Grammar 1.1

Question 1

Translate into Russian:

What is this?

Answer 1

Что это?

This is used when referring to non-animate objects - not humans.

Note: Что это? can also mean what is that? what is it? or even what are these?

-Что это? -Это дерево.
What is this? -It’s a tree.

Note that in Russian, while there is a verb for to be, it is rarely used in the present tense. You’re literally saying what this? what that? or what it?

Question 2

Translate into Russian:

Who is this?

Answer 2

Кто это?

This is used when referring to living beings - humans, people.

Note: Кто это? can also mean who is it? and who is that?

-Кто это? -Это Павел.
Who is this? -It’s Pavel.

Note that in Russian, while there is a verb for to be, it is rarely used in the present tense. You’re literally saying who this? who that? or who it?

Question 3

Translate into Russian:

I

Answer 3

я

pronounced: ya

Это я Маркус, твой преподаватель.
It’s me Marcus, your instructor.
Я мужчина.
I’m a man.

Question 4

Translate into Russian:

you

Answer 4

Depending on who you are addressing, the answer will differ. Use ты [informal] for people you are familiar with. And use вы [formal] for someone you want to show respect to, or when addressing a group of people formally and informally. Sometimes Вы is written to highlight that one person is being addressed formally.

-Кто Вы? -Я Маркус.
-Who are you? -I’m Marcus.
-Кто вы? -Мы Александр и Дария. Мы студенты.
Who are you [guys]? -We’re Aleksandr and Dariya. We’re students.
-Это ты на фото? -Нет, это не я. Это мой брат. Мы похожи друг на друга.
Is that you in the photo? -No, it’s not me, it’s my brother. We look alike.

Question 5

Translate into Russian:

Russian

the Russian language

Answer 5

русский

русский язык is the full term

This is actually an adjective that can function as a noun.

язык [i-zEEk] means language [means of communication] and also tongue [anatomy].

Русский [язык] прекрасный.
Russian is beautiful.

Question 6

Translate into Russian:

he

Answer 6

он

This word can also mean it when referring to masculine nouns.

-Кто он по профессии? -Он инженер.
-What does he do? [lit. Who is he by profession?] -He’s an engineer.
Он скромный мужчина.
He’s a modest man.
-Это дом. Он белого цвета.
This is a house. It’s white.

Question 7

Translate into Russian:

she

Answer 7

она

This word can also mean it when referring to feminine nouns.

-Кто она по профессии? -Она учительница.
-What does she do? [lit. Who is he by profession?] -She’s a school teacher.
Это машина. Она красного цвета.
This is a car. It’s red.

Question 8

Translate into Russian:

it

Answer 8

оно

This always translates as it but its usage is for neuter nouns.

Это море. Оно большое и глубокое.
This is a sea. It’s large and deep.

Question 9

Translate into Russian:

This is a red car.

Answer 9

Это красная машина.

In Russian there are no words for a or the.

Depending on context, this sentence could possibly translate as This is the red car.

Question 10

Translate into Russian:

He’s a tall man.

Answer 10

Он высокий мужчина.

мужчина has a feminine ending, but since it refers to a masculine being, it requires masculine agreement.

высокий means tall and high

Question 11

Translate into Russian:

She’s a smart woman.

Answer 11

Она умная женщина.

умный means smart, intelligent

Question 12

Translate into Russian:

This is a green apple.

Answer 12

Это зелёное яблоко.

Question 13

Translate into Russian:

we

Answer 13

мы

Мы Евгений и Сергей. Мы друзья.
We’re Evgenii and Sergey. We’re friends.

Question 14

Translate into Russian:

they

Answer 14

они

Это Михайл и Данил. Они мои друзья.
These are Mikhail and Danil. They are my friends.
Это мобильник и ноутбук. Они дорогие.
These are a cell phone and a laptop. They are expensive.

Question 15

Translate into Russian:

and

Answer 15

и

Это книга и ручка.
These are a book and a pen.

Question 16

Translate into Russian:

but

Answer 16

а

а can also translate as and, but it highlights a contrast.

а is always preceded by a comma, unless it starts a sentence

Я преподаватель, а вы студенты.
I’m an instructor, and [or: whereas, while] you are students.
Это не ручка, а карандаш.
This is not a pen, but [rather] a pencil.

Question 17

What is the nominative case’s main function?

Answer 17

The nominative case’s function is to indicate the subject in a sentence.

It answers the questions кто? and что?

Это школа.
[Что это?]
This is a school.
Здесь парк, а там озеро.
[Что здесь, а что там?]
Here’s a park, and there’s a lake.

Question 18

What are the typical endings for masculine nouns in Russian?

Answer 18

Masculine nouns end in a consonant, the letter й, and occasionally the letter ь.

дом [house], человек [person], трамвай [tram], дождь [rain], год [year], etc.

These nouns can all be substituted with он, when expressing it.

Question 19

What are the typical endings for feminine nouns in Russian?

Answer 19

Feminine nouns end in vowels -а, -я and occasionally the letter ь.

девочка [girl], книга [book], неделя [week], ванная [bathroom], вещь [thing], etc.

These nouns can all be substituted with она, when expressing it.

Question 20

What are the typical endings for neuter nouns in Russian?

Answer 20

Neuter nouns end in vowels -о, -е and occasionally -мя.

озеро [lake], окно [window], море [sea], поле [field], время [time], etc.

These nouns can all be substituted with оно, when expressing it.

Question 21

Translate into Russian:

The instructor is smart and kind.

Answer 21

Преподаватель умный и добрый.

Question 22

Translate into Russian:

I’m interesting.

for a female

Answer 22

Я интересная.

For a male, it would be Я интересный.

Question 23

Translate into Russian:

I’m not a student.

Answer 23

Я не студент. [for a male]
Я не студентка. [for a female]

студент usually refers to a college/university student

Negation in Russian is simple - just place не before whatever you want to negate.

Question 24

Translate into Russian:

or

Answer 24

или

Это магазин или дом?
Is this a store or a house?

Question 25

# Translate into Russian: but

Answer 25

но | **но** is always preceded by a comma, unless it starts a sentence ## Footnote Он д**о**брый, но лен**и**вый. He's kind, but lazy.

Question 26

# Translate into Russian: I'm an engineer. And you? | Use formal *you*.

Answer 26

Я инжен**е**р. А Вы? | In this context, it could also translate as *and what about you*? ## Footnote **а** is used when you want to move on to something else. It's a good transitional word.

Question 27

# Translate into Russian: I’m an accountant, and you’re an accountant. | use informal *you*

Answer 27

Я бухг**а**лтер, и ты бухг**а**лтер.

Question 28

# Translate into Russian: It's a pretty, but strange house.

Answer 28

**Э**то крас**и**вый, но стр**а**нный дом.

Question 29

# Translate into Russian: An apple, a pencil and a book.

Answer 29

**Я**блоко, каранд**а**ш и кн**и**га.

Question 30

# Give the plural of: авт**о**бус

Answer 30

авт**о**бусы | Masculine nouns add -**ы** to form the plural.

Question 31

# Give the plural of: нед**е**ля

Answer 31

нед**е**ли ## Footnote For feminine nouns ending in -**я**, replace it with -**и** to form the plural.

Question 32

# Give the plural of: к**а**рта

Answer 32

к**а**рты ## Footnote For feminine nouns ending in -**а**, replace it with -**ы** to form the plural.

Question 33

# Give the plural of: бл**ю**до

Answer 33

бл**ю**да | For neuter nouns ending -**о**, replace it with -**а**.

Question 34

# Give the plural of: п**о**ле

Answer 34

пол**я** ## Footnote For neuter nouns ending -**е**, replace it with -**я**. Also, note the stress shift - it has moved to the ending. This is pretty common not only in neuter nouns, but also in nouns of other genders. We'll explore that issue later on.

Question 35

# Give the plural of: вещь

Answer 35

в**е**щи | this is a feminine noun ## Footnote For nouns, masculine and feminine, ending in -**ь**, replace it with -**и**. Despite this, you still need to memorize the gender of these nouns for proper adjective agreement and for later declensions [how words change by case].

Question 36

# Give the plural of: ночь

Answer 36

н**о**чи | this is a feminine noun ## Footnote For nouns, masculine and feminine, ending in -**ь**, replace it with -**и**. Despite this, you still need to memorize the gender of these nouns for proper adjective agreement and for later declensions [how words change by case].

Question 37

# Give the plural of: слов**а**рь

Answer 37

словар**и** | this is a masculine noun; note the stress shift ## Footnote For nouns, masculine and feminine, ending in -**ь**, replace it with -**и**. Despite this, you still need to memorize the gender of these nouns for proper adjective agreement and for later declensions [how words change by case].

Question 38

# Translate into Russian: There are green fields.

Answer 38

Там зелёные пол**я**. ## Footnote Remember! While the verb *to be* exists in Russian, it isn't always necessary, especially in the present tense.

Question 39

# Translate into Russian: He's tall, strong and good-looking.

Answer 39

Он выс**о**кий, с**и**льный и крас**и**вый. ## Footnote Surely, with such a phrase, you'll boost any male's ego, including mine.

Question 40

# Translate into Russian: She's beautiful, smart and kind.

Answer 40

Он**а** крас**и**вая, **у**мная и д**о**брая. ## Footnote The ideal woman, in my view.

Question 41

# Translate into Russian: Deep seas and high mountains.

Answer 41

Глуб**о**кие мор**я** и выс**о**кие г**о**ры. ## Footnote In addition to meaning *tall*, **высокий** also means *high*.

Question 42

# Translate into Russian: She's interesting, but he's boring.

Answer 42

Он**а** интер**е**сная, а он ск**у**чный. ## Footnote Remember! To make a contrast between people and things, use the conjunction **а**.

Question 43

# Translate into Russian: This is a museum. It's old.

Answer 43

**Э**то муз**е**й. Он ст**а**рый.

Question 44

# Translate into Russian: This is a book. It's heavy.

Answer 44

**Э**то кн**и**га. Он**а** тяжёлая.

Question 45

# Translate into Russian: This is a field. It's large.

Answer 45

**Э**то п**о**ле. Он**о** больш**о**е.

Question 46

# Translate into Russian: I'm a man, and you're a woman. | use informal *you*

Answer 46

Я мужч**и**на, а ты ж**е**нщина.

Question 47

# Translate into Russian: It's you and I.

Answer 47

**Э**то ты и я.

Question 48

# Translate into Russian: Is it a table? -No, it's not a table. It's a chair.

Answer 48

-**Э**то стол? -Нет, **э**то не стол. **Э**то стул.

Question 49

# Translate into Russian: Is it a computer? -Yes, it's a computer.

Answer 49

-**Э**то компь**ю**тер? -Да, **э**то компь**ю**тер.

Question 50

# Translate into Russian: Here are cheap things.

Answer 50

Здесь дешёвые в**е**щи.

Question 51

# Translate into Russian: Is that rain? -Yes, that's rain. -And [what about] that?

Answer 51

-**Э**то дождь? -Да, **э**то дождь. -А **э**то?

Question 52

# Translate into Russian: I'm not an accountant, but rather a journalist. | for a man

Answer 52

Я не бухг**а**лтер, а журнал**и**ст. ## Footnote If you wanted to be simple, you could say: **Я не бухгалтер. Я журналист.**

Question 53

# Translate into Russian: These are men. They're tall and strong.

Answer 53

**Э**то мужч**и**ны. Он**и** выс**о**кие и с**и**льные.

Question 54

# Translate into Russian: These are women. They're beautiful and smart.

Answer 54

**Э**то ж**е**нщины. Он**и** крас**и**вые и **у**мные.

Question 55

# Translate into Russian: This is a difficult question.

Answer 55

**Э**то тр**у**дный вопр**о**с.

Question 56

# Translate into Russian: Math is very boring.

Answer 56

Матем**а**тика **о**чень ск**у**чная.

Question 57

# Translate into Russian: Languages are very cool.

Answer 57

Язык**и** **о**чень крут**ы**е. ## Footnote крут**о**й, in addition to many other meanings, has the meaning of *cool* [something or someone that you find fun, impressive]. **Он крутой парень, ничего и никого не боится.** He's a cool guy - fears nothing and no one.

Question 58

# Translate into Russian: Round windows and square doors.

Answer 58

Кр**у**глые **о**кна и квадр**а**тные дв**е**ри.