the Genitive of Person can be of
three types:
The negative constructions denoting absense of a person or a thing:
. He is not availiable.
. He was not availiable.
. He will not be availiable.
Genitive
. He does not have money.

. He did not have money.
. He will not have money.
The impersonal constructions denoting accidents:
. My passport has been stolen.

. My car has been stolen.
The verb is always in the Plural form.
The Impersonal constructions expressing general statements:
. No smoking here.
The verb is always in the third-person Plural.
Part 12
page 165
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE IMPERSONAL CONSTRUCTIONS DEALING

WITH NATURE OR OBJECTIVE REALITY
The subjectless sentence. The -o forms.
When describing natural phenomena, situations and objects the
Russians normally use the impersonal subjectless sentences with the
so-called -o forms, for example:
. - It is cold today.
. - It is occupied here.
. - Wet paint. (literaly It has been painted.)
. - It is late. . - It is still early. etc.
The o forms are the short adjectives like
or the Neuter form of the short perfective participles like ,
.
These sentences could be used with the following tense forms:
Present Tense
Future Tense
Past Tense
. - It is cold today.
. - It will be cold tomorrow.
. -It was cold yesterday.
THE IMPERSONAL CONSTRUCTIONS

DEALING BOTH WITH HUMAN STATES AND NATURE
(WITH THE ACCUSATIVE OF A PERSON OR AN OBJECT).

There is a limited group of impersonal sentences dealing both with people
and nature, where the Accusative is used. The verbs are in the thirdperson Singular in the Present and Future, and in the Past the Neuter
form is used:
. - It`s getting dark early in the winter.

. - It has got dark already.
. - He got an electric shock.
. - I feel sick.
. - I got sea-sick.
. - Everything was flooded by water.
. - The road was snow-bound. etc.
The natural phenomenon or the external force is in the Instrumental:
. - by water.
. - by snow
Part 12
page 166
Eugenia Nekrasova

SEMI-IMPERSONAL CONSTRUCTIONS
one and you constructions = constructions
The second-person Singular of the Present Tense form of a verb

is used in these constructions ( forms):
- , .
- You work a lot, but still no money.
These sentences are used quite a lot in Russian proverbs, sayings and
general statements like:
- .
- Haste makes waste.
(lit. If you haste you will make people laugh).
they constructions = constructions
They constructions are used mostly in mass-media contexts:
, ... - they say...

, ... - they write...
... - they show...
... - they broadcast...
For the Past tense we use the Plural ( forms):
, - they said, told, it was said

- they wrote, it was written
- they showed, it was shown
- they broadcast, it has been
broadcast
Part 12
page 167
Eugenia Nekrasova
Part 13
Numerals
The numerals are divided into two main groups:
The Cardinals
, etc.
The Ordinals
, etc.
There are three smaller groups:
Double numerals: /
Indefinite numerals: , etc.
Collective numerals: , etc.
The Cardinals
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
30
40
50
Part
/
///
/
13
60
70
80
90
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1 000
2 000
5 000
1 000 000
2 000 000
5 000 000
1 000 000 000 /
1 000 000 000 000
page 168
Numerals
Eugenia Nekrasova
How to make the compound cardinals

The pattern is as follows:
175 = 100 + 70 + 5 =
The Cardinals from 2 govern the nouns they precede, they take the
Genitive case. For the use of the Genitive case after the cardinals see
The Use of the Genitive Case.
If preceded by a preposition or a verb, or being used in the negative

construction all cardinals change according to the cases.
The gender and the case forms of some cardinal numerals
Two Russian numerals fall out from the main line:
the equivalents for one and two.
The cardinal numeral one has 3 Gender forms and the Plural form:

M.

F.
N.
The plural form is used with the plural-only nouns, like:
- glasses
- a pair of glasses
The words , , , and their case forms

can be used in a different meaning: to denote unspecified object.
.
I read it in some magazine.
Meaning Same :
.
We live in the same building.
Numerals
Eugenia Nekrasova
Meaning Alone :
.
I go there alone.
Part 13
page 169
The declension of
M/N
N.
G.
D.
A.
I.
P.
, ,
Pl
The Nominative case of the Russian

has two Gender forms:
Masculine and Neuter - ,
Feminine - .
cardinal numerals used for two,

E.g.
M.
N.
F.
All the other case forms do not have this Gender difference.
You`ll find them below.
The case forms of the cardinal numerals /, ,
2, 3, 4
Dat.
Acc.
,
Instr.
Prep.
= Gen.
Gen.
Part 13
.
I will come after two.
.
I will come by two.
.
I will come at two.
.
I will come between two and three.
.
The dictionary was in two volumes.
page 170
Numerals
Eugenia Nekrasova
The case forms of the cardinal numerals
5-20, 30, 50, 60, 70, 80

Model - 5
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
- 1255
- by five o`clock
- at five o`clock
- between five and six
- in five instances out of ten
Gen. = Dat. = Prep.
Acc. = Nom.
The case forms of the cardinal numerals 40, 90, 100
Model - 100
Most common are the two case forms:
Gen.
, , - .
- He is about hundred years old.

Acc.= Nom. - .
- The car costs one hundred thousand.

The Genitive is also commonly used after - more,

- less, -about.
Acc. = Nom.
The case forms of the cardinal numerals
200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900

Most common are the two case forms:

Gen.- , , , ,
, , , .
.
Acc.=Nom. .
The noun follows the noun declension type.
Part 13
page 171
Numerals
Eugenia Nekrasova
The case forms of the compound cardinal numerals

Each part of a compound numeral changes, for example:
Nom.
Nom.
Nom.
Nom. + + 175
Gen.
Gen.
Gen.
Gen. + +
Gen. = Dat. = Prep
Nom. = Acc.
The use of the cardinals in telling time ( inofficial way )

The second half of an hour is rendered with the cardinals, both for
hours and minutes:
Genitive
1635
1640
1645
1650
1655
Nominative

Part 13
page 172
Numerals
Eugenia Nekrasova
Halves
1/ + Genitive
2
- half, is reduced to and forms a compound word
with a noun in the Genitive, for example:
- half an hour
- half a liter
also - semifinal
11/2 + Genitive
- for Masculine and Neuter nouns,
- for Feminine nouns, for example:
hour
1
1
/
2 ton
Nom. ,
Gen. ,
21/
, 31/2
+ Genitive, for example:
- 21/2 meter
The combinations with the cardinal numerals
The combinations of the type
cardinal numeral + noun
In the Nominative the case and the number of a noun follows the
basic rules explained in the part The Use of the Genitive Case.
In all the other cases a noun in such combinations must be
always used in the Genitive Plural, for example:
Singular
Nom. -
Plural
Gen. -
Plural
Nom. -
The combinations of the type
Plural
Gen. -
cardinal + characterizing + noun
numeral
word
The characterizing words in such combinations are always

in the Plural form.
E.g.
Gen. Pl. Gen. Sing.

Part 13
Gen. Pl.
Gen. Pl.

page 173
Numerals
Eugenia Nekrasova
THE ORDINAL NUMERALS
The ordinal numerals have all the gender, number and case forms
as the adjectives (hard-type adjectives, except for - third).
They are as follows:
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
15th
16th
17th
18th
19th
20th
21st
22nd
30th
31st
40th
41st
50th
51st
60th
61st
Part 13
70th
71st
80th
81st
90th
91st
100th
101st
200th
201st
300th
301st
400th
401st
500th
501st
600th
601st
700th
701st
800th
801st
900th
901st
1000th
1001st
1002nd
2000th
2001st
10 000th
100 000th
1 000 000th
page 174
Numerals
Eugenia Nekrasova
The ordinal numerals can be used both as characterizing words

and as a compliment to the verb - to be, for example:
- first floor
. - He is always first.
Compound ordinals
In the compound ordinals only the last part is ordinal and changes according
to cases, for example:
cardinal
ordinal
- the 21st floor

- on the 21st floor
The use of the ordinals

The ordinals are used as characterizing words to denote the number
of an apartment, a hotel room, a hospital, a hospital ward, a living block,
a floor, an air flight, a train, a carriage, a compartment, a row, a seat,
a street, a congress, a page, a chapter, a TV and radio channel;
a trolleybus, bus, tram line;
a size, a school, a class etc.
The ordinals are used in dates, in exact time-expressions. Both the
cardinals and the ordinals can be used with pages and chapters:
- -
The cardinals are used instead of ordinals when the information
is rendered officially:

Part 13
flight 707
- coll.
- off.
Numerals
Eugenia Nekrasova
page 175
The use of ordinals in dates

The date is denoted by the Neuter of the ordinal, for example:
Neuter
- ? What is the date today?

- . The tenth of January.
Neuter ordinal + Noun in Genitive
The Genitive of ordinals is used to denote the date answering the
question ? - when?, for example:
Masculine/Neuter ordinal in Genitive + Noun in Genitive
Genitive
.
- I`ll come back on the second of May.
Genitive
Genitive
.
- He was born on the second of May 1975.
The use of ordinals in telling time
The ordinals are used when telling the time (unofficial way), for example:
- just after five

(lit. the beginning of the sixth hour)
The first half of an hour is rendered with the ordinals to denote an hour
in contrast to the second half of an hour, when the cardinals are used.
The Genitive
of the ordinal

1605

1610

1615

1620
1625
1630 ()
1635
The ordinals are also used to denote historical periods, for example:
- in the 19th century

in the thirties

Part 13
page 176
Numerals
Eugenia Nekrasova
Nouns based on numerals

The Neuter nouns based on numerals are used when talking of
anniversaries or historical periods, for example:
| - 10-th anniversary, 10-year period

| - 50-th anniversary
| - centennial
| - bicentennial
| - millenium
The Feminine nouns are used in evaluation, marking grades, in card games, etc.
3
8
4
10
. He got an excellent mark.
When counting in some units we use:
- a ten
- ten eggs
- a hundred - twins, - triplets
THE DOUBLE NUMERALS

The double numerals / -both deal with two people,
two animals or two objects.
The double numeral is used for a group of two Masculine nouns
or a group of one Masculine and one Feminine noun, for example:
two people
+ =
M.
M.
- both students

- they both
M.
F.
+ =
- both students

- they both
two animals
M.
M.
+ = - both tigers
- they both
Part 13
page 177
Numerals
Eugenia Nekrasova
two objects
M.
N.
M.
+ =
- both houses
- they both
N.
+ =
- both windows
- they both
The double numeral is used for a group of two Feminine nouns

denoting two people, two animals or two objects, for example:
F.
F.
+ = - both girls
- they both
F.
F.
F.
F.
+ = + =
- both cars
- both dogs

- they both
- they both
THE INDEFINITE NUMERALS

The Indefinite Numerals are as follows:
- many, much, a lot

- not many, a few
- how many, how much
- little, few
- several
- enough
- so many
.., - as much.., as
All the Indefinite Numerals exist only in one unchangeable form.

All of them are followed by the Genitive Singular for the Uncountables and
the Genitive Plural for the Countables, for example:
Uncountables
Countables
Gen. S.
- much snow
Gen. Pl.
- many books
Special case:
- a lot of people
h
Notice!
Part 13
page 178
Numerals
Eugenia Nekrasova

THE COLLECTIVE NUMERALS
Most commonly used

Collective Numerals
are as follows:
- a group of two
- a group of three
- a group of four
Other
ollective
Numerals:
- a group of five
- a group of six
- a group of seven
The Collectives are used to denote groups of people either solely

male or mixed (male + female), for example:
- ? How many are you?

- . We are three.
The Collective Numerals always take the Genitive Plural form of the
nouns, adjectival nouns and personal pronouns, for example:
Gen.
. - We are three. - There are three of us.

- three children
The verb combined with the Collective Numerals
has the following forms, for example:
Present . - The verb is omitted - We are three.
Past
. - The Neuter form - We were three.
Future . - The 3-d person Sing. - We will be three.
The Collective Numerals are used in the impersonal sentences only.
Part 13
page 179
Numerals
Eugenia Nekrasova
Part 14
Prepositions
Prepositions are small but important words. They belong to the class
of governors - words which change (govern) the case forms.
Further you will find the list of most common prepositions and their
uses given in the alphabetical order.
You will also discover that many prepositions can govern different cases
and can have different meanings.
+ Gen.
- without sugar
+ Acc.
. - I am going to London.
. - I will go to London on Friday.
+ Prep.
. - I live in Moscow.
. - I was born in May.
+ Instr.
. - I go with my brother.
+ Gen.
. - He will play instead of me.
Prepositions
Eugenia Nekrasova
+ Gen.
- paper for the printer
. - That`s news to me.
Part 14
page 180
+ Gen.
? - How can I get to the railway station?
. - He works tilI five.
! - See you tomorrow!
+ Acc.
. - It took us an hour to get there.
. You have to reserve the tickets a week in advance.
. - I am glad for you.
. - Thank you for your help.
. - You have to pay the telephone bill.
- bill for
100 . - He bought this book for
hundred dollars.
+ Instr.
. - The car is behind the house.
.
- I am going to the railway station to buy the tickets.
.
- I will come to fetch you early in the morning.
+ Gen.
7. - I leave home at seven.
. - All parts are made of wood.
.
- Some of us will go to Italy this summer.
Part 14
page 181
Prepositions
Eugenia Nekrasova
- + Gen.
- . - Everyone left the table.
- . - I came late because of a traffic-jam.
() + Dat.
. - Come to see me.
.
- We approached Moscow late at night.
. - I will come by two.
+ Gen.
, .
- He eats everything except fish.
+ Instr.

- hockey match between Sweden and Canada
+ Gen.
. - We drove past the railway station.
+ Acc.
. - I am going to the railway station.
.
- I am going to the concert tomorrow.
-.
- I will go for three days to New York.
Part 14
page 182
Prepositions
Eugenia Nekrasova
+ Prep.
. - He is now at work.
. - They are at the disco now.
. - There is some water on the floor.
.
- I will go to Paris next week.
+ Instr.
.
- There is a bell over the entrance.
. - He works on a new book.
(, ) + Prep.
. - We spoke about the problems.
? - What is this film about?
+ Gen.
- near the house
- about hundred dollars
+ Gen.
. - I got a letter from Nikolay.
- key to the car
- anti-allergic medicine
.
- We drove from Boston by car.
700 .
- It is seven hundred kilometers from Moscow to Kiev.
Part 14
page 183
Prepositions
Eugenia Nekrasova
+ Instr.
. - He stood in front of us.
. - We will talk before the lesson.
+ Dat.
. - He travels a lot about Russia.
- Russian exam
- in the mornings
- according to the law
.
- He is talking on the phone now.
+ Acc.
. - He put the box under the table.
+ Instr.
. - The box is under the table.
+ Gen.
. - I will come after lunch.
+ Acc.
. - He told about his trip.
+ Instr.
. - I go with my brother.
. - He is my schoolmate.
(lit. I studied with him at school.)
. - I don`t like tea with milk.
Part 14
page 184
Prepositions
Eugenia Nekrasova
+ Gen.
. - I have a dog.
.
- I`ll be waiting for you at the entrance.
+ Acc.
.
- We wilI fly to Moscow via Frankfurt.
. - We wilI go through the center.
. - I wilI come in an hour.
THE NOUN COMBINABILITY OF PREPOSITIONS and

The choice of the Accusative or the Prepositional after and
is described in Part 6 and in the beginning of this Part.
Below you`ll find the examples which show what nouns and noun groups
can combine with these prepositions.
The primary use of prepositions and
+ Acc./Prep. - in, into, inside
. - He put the key into the pocket.

. - The key is in the pocket.
+ Acc./Prep. - on, on to, on top of, on the surface
. - I put the key on the table.

. - The key is on the table.
Part 14
page 185
Prepositions
Eugenia Nekrasova
More complicated use of prepositions and

The preposition + Acc./Prep. is used with nouns denoting:
continents:
, , , , , ,
countries: , , , , etc.,
territories and administrative units:
, , , , etc.,
towns, various settlements and their parts:
, -, , , , ,
, - center, downtown, - suburbs etc.,
some town and settlement features (objects):
- lane, - park, - garden, - yard etc.,

most of workplaces, public places, organizations and buildings:
, , , , , , etc.,
organized groups of people: , , , , camp, - department etc.,
buildings and their parts: - building, , - building,
- entrance, - entrance hall, - corridor, large hall, - room, all other names of rooms, classroom, - cellar etc.,
some activity (limited group): - leave, vacation,
- business trip, - tourist trip etc.,

some natural features: - forest, woods, - mountains, hills,
- taiga woods etc.,
some mountain ranges, mostly with the Plural names:
, , etc.
Part 14
page 186
Prepositions
Eugenia Nekrasova
The Preposition + Acc./Prep. is used with nouns denoting:

islands, some island countries and peninsulas:
-Cyprus, , ,
but - Japan, - Iceland are used with
some mountain ranges and territories:
, , , etc.,
town and settlement features, some organizations, activity areas:
- street,
- square,
- highway,
- prospect, avenue,
- embankment,
- boulevard
- bridge,
- stop, station,
- (railway) station,
- parking,
- filling station,
- outskirts,
- railroad station,
- market,
- post-office,
- stadium,
- warehouse,
- construction site,
, - factory,
- sports ground,
- soccer field,
- tennis court,
Part 14
Prepositions
Eugenia Nekrasova
page 187
some events or organized activity -
- work,
- concert,
- exam,
- performance,
- meeting,
- negotiations,
- birthday party,
- tour,
- lesson,
- lecture etc.
some parts of buildings -
- attic,
- porch,
- stairs, staircase,
- floor,
- balcony,
some organizational units -
- department,
- faculty,
- chair,
- course.
Preposition is used with the following words:
- radio,
- television,
- pension, retirement,
- motherland,
- Rus,
- summer cottage.
Part 14
Prepositions
Eugenia Nekrasova
page 188
Nouns used with both prepositions

Many nouns can be used with both prepositions, but only few of them
are used without significant meaning difference:
- school/university vacation
- kitchen
- navy
E.g. =
Many nouns are used with both prepositions but with meaning difference:
E.g. vehicles
- going by bus
- inside a bus
Prepositions and as correlated to and

+ Acc.
+ Prep.
+ Gen.
from, out of
+ Acc.
-.
I will go to New York tomorrow.
+ Prep.
- .
I will stay for three days in New York.
+ Gen.
- .
I will come back from New York on Sunday.
+ Acc.
+ Gen.
from, down from
+ Prep.
+ Acc.
+ Prep.
.
.
I like going to hockey.
I was at hockey yesterday.
+ Gen.
.
I came home late from hockey.
Part 14
page 189
Prepositions
Eugenia Nekrasova
Part 15
onjunctions
Conjunctions are invariable words linking parts of sentences or sentences

together in some logical order.
There are two main types of conjunctions:

Coordinating

and
Subordinating
Coordinating conjunctions

connective
- and
... - both, and
... - neither, nor
- and
include
adversative
- but
- but
disjunctive
- or
, - either, or
Connective conjunctions
- and
.
I have to buy a pen and a pad.
... - both... and
, .
I have to buy both a pen and a pad.
.., - neither.., nor
, .
He came neither yesterday nor today.
- and (used in the beginning of a sentence)
? And where are you going now?

Part 15
page 190
Conjunctions
Eugenia Nekrasova
Adversative conjunctions
Foreign learners permanently experience difficulty in making the choice
between the adversative conjunctions and . See the difference:
- but
Adversative conjunction is used when we have the opposition of two
objects, actions, features, states, facts, etc., for example:
, .
- He is sleeping but I am working.
, .
- He has a bicycle but I don`t.
- but
Adversative conjunction introduces a clause which contains
information contrary to what was said, known or planned, or it may
contain some clarifying information, for example:
, .
- I have some tickets for a hockey match but I don`t want to go.
, .
- I will come but not today.
, .
- He did not come today but he promised to come tomorrow.
Disjunctive conjunctions
- either... or
.
- I have to buy tickets either for Saturday or for Sunday.
..., - either... or
, .
- I have to buy tickets either for Saturday or for Sunday.
Part 15
page 191
Conjunctions
Eugenia Nekrasova
Most Common Subordinating Conjunctions
- that
, .
- He said (that) he would come tomorrow.
+ Past Tense of a verb
, .
- He told me to come tomorrow.
- if
, .
- Tell me if he comes.
- because
,
, .
- She is crying because she fell down.
+ Past Tense of a verb

, .
- If he came in time we would have made it.
- although
, .
- We went to a disco club although we were very tired.
- as if
,
.
- He looked at me as if we never met before.
- as
, .
- He does everything as I do.
- than
, .
- He works more than his boss.
Part 15
page 192
Conjunctions
Eugenia Nekrasova

A Basic Modern Russian Grammar

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