Grammar rules Flashcards
Case following numbers
After 1 (inclugin 21, 31, etc…): N singular
After 2, 3, 4 (including 22, 23, 24, 32, etc…): G singular
After 5 or more (including 10-19 and 25, etc…): G plurlar
- Giocare a (gioco o sport)
- Suonare
- игра́ть + в + acc.
- игра́ть + на + prep.
Common irregular prepositionals ending in -y
са́ду (garden)
шка́фу (cupboard)
углу́ (corner)
лесу́ (forest)
берегу́ (shore)
аэропорту́ (airport)
Mobile or “fill” vowels
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Imperfective vs perfective aspect
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Expressing emotions and physical states
In many case, expressing emotions and physical states in Russian must be done with the construction:
DAT + adverb (present)
DAT + бы́ло + adverb (past)
DAT + бу́дет + adverb (future)
So, for instance, “I am cold” is not “я холо́дный”, but “мне хо́лодно”.
Why? The reason is actually pretty simple. In Russian it is to be intended as “It is cold to me”, or “It is cold for me”.
Note: is cannot be done with ALL words of state. There is no clear rule to know when it must and when it must not be done.
Here is a list of common adj that follow this construction:
хо́лодно
жа́рко
тепло́
хорошо́
пло́хо
ску́чно
неинтере́сно
ве́село
гру́стно
любопы́тно
удо́бно
неудо́бно
прия́тно
бо́льно
стра́шно
жа́лко / жаль (sorry, to commisserate, NOT to aplogize)
They may be used alone or in conjunction with:
- infinitive (Мне было весело смотреть, как дети играли в футбол = I had fun watching the kids play football).
- когда́ (Мне хорошо, когда я встречаюсь с друзьями = I feel good when I meet friends).
express desire with что́бы
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Comparatives
Method 1: Comparative compound form
Like in English, you simply can say a subject is more or less some normal adjective form than something else. This method is not too common in Russian, though, and you’d do well not to rely on it, however easy it is to use.
более = more
менее = less
чем = than
For example:
Татьяна более красивая женщина, чем Ольга. = Tatiana is a more beautiful woman that is Olga.
Владимир менее красивый мужчина, чем Евгений. = Vladimir is a less handsome man than is Eugene.
You will need to use this comparative compound form when the adjective must be declined.
Method 2: Comparative adjectives
The comparative adjectival form is the most common way to compare things in Russian. To build the comparative form, simply drop the gender ending from the normal adjective form and add “ее” or “е” to the stem. This comparative adjective form is indeclinable and can also be used as a comparative adverb.
Париж красивее, чем Нью-Йорк. = Paris is more beautiful than New York.
(i) If the adjective stem ends in н, л, р, п, б, м, в - you add “ее”.
быстрый = быстрее
красивый = красивее
трудный = труднее
(ii) If the adjective stem ends in г, к, х, or д, т, ст, - the stem consonant will undergo an alternation and you add just one “е”.
For stems ending in -г, -к, -х, the final consonant is replaced by -ж, -ч, -ш, respectively.
дорогой = дороже
громкий = громче
тихий = тише
лёгкий = легче
Stems ending in ст are replaced by -щ.
простой = проще
толстый = толще
Method 3: Comparatives without чем
The third way to describe comparisons in Russian is the same as the first two methods, except that you omit the word, “чем,” and put the second noun in the genitive case. Please note that the word order of the nouns in such sentences is important.
Париж красивее Нью-Йорка. = Paris is more beautiful than New York.
Татьяна красивее Ольги. = Tatiana is a more beautiful than Olga.
Irregular comparative adjectives
близкий = ближе
большой = больше
высокий = выше
ни́зкий = ни́же
глубокий = глубже
далёкий = дальше
дешёвый = дешевле
долгий = дольше
короткий = короче
лёгкий = легче
молодой = моложе (or младше)
поздний / по́здно = позже (or позднее)
ранний / ра́но = раньше
редкий = реже
сладкий = слаще
старый = старше (or старее)
широкий = шире
жа́ркий = жа́рче
хороший = лучше
плохой = хуже
маленький / ма́ло = меньше
то́лстый = то́лще
гро́мкий = гро́мче
ча́стый = ча́ще
чи́стый = чи́ще
ти́хий = ти́ше
то́нкий = то́ньше
у́зкий = у́же
Note: to construct the form “the [comparative] (…), the [comparative]
the construction “чем [comparative] (…), тем [comparative]” is used.
(ex. the more the better = чем больше, тем лучше)
(ex. the less you spend, the more you will save = чем меньше вы тратите, тем больше вы сэкономите).
Note: When we want to ask to change the quality of sth just a little, we use the prefix “по-“ before the comparative.
ex) Can you speak slower, please? = Вы можете говорить помедленнее, пожалуйста?
However, this is not compulsory!!! The prefix по- conveys the idea of “a bit”, “a little”, but it is not a mistake if we do not use it.
Superlatives
Superlative adjectives indicate that something is the most or best at something. There are three ways to form the superlative in Russian.
Method 1: Compound superlative
To form the compound superlative, all you need to do is add the words “most” or “least” in front of the normal adjective form. “самый” is the most common word for this.
самый = most
наиблее = most
наимнее = least
For example:
Он самый умный студент в классе. = He is the smartest student in the class.
Она самый высокий человек в комнате. = She is the tallest person in the room.
Method 2: Simple superlative
The simple superlative form is a modification of the normal adjective and is often used in official Russian or colloquially to express a personal opinion.
To form the simple superlative, for most adjectives add the suffix “ейш” to the stem.
умный → умнейший
новый → новейший
Adjectives ending in the consonants г, к, and x change to the consonants, ж, ч, and ш, respectively, and the suffix “айш” is added instead.
строгий → строжайший
высокий → высочайший
тихий → тишайший
Irregular simple superlatives
плохой → худший
маленький → меньший
короткий → кратчайший
хороший → лучший
тяжкий → тягчайший
дорогой → дражайший
Method 3: Superlatives with всех
You can also form the superlative by using the comparative adjective form and adding всех / всего (of all, of anything).
Он старше всех. = He is the oldest of all.
Это дороже всего. = This is more valuable than anything else.
Conditional mood
To make the conditional mood in Russian, you simply need to use the construction бы + past tense of the verb.
Usually, the particle бы will come after the verb. However there is some flexibility with this.
Я бы говорил (I would have spoken, I would speak)
Я говорил бы (I would have spoken, I would speak)
You might also see the particle бы shortened to simply б from time to time. This tends to only happen after vowels though.
Это было б смешно (That would be funny/that would have been funny)
мы пошли б (We would go/we would have gone).
The conditional is used to express kind requests (“Would you mind…? Would you please…? Could you…?”).
Ex) Could/Would you open the door? не могли ты/бы вы открыть дверь?
To do so, the verb мочь is always employed! So: не могли ты/бы…? Usually followed by perfective, since we are alsking for a result.
Hypotetical period
The conditional mood in Russian is expressed with a construciton that consist of a conditional clause and a subjunctive clause.
The conditional clause begins with the conjunction если бы, followed by the verb in the past tense.
The subjunctive clause has a verb in the past tense and the particle бы.
The sentence can begin with either clause:
Если бы у меня были деньги, я поехал бы на юг.
If I had money, i would go to the south.
or,
Я поехал бы на юг, если бы у меня были деньги.
I would go to the south, if I had money.
The conditional mood in Russian expresses unreal conditions. The action in the subjunctive clause cannot take place because the condition in the conditional clause cannot be realized.
Russian also has conditional expressions with conditional clauses that are realizable. These complex sentences do not use the particle бы.
Я тебе позвоню, если ты будешь дома.
I’ll call you, if you are at home.
Если будет хорошая погода, мы поедем в парк.
If the weather is nice, we’ll go to the park.
In these sentences, the condition in the conditional clause upon which the situation in the main clause depends is possible, realizable.
Apologizing in Russian
The most common words to apologize in Russian are прости́ть (прости́ - прости́те in imperative) and извини́ть (извини́ - извини́те in imperative).
They are followed by:
- за + noun in acc.
- что + verb (usually in the past).
- за то, что + verb (usually in the past) (more formal).
Thanking in Russian and responses to being thanked
The most common words to apologize in Russian is спаси́бо.
It is followed by:
- за + noun in acc.
- что + verb (usually in the past).
- за то, что + verb (usually in the past) (more formal).
We can also add (you) by saying спаси́бо + dat. (тебе́ / вам) + за / что…
The verb благодари́ть (кого за что) (to thank (sb for sth)) is only used in formal contexts.
ex) благодарю́ вас (acc.) за по́мощь (acc.) = Thanks for your help
RESPONSES:
Common expressions are:
- пожа́луйста! (you’re welcome)
- не́ за что! (no problem)
- не сто́ит! (literally: it’s not worth it)
Apart from these common ways, there exist also:
- ну что ты! (very informal, “don’t be silly!”)
- не сто́ит благода́рности! (formal)
- э́то я до́лжен (должна́) вас благодари́ть! = “It’s I who should thank you” (very formal)
Finally, there is a specific whay to respond to sb thanking you just for your hospitality or for offering them food / drink or anything related to being hospitable:
- на здоро́вье!
Wishing sth to sb in Russian, or to congratulate (for birthday, weddings, pregnancies, and other important events).
to wish sth in Russian (happy Christmas, or good luck, or whatever else) four constructions can be employed:
- поздравля́ю + dat. (тебе́/вам) + с + instr.
Note: the dative (тебе́/вам) can also be omitted, since it is implied.
ex) Поздравля́ю с днём рожде́ния.
ex) Поздравля́ю с назначе́нием!
ex) Я поздравля́ю тебя с твои́м успе́хом.
ex) Поздравля́ю с вашей годовщи́ной.
ex) Поздравля́ю со сда́чей экза́мена. - Simply using с + instr., with no verb (which is implied).
ex) С днём рожде́ния!
ex) С Рождество́м!
ex) С Но́вым Годом, антон! - жела́ю + dat. (тебе́/вам) + gen. (noun)
ex) Жела́ю вам счастли́вого Но́вого года!
ex) Жела́ю тебе хорошей пое́здки.
ex) Жела́ю тебе сча́стья.
ex) Жела́ю тебе уда́чи.
ex) Жела́ю тебе успе́ха. - жела́ю + dat. (тебе́/вам) + inf. (verb)
ex) Желаю тебе сдать экзамен!
ex) I wish that you will find a house!
Note: to wish good luck, a very common Russian expression is: “Ни пу́ха, ни пера́!” (“Neither fluff not feather!)
The common response to this is “К чёрту!” (“Go to hell!” = Al diavolo!”)
Quantifiers: some, many, little, a little, few, a few. How to use them.
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Long time / long ago
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Collective numerals
Apart from cardinal and ordinal numbers, there is a set of numerals, called “collective numerals”, which may or must be used in certain circumstances.
There are only nine collective numnerals in total: from 2 to 10.
дво́е two
тро́е three
че́тверо four
пя́теро five
ше́стеро six
се́меро seven
во́сьмеро eight
де́вятеро nine
де́сятеро ten
The declination is not very complex: no gender or number division, and it is the same for most of them:
- дво́е and тро́е have the same declination
- че́тверо and following have another (same) declination.
See image for declination.
When they appear in the nominative or accusative, they require the GENITIVE PLURAL (even 2-4) of the adj and nouns following them.
When are they used?
- With nouns that only have a plural form.
дво́е но́вых джи́нсов — two new pairs of jeans
тро́е часо́в — three watches
че́тверо су́ток — four days and nights
- With nouns that come in pairs (e.g. socks, gloves, etc.). However, the cardinal number and па́ра (pair) are preferred.
дво́е носко́в / две па́ры носко́в — two pairs of socks
тро́е но́жниц / три па́ры но́жниц — three pairs of scissors.
- With nouns denoting male people. In these cases, it emphasizes the unity and cohesion of the group. Note that cardinal numbers are also possible with nouns denoting males, however they represent the group as individuals whereas the collective represents the group as a whole. Remember that this only applies to masculine nouns, NOT feminine nouns!
дво́е ма́льчиков — two boys
тро́е мужчи́н — three men
че́тверо ю́ношей — four young men
Дво́е бра́тьев живу́т в одно́м до́ме. — Two brothers live in the same house.
- With pronouns that denote a group of males and females together.
То́лько мы дво́е бы́ли там. — Only the two of us were there.
- When talking about people using personal pronouns.
Нас тро́е. — There are three of us.
Нам трои́м нужны́ биле́ты. — Three of us need tickets.
- Without an accompanying noun or pronoun.
Че́тверо их бы́ло. Дво́е спе́реди и дво́е сза́ди. — There were four of them. Two in the front and two in the back.
Пришло́ дво́е. — Two people came.
ко́мната на двои́х — a room for two.
- With the plural nouns лю́ди (people), ли́ца (individuals), де́ти (children), близнецы́ (twins), ребя́та (kids, lads) and вну́ки (grandchildren).
У меня́ дво́е дете́й. — I have two children.
За столо́м сиде́ло тро́е люде́й. — Three people sat at the table.
У неё родило́сь че́тверо близнецо́в. — She gave birth to quadruplets.
- With nouns denoting young animals.
У неё дво́е котя́т. — She has two kittens.
Она́ принесла́ трои́х щеня́т. — She brought three puppies.
Multidirectional vs unidirectional verbs or motion (general)
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