A Basic Modern Russian Grammar

A Basic
Modern
Russian
Grammar
Eugenia Nekrasova
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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 encour-
agement.
I wish you success,
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar, Eugenia Nekrasova,1997.
Graphic Design, eBook publisher, Dmitry Pobedimsky, 2002.
ISBN 5-85550-119-1
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 Minis-
try 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 Eng-
lish. 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 crash-
courses. ISBN 5-85550-121-3
4. "Popular English Grammar" - 400 pages, "Slavyansky Dom Knigi" Publish-
ers, Moscow, Russia,1999. First print - 25,000 copies. ISBN 5-93220-001-4
5. "English for Work and Travel" - 360 pages, "Slavyansky Dom Knigi" Pub-
lishers, 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
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Part 1
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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.
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.
Part 1
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns
in the Singular
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.
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,

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.
Part 1
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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 - friend -museum
- man - city - China
All Russian nouns are attributed to one of the three genders:
HOW TO ESTABLISH THE GENDER OF A NOUN
k + N
Nouns ending in -, -, -, - are Feminine:
- mama, mommy - Volga
- car - article
- week - surname
- Russia
But things are never that simple in languages:
irrespective of the Feminine -, - ending
a small group of nouns denoting males
has Masculine gender agreement
(so called Natural Masculines):
- father, dad - grandfather
- man - uncle
- seat
- sea
- compartment
- building
- TV
- health
Nouns ending in -, -, -, - are Neuter:
- time
- name
- interview
- menu
- jury
- taxi
The following nouns are Neuter:
E.g.
() +
Notice!
h
Notice!
h

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Nouns denoting males (natural masculines) are Masculine:
- 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.
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
N
The Gender of other soft sign nouns
has to be learned individually.
Notice!
h
Notice!
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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.

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HOW TO ESTABLISH THE GENDER OF PLACE NAMES
All the place names could be divided into 2 groups:
These words exist only in this unchangeable (indeclinable) form. Their
gender is established in a special way (through association with the
generic word).
Second group
There are many place names which do not fit the Russian system of
endings:
, , , , , , ,
M. , , , , -
F. , , , -
N. -
First group
The place names have the endings which formally fit the Russian system
of endings:
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 - radio (set)
- subway - movies, cinema
- taxi, cab - studio,dress shop
- cafe - office
- compartment - 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
Notice!
h
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So, these adjectives can be attached to the nouns the gender of
which is marked or established as Masculine, for example:
M. M.
+
M. M.
+
M. M.
+
To make a Feminine adjective to attach it to a Feminine noun, you have to
replace Masculine endings by - ending.
, ,
E.g.
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 Masculine adjectival endings which a foreign learner may trace from the
dictionary are as follows:
O
The gender agreement between nouns and adjectives
- like in - new, - famous
- like in - big, large, - bad, -
expensive, dear
- like in - Russian, - English, -
good, - small, little, - last
Feminine adjective + Feminine noun
M. F. F.

new new car
Masculine adjective + Masculine noun
M. F. F.

large, big big car

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The only exception to this rule presents a limited group of
adjectives ending in - like
M. F. F.

bad bad car
M. F. F.

expensive expensive car
M. F. F.

Russian Russian school
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
Exception
But - is replaced by - if a Masculine adjective ends in
-, -, -, -, -.
E.g. N. N.
| | - last letter
| | - fresh meat
| | - good mood
| | - hot milk
| | - present time
M. F. F.

English English school
M. F. F.

good, nice good school
M. F. F.

small, little small school
- last, - early, - late etc.
| | - last page
| | - late autumn
- in - is replaced by -
- Russian word
- Finnish radio
- small window
Notice!
h
Notice!
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N
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N
M
F
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
by the adjective, for example:
.
This is my house.
.
This is my seat.
.
This is my car.
My .
This is our house.
.
This is our seat.
.
This is our car.
Our
M. () - scientist
M. () - Russian (nat.)
M. ()-unemployed
F. () - Russian (nat.)
F. () - dining-room
F. () - bathroom
F. () - embankment
N. () - second course
N. () - main course
N. - ice-cream
So, the adjectival nouns are qualified like normal nouns:
M. M.
+ - famous scientist
F. F.
+ - large dining-room
N. N.
+ - delicious ice-cream
The possessive pronouns used as characterizing words
O
Notice!
h
h
Notice!
?
Is this your house?
?
Is this your seat?
?
Is this your car? Your
(from )
Your
(from )
?
Is this your seat?
?
Is this your car?
?
Is this your house?
N
M
F
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Possessive pronouns (his), (her), (their) do not
change according to the gender principle, they exist only in one
unchangeable form:
The demonstrative and determinative pronouns
used as characterizing words
- this, the... close to hand
O
.
Here is this house.
.
Here is this place.
.
Here is this car.
this
- his house
- his car
- his place

(his)
- her house
- her car
- her place

(her)

(their)
- their house
- their car
- their place
Summary
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.
Notice!
M. .
This is my house.
... - this is, that is - special case!
Notice!
h
N. .
This is my seat.
F. .
This is my car.
N
M
F
, , , , , , +
, , , , , , +
, , , , , , +

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- used in expressive sentences like:
!
It is so windy today!
!
It is so sunny today!
!
It is so hot today!
- what a..., combines with long adjectives:
!
What a heavy thunderstorm!
!
What a hot summer!
!
What a heavy wind!
- this kind, the same
this
kind
?
This kind of house?
?
This kind of car?
?
This kind of beer?
- that one, the one which was meant, distant object
.
Here is that house.
.
Here is that place.
.
Here is that street.
that
N
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F
N
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F
N
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F
N
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F

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- the same, the same kind as,
combines with long adjectives:
- the very, the most, most
Indicates precise location:
. . It`s the very centre of the city.
Similar meaning could be rendered by
!
What a heavy wind!
!
What a hot summer!
!
What a heavy thunderstorm!
.
The same kind of house.
.
The same kind of car.
.
The same kind of beer.
.
This is the biggest house.
.
This is the most comfortable seat.
.
This is the most expensive car.
- the same, the very, mentioned before
.
.
.
N
M
F
N
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F
N
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F
N
M
F
Combines with long adjectives to denote superlative meaning:

- such a..., what a ...
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The Interrogative Pronouns used as characterizing words
The Interrogative Pronouns are used in questions:
- what, which, what kind of, what is the number of..?
O
? - Whose..? Who is the owner? To whom it belongs?
?
Whose is this house?
?
Whose is this compartment?
?
Whose is this car?
?
? ?
?
?
?
whose?
? 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?
N
M
F
N
M
F
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- is an emphatic pronoun, it can characterize both nouns and
personal pronouns:
Other characterizing words
O
Some other popular nouns denoting professions:
- announcer, - director, - teacher,
- chairman, - professor, - cook,
- engineer, - bookkeeper, - trainer,
- guide, - film-director, -
photographer, - editor etc.
...self
- he himself
- she herself - by itself
- all, the whole
- the whole day

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

- one house, a house

- one seat, a place

- one car, a car
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.
The characterizing words are always Masculine irrespective of sex:
Notice!
h
all,
the whole
N
M
F
N
M
F
N
M
F
profession
- doctor

. .

^
. .

^
E.g.:
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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:
- 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.
The nouns of all Genders make Plural forms with the help of 2 groups
of endings:
First Group: Masculine & Feminine Nouns
- ending (hard line) after hard consonants
Singular Plural
M. - suitcases
M. - computers
M. - foreigners
etc.
Part 2
The Plural of Nouns.
The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
- ending instead of -
F. - cars
F. - apartments
F. - women etc.
FORMATION OF PLURAL NOUNS
Notice!
h
First Group
- or - ending: Big Group of Masculine& Feminine Nouns
Second Group
- or - ending: Small Group of Masculine & Neuter Nouns

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Singular Plural
F. - books
M. -textbooks
F. - matches
M. - rumours
etc.
- ending (hard line) after hard consonants in the Masculine nouns
Singular Plural
M. - days
M. - dictionaries
M. - roubles
M. - guests
F. - nights
M. - museums
F. - weeks
F. - photos
- ending (soft line) instead of -, - and -
Singular Plural
- cities, towns
- houses
- forests, woods
- trains
- evenings
- islands
- colors
- banks, coasts
- passports
- bills, accounts
- numbers, hotel rooms
- craftsmen
This group is much smaller than the -, - group but the nouns are
frequently used.
etc.
Second Group: Masculine and Neuter nouns
Special cases!
, , ,+
Singular Plural
F. - skies
M. - knives
M. - doctors
M. - raincoats
etc.
, , , +

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.
page 15
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SPECIAL CASES OF PLURAL NOUN FORMATION
- ending instead of -o in Neuter nouns (hard line)
- lakes
- words
- faces
- armchairs
- eggs
- letters
- windows
- window glasses
- times
- names
etc.
also
- ending (soft line) instead of - in Neuter nouns
- fields
- buildings
- sentences, offers
Singular Plural
- friends
- trees
- brothers
- sons
- chairs
- leaves
Singular Plural
- children
- people
Singular Plural
- neighbours
- sirs,
ladies & gentlemen
- owners
- apples
- ears

Part 2
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a
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N
o
u
n
s
.

T
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N
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m
b
e
r

A
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r
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m
e
n
t

o
f

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u
s
s
i
a
n

N
o
u
n
s
.
page 16
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Singular Plural
- Christians
-Muslims
- citizens of Russia
- English
- Danes
-peasants
- citizens
- Armenians
- Gypsies
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.
etc.
- kittens
- chiken
etc.

Part 2
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s
.
page 17
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- 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 friends.
.
They live in London now.
.
These are my books.
.
They are on the shelf.

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s
.
page 18
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aTHE AGREEMENT BETWEEN NOUNS AND CHARACTERIZING WORDS
IN THE PLURAL
O
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
- new houses
- new cars
- new words
Singular
M. - new house
F. - new car
N. - new word
Plural

- gold medals
Singular
M. - golden bracelet
F. - gold medal
N. - golden ring
group, for example:
M. - last lesson
F. - last page
N. - last word
Plural
- last lessons
- last pages
- last words
Summing - up table
M. F. N. Plural
- - - -
- - - -
The Plural of Adjectives
M. F. N. Plural
- - - -
Summing - up table
Part 2
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.
page 19
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MIXED PLURAL ADJECTIVAL ENDINGS
A big group of commonly used adjectives has the following peculiarities in
the Plural formation:
Summing - up table
M.
F.
N.
Plural
M.
F.
N.
Plural
M.
F.
N.
Plural
M.
F.
N.
Plural
M.
F.
N.
Plural
Plural
M.
F.
N.
The adjectives with stems ending in , ,
have - Plural ending
(both spelt and pronounced), for example:
-, -, -,
-, -, -
group
M. F. N. Pl.
- - -
- - -
- - -
M. F. N. Pl.
- - -
- - -
- - -
strict expensive, dear
Russian
sity, urban
bad, poor
quiet, calm

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.
page 20
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Memorize
-
fresh hot good big crunchy buns
-, -, -,
-, -, -
group
The adjectives with stem in , , ,
have their Plural form spelt with -,
but pronounced -, e.g.:
Summing - up table
M. F. N. Pl.
- - -
- - -
- - -
M. F. N. Pl.
- - -
- - -
- - -
M.
F.
N.
Plural
M.
F.
N.
M.
F.
N.
Plural
Plural
Plural
M.
F.
N.
Plural
M.
F.
N.
Plural
M.
F.
N.
fresh
big, large
good, nice
alien
hot
present, real, true, genuine

Part 2
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page 21
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But his - , her - , their - have only one form for all Genders
and Numbers:
The Possessive pronouns in the Plural
O
M.
F.
N.
Plural
my

- my keys
M.
F.
N.
Plural
our

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

- your keys
The Demonstrative pronouns in the Plural O

- these keys
M.
F.
N.
Plural
- his keys, - her keys, - their keys

- this kind of keys
Plural
M.
F.
N.
Plural
!
- What kind of idiots
they are!
M.
F.
N.
M.
F.
N.
Plural

- same kind of keys

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

- your keys

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page 22
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- one pair of glasses
O
- only, alone, a pair of ...
M.
F.
N.
Plural
The Interrogative Pronouns in the Plural

What kind of?
What?
O
?
What are your plans?
M. ?
F. ?
N. ?
?
Whose are these keys?
Whose?
Plural
?
.
There were only children there. etc.
1
O
The Plural of Other Characterizing Words - all, the whole
also - many (people)
- some (people)
Notice!
h

- most expensive shops
M.
F.
N.
Plural

- same kind of keys
Plural

M.
F.
N.
- all the things
- all the people
M.
F.
N.
Plural
M.
F.
N.
...selves
Plural
-they themselves
M. ?
F. ?
N. ?
Plural
?

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page 23
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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
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
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.
GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE CASE SYSTEM
THE CASE SYSTEM AS THE RESULT OF THE GOVERNING PROCESS
Part 3
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives
and Adjectival Words in the Singular

Part 3
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page 24
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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:
k N
Try to memorize the case endings
in combinations with prepositions
or verbs most typical for this case.
Special attention has to be paid
to the mosaic-like Genitive Plural endings of nouns.
First group
Masculine & Neuter
Second group
Feminine
The Plural case endings of nouns and units form one group :
Plural
F M
N
Notice!
h
Part 3
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page 25
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Nom. - lesson
Gen. - after the lesson
Dat. . He is not ready for the lesson.
Acc. =Nom.
. He missed (skipped) the lesson.
Instr. - before the lesson
Prep. - at the lesson
Nom. .
Gen. .
He lives not far from Petersburg.
Dat. .
We walked about Petersburg.
Acc. =Nom.
. I am going to Petersburg.
Instr. . It is close to Petersburg.
Prep. . He lives in Petersburg.
THE DECLENSION OF MASCULINE NOUNS IN THE SINGULAR
All nouns are registered in the dictionaries in the Nominative case form.
Nom. .
Gen. . Ivan has a dog.
Dat. . I have to call Ivan.
Acc. =Gen.
. I know Ivan.
Instr. . I go with Ivan.
Prep. . We spoke about Ivan.
Mind that the case endings are attached to consonants
but replace vowels, and (soft sign).
All Masculine nouns, full first names and place names ending in a hard or
hissing consonant decline on the following pattern:
Hard-ending Masculine nouns
Notice!
h
Type

Part 3
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page 26
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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:
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.
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.
Nom. .
Type

Part 3
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page 27
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Nom.
Gen. . There is no hockey today.
Dat. - World hockey championship
Acc. = Nom.
. - He is fond of hockey.
Instr. . He goes in for hockey.
Prep. . He talks only of hockey.
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.
. - Nom.
. - Acc.
. - Nom.
. - Acc.
Animate nouns, which are nouns denoting human beings and
representatives of the animal world, take the form of the Genitive case.
Summing-up table of hard and soft Masculine case endings

E.g.
Hard Soft
Gen. /
Dat. /
Instr. /
Part 3
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page 28
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- 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.
There is a group of Masculine nouns denoting a place
which take / instead of e in the Prepositional Case.
Here are some of them:
Summing-up table of Masculine nouns and names in the Accusative

Inanimate nouns take the form of the Nominative case, so the Accusative
of inanimate nouns does not differ from the dictionary form, for example:
Notice!
h
Nom.
Acc. .
Some special case endings of the Masculine nouns in the Singular
Accusative of
Animates=Genitive
.
.
.
.
Accusative of
Animates=Genitive
.
.
.
.
Part 3
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page 29
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. I lived before in the Crimea.
. The box is in the corner.
. The house stood on the bank.
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:

- in hell
- in paradise
! Happy birthday!
- with a dictionary
THE DECLENSION OF NEUTER NOUNS IN THE SINGULAR
Nom. . Here is the lake.
Gen. .
Our summer cottage is not far from the lake.
Dat. . This road goes to the lake.
Acc. = Nom.
. I am going to the lake.
Instr. . Our summer cottage is close
to the lake.
Prep. . Our summer cottage is on the lake.
O
Hard ending Neuter nouns
Neuter nouns ending in decline like the Masculine noun ,
for example:
The Neuter nouns have the same
case endings as the Masculine nouns
Notice!
h

Part 3
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page 30
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Nom. = Acc. = Prep.
Nom. . - This is the Moscow region
Gen. .
Here is the map of the Moscow region.
Dat. .
He travels a lot about the Moscow region.
Acc. = Nom.
.
He knows the Moscow region very well.
Instr. .
This area borders the Moscow region.
Prep. .
He lives in the Moscow region.
Neuter nouns ending in - decline like the soft Masculine noun
, for example:
O
Nom. . - Here is the sea.
Gen. .
He lives not far from the sea.
Dat. .
This road goes to the sea.
Acc. = Nom.
. - I like sea.
Instr. .
He lives close to the sea.
Prep. .
Our summer cottage is on the sea.
Nom. = Acc. = Prep.
Part 3
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page 31
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O
Several Neuter nouns, like - time, - first name,
and some others, decline as follows:
Nom. - time
Gen. |.
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.
Neuter nouns ending in -, like decline like ,
except for the Prepositional, for example:
O
Nom. - schedule, timetable
Gen. - no schedule
Dat. - on schedule
Acc. = Nom.
- I saw the schedule
Instr.
- problems with the schedule
Prep. - in the schedule
Notice!
h
Notice!
h
Part 3
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page 32
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THE DECLENSION OF FEMININE NOUNS IN THE SINGULAR
e p y T

e p y T

. m o N
- ---- - ---- - ,
. n e G
- ---- - ----
. t a D
- ---- - ----
. c c A
- ---- - ----
. r t s n I
- ---- - ---- /
. p e r P
- ---- - ----
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
.
.
.
.
.
Type
Gen.
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.
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
.
.
.
?
.
.
Type
+ +
Main types of endings
Type
Type

Type
Type
Type
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
-
near the square
-
by the square
?
Do you see the square?
-
behind the square

- in the square
Type
e p y T

e p y T

. m o N
- ---- - ----
. n e G
- ---- - ----
. t a D
- ---- - ----
. c c A
- ---- - ----
. r t s n I
- ---- - ----
. p e r P
- ---- - ----
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-
nouns
There are 3 additional mixed types of Feminine noun case forms:
Mixed types of endings

Type
Type
Type

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

-,-,-
nouns

-,-,
-,-
nouns
, - -
in the Instrumental Case - is used instead of -:
, - -:
Type Natural Masculines follows similar types
of Feminine Nouns, for example:
Notice!
h
in the Genitive Case - is spelt instead of -:

like , like
like , like
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Summing-up table of the Masculine
and Neuter noun declension in the Singular
Hard declension Soft declension
. c c A . c c A . c c A . c c A . c c A
. n e G = . m i n A
. m o N = . m i n a n I
. n e G =
. m o N =
. m o N =
. m o N =
. c c A . c c A . c c A . c c A . c c A
. n e G = . m i n A
. m o N = . m i n a n I
. n e G =
. n e G =
. m o N =
. m o N =
. r t s n I . r t s n I . r t s n I . r t s n I . r t s n I
-

. r t s n I . r t s n I . r t s n I . r t s n I . r t s n I
-

. p e r P . p e r P . p e r P . p e r P . p e r P
-

, , ,,, t u b
. p e r P . p e r P . p e r P . p e r P . p e r P
-

t u b
. m o N

. m o N

. n e G . n e G . n e G . n e G . n e G
-

. n e G . n e G . n e G . n e G . n e G
-

. t a D . t a D . t a D . t a D . t a D
-

. t a D . t a D . t a D . t a D . t a D
-

Hard declension Soft declension
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Summing-up table of the Feminine noun declension in the Singular
, , ,
Nom.
,
,
Nom. /
Gen. /
Dat. /
Acc. /= Nom.
Instr. /
Prep. /
Special case!
Declension of the Feminine nouns and
Notice!
h
,
, ,
, ,
,
Gen.
,
, , ,
, ,
Dat.
, ,
,
,
,
Acc.
, ,
, ,
Instr.
, , , ,
,
,
Prep.
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aADJECTIVAL 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).

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aAs for the declension types all the adjectives and adjectival words
can be grouped as follows:
Type
Exception:
words with , , and , stems.
Notice!
h
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.
+
Masculine and Neuter
Singular adjectives
Type
Type
Type
Feminine
Singular adjectives
+
Type
Type
Type
Nom. . This is our new director.

Gen. .
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 declension of Masculine and Neuter adjectives in the Singular

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aNom. . 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.
Note that the Instrumental ending - and - is only spelt
with , but pronounced with .
Also the numeral - third.
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.
Nom. - the Russian language
Gen. - Russian lesson
Dat. - Russian exam
Acc. . - I learn Russian.
Instr. . - I study Russian.
Prep. - Russian books
/ - small, little
/ - English
/ - strict
/ - quiet, calm
/ - city, urban
/ - other, another
Notice!
h
Type
Type
To this declension type belongs a very big group of commonly used

long Masculine adjectives ending in
-, -, -, -, -, -, -, - , -
and their Neuter forms:

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Nom. . Here is Red square.
Gen. .
The museum is near Red square.
Dat. . We walked in Red square.
Acc. ? Have you seen Red square?
The adjectival pronouns /, /
and the Numeral / decline on the same pattern.
/ - bad
/ - big, large
/ - alien, strange
Summing-up table of the Masculine and Neuter adjectival
declension in the Singular
+
THE DECLENSION OF THE FEMININE ADJECTIVES IN THE SINGULAR
There are 3 declension types:
Type
Type
Type
e p y T

. m o N

. n e G

. t a D

. c c A

. r t s n I

. p e r P

Type


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To this declension type belong Feminine adjectives and participles
ending in unstressed -, -, - like , ,
.
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 -, -, -.
To this declension type belong all - ending Feminine adjectives .
Gen. = Dat. = Instr. = Prep.
The summing-up table of declension of the Feminine adjectives
and participles in the Singular
e p y T
K

. G. G. G. G. G K
. D. D. D. D. D K
. A. A. A. A. A K
. I. I. I. I. I K
. P. P. P. P. P K
Notice!
h
Type

Type


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The Genitive Plural noun endings can be grouped as follows:
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives
and Adjectival words in the Plural
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.
- group
100
zero ending
group

- group
100 - group
- group
THE GENITIVE PLURAL OF NOUNS
Part 4
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100
100 meters
10
at 10 o`clock
100
100 kilometers
100
100 liters
100
100 percent
This group includes only the Masculine hard stem
nouns:
Group 1
100
100 dollars
100
100 sheets

a lot of lessons

a lot of parks

a lot of mushrooms
etc.
Nom. Singular Gen. Plural
- group
Model
100
- 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)
Also some common Plural - only nouns:

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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:
- 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
Group 2
This group includes the hard-stem Feminine
nouns with - ending in the Nominative Singular:
zero-ending group
Model

5 - 5 weeks
- a lot of villages
- a lot of honey-melons
and can be introduced between
the final consonants for easier pronounciation
Notice!
h
- a lot of mistakes
100 - 100 marks/poststamps
10 - 10 packs
10 - 10 kopecks etc.
Part 4
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10 - 10 people/persons
- many times
Coll. 100 - 100 grams
Coll. 10 - 10 kilograms
- a lot of Gypsies
Nom. Singular = Gen. Plural
The zero-ending group also includes some commonly used Masculine
nouns:
Nouns from the baby group:
- a lot of children
5 - 5 kittens
- a lot of chicken etc.
Also - no owners
- a lot of apples
N.
- a lot of names
Nom. Plural Gen. Plural
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.
- many muslims
Also - words denoting people:
Part 4
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The zero-ending group includes the following Plural-only nouns:
- 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
This group includes the soft - stem Masculine
and Feminine nouns (ending in the soft - sign
or a hissing consonant , , , ):
M. 100 - 100 roubles
M. 10 - 10 days
M. - a lot of guests
M. - a lot of teachers
Group 3
- group
Model 100

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M. - a lot of doctors
F. - a lot of news
F. 10 - 10 notebooks
F. 5 - 5 nights
F. - a lot of horses
F. - a lot of mice
- a lot of fields
- 5 seas
The Neuter - ending nouns:
Special case
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

Nom. Plural Gen. Plural Nom. Singular
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- a lot of trees
- a lot of brothers
- a lot of chairs
- a lot of leaves
This small group includes Feminine nouns
ending in -, - and the Neuter Nouns ending
in - in the Nominative Singular:
F. - a lot of photos
F. - a lot of illustrations
F. - a lot of families
N. - a lot of buildings
N. - a lot of sentences, offers
N. - a lot of exercises
N. - a lot of competitions
Group 4
To this group belong Masculine nouns ending
in - and - in the Nominative Singular:
- a lot of Japanese
- a lot of foreigners
( is fleeting)
10 - 10 months
- a lot of museums
Several Masculine and Neuter nouns having the Plural Nominative
ending in -:
Group 5
- group
Model


- group
Model


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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:

of Masculine and Feminine Animates
= Genitive Plural
of Masculine and Feminine
Inanimates, also Neuter
nouns = Nominative Plural
The Accusative Plural
THE DATIVE, INSTRUMENTAL AND PREPOSITIONAL PLURAL
OF NOUNS
There are two types of endings in these cases:

Dat. -
Instr. -
Prep. -
Hard endings Soft endings
Dat. -
Instr. -
Prep. -
Gen. Pl. M.
. - from
He invited some guests.
Gen. Pl. F.
. - from
He likes dogs.
For the formation of the Genitive
Plural see the previous pages.
E.g.
Nom. Pl. F.
. - from
He bought the skies.
Nom. Pl. M.
. - from
He bought the tickets.
Nom. Pl. N.
. - from
He learned the words.

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THE DECLENSION OF THE HARD ENDING NOUNS IN THE PLURAL
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:
, ,
Type
.
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.
.
I go in for skiing now.
. I like skiing.
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Instr.
Prep.
Acc.=Nom.
(Inanimate)


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THE DECLENSION OF THE SOFT ENDING NOUNS IN THE PLURAL
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.
Second group
comprises words with
, endings in the
Nominative Plural.
Type
.
.
My brother has a lot of friends.
.
He often calls his friends.
.
My brother invited his friends.
.
My brother plays hockey with his friends.
(but , , )
.
He aIways tells about his friends.
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Instr.
Prep.
Acc.=Gen.
(Animate)

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Instr. .
My friend showed some interest in my new skies.
Prep. !
It`s nice to ride my new skies. (= Gen.)
Nom. .
Here are my new skies.
Gen. .
It`s the wax for my new skies.
Dat. .
I have to buy boots to my new skies.
Acc. .
My friend has not yet seen my new skies.
(Inanimate = Nom., Animate = Gen.)
Here you can find the examples with both types of endings:
First group Second group
Here you can find the summing-up table of the Plural adjectival endings:
Gen. = Prep.
. m o N
, ,
. n e G

. t a D

. c c A
s e t a m i n a -
s e t a m i n a n i -,
s e t a m i n a -
s e t a m i n a n i -,
. r t s n I

. p e r P

+
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Two adjectival pronouns and have slightly different endings:
Nom. ,
Gen. ,
Dat. ,
Acc. Animates - , ( = Gen.) Inanimates - , ( = Nom.)
Instr. ,
Prep. , ( = Gen.)
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
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
Notice!
h

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aTHE DECLENSION TABLES OF THE ADJECTIVAL PRONOUNS,
BOTH SINGULAR AND PLURAL
. N . M . N . M . N . M . N . M . N . M . F. F. F. F. F . l P . l P . l P . l P . l P
. N. N. N. N. N ,
. G. G. G. G. G
. D. D. D. D. D
. A. A. A. A. A , , ,
. I. I. I. I. I
. P. P. P. P. P
. N. N. N. N. N ,
. G. G. G. G. G
. D. D. D. D. D
. A. A. A. A. A , , ,
. I. I. I. I. I
. P. P. P. P. P
. N. N. N. N. N ,
. G. G. G. G. G
. D. D. D. D. D
. A. A. A. A. A , , ,
. I. I. I. I. I
. P. P. P. P. P
The declension of the Possessive pronouns

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. N. N. N. N. N
,
. G. G. G. G. G

. D. D. D. D. D

. A. A. A. A. A
, , ,
. I. I. I. I. I

. P. P. P. P. P

The declension of the Demonstrative pronouns
. N. N. N. N. N
,
. G. G. G. G. G

. D. D. D. D. D

. A. A. A. A. A
, , ,
. I. I. I. I. I

. P. P. P. P. P

. N. N. N. N. N
,
. G. G. G. G. G

. D. D. D. D. D

. A. A. A. A. A
, , ,
. I. I. I. I. I

. P. P. P. P. P

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. N. N. N. N. N
,
. G. G. G. G. G

. D. D. D. D. D

. A. A. A. A. A
, , ,
. I. I. I. I. I

. P. P. P. P. P

The declension of the Determinative pronoun
. N. N. N. N. N
,
. G. G. G. G. G

. D. D. D. D. D

. A. A. A. A. A
, , ,
. I. I. I. I. I

. P. P. P. P. P

The declension of the Interrogative/Relative pronouns
. N. N. N. N. N
,
. G. G. G. G. G

. D. D. D. D. D

. A. A. A. A. A
, , ,
. I. I. I. I. I

. P. P. P. P. P

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The declension of the Relative pronoun
. N. N. N. N. N
,
. G. G. G. G. G

. D. D. D. D. D

. A. A. A. A. A
, , ,
. I. I. I. I. I

. P. P. P. P. P

. N. N. N. N. N ,
. G. G. G. G. G
. D. D. D. D. D
. A. A. A. A. A
,
,

,

. I. I. I. I. I
. P. P. P. 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

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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 -/-/-
, , ,,
THE DECLENSION OF RUSSIAN SURNAMES
All these types of Russian surnames decline on the
pattern of //: #$
$
#
Part 5
The Declension of Names, Geographic Names
and Noun-replacing Pronouns
Acc.

O Dat.

O
Nom.
O
$
Gen.

#$
#
O
Instr.

O
Prep.

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The Nominative ends in
- M.
- F.
- Pl.
The Nominative ends in
- M.
- F.
- Pl.
Many common Russian surnames decline like adjectives.
There are two main types:
THE DECLENSION OF RUSSIAN ADJECTIVAL SURNAMES

They decline on the pattern of
- Mixed declension type
They decline on the pattern of
- Hard declension type
Type Type
Type
Nom.
M.
F.
Pl.

Gen.
Dat.

Instr.

Prep.

Acc.

O
O
O
O
O
O
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All Russian female patronimics decline on the pattern of :
= =
For example:
Nom. .
Gen. .
Dat. .
Acc. .
Instr. .
Prep. .
Type
THE DECLENSION OF RUSSIAN PATRONIMICS

Russian Male Patronimics end in -/-/- like
, , .
Russian Female Patronimics end in -/-/- like
, ,
#
$

Gen.
O
Nom.
M.
F.
Pl.
O
Dat.

O
Acc.

O
Prep.

O
Instr.

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

THE DECLENSION OF NON-RUSSIAN PEOPLE`S NAMES
Female names
Foreign female names decline only if they end in -, -, - or -.
For example:
,
,

First names
Male names
Notice!
h

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SURNAMES
Only consonant - ending male surnames can decline.
For example:

,
etc.
So, the majority of non-Russian first names,
both male and female, are indeclinable in Russian.
For example:
= ,
= ,
= ,
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.
Notice!
h
= ,
= ,
=
Plural-only nouns:
,
,

etc.

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page 62
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PERSONAL PRONOUNS
Singular
1. - I
2. - you (informal), - you (formal)
3. - he, it, - she, it, - it
Plural
1. - we
2. - you
3. - they
adult & child adult & teenager or young person
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 & adult
young person & young person
- (referring to
more than one)
Russian personal pronouns are as follows:
middle-aged adult & elderly person


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page 63
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The choice depends
on many factors!
relative & relative
friend & friend
Talking to a familiar person
friends and relatives always use
at work
same status different status
younger person & older person lower status & higher status
at kindergartens, schools, colleges and universities
kindergarten school
child & teacher

schoolchild & teacher

!
is used seldom

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page 64
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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 .
children and teenagers use only to each other.
THE DECLENSION OF THE PERSONAL AND OTHER
NOUN-REPLACING PRONOUNS
All the pronouns can be divided into
2 groups
k N
Pronouns
used as words
characterizing nouns
First group
Pronouns
replacing nouns
and proper names
Second group
college or university
student & teacher student & student
Notice!
h

1
!
,

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page 65
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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.
The case forms are as follows:
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 Indefinite pronouns based on /,
the Reflexive pronoun ,
the Nominative pronoun ,
the generalizing words like , .
Notice!
h
Nom. . =
This is my friend.
Gen.
Dat.
or
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
.
He has a car.
.
I will visit him in the summer.
.
I called him in the morning.
.
I met him in Paris.
.
We went to school together.
.
I often think of him.
The case forms of he, it

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page 66
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The case forms of she, it
Nom. . =
Here is my (girl)friend.
Nom. . =
This is my house.
Gen.
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.
Gen.
Dat.
or
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
.
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.
.
Notice!
h
The same case forms has the Neuter pronoun it.

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The case forms of the pronoun - they
Nom. . =
Here is my summer cottage.
The case forms take initial - when governed by a preposition:
/, / etc.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
.
There is a big lake near it.
.
We drove up to it early in the morning.
.
We built it many years ago.
.
There is a big garden in front of it.
.
I live in it only in the summer.
Notice!
h
Nom. . =
.
I stayed with them in the summer.
.
I will go to them tomorrow.
.
I called them yesterday.
.
I met them in London.
.
I will go with them to Paris.
.
I often think of them.
Gen.
Dat.
or
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.

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Nom. =
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.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
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.
Acc. . He doesn`t know me.
Instr. . He goes with me.
Prep. ? Did John speak of me?
The case forms of you (informal)

Gen. ? - Special case!
Do you have a car?
Dat. . I`ll call you tomorrow.
. I`ll come to you tomorrow.
Acc. . I love you.
Instr. . I`ll go with you.
Prep. . I often think of you.
Gen. = Acc.
Dat. = Prep.
Notice!
h
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!
The case forms of we
The case forms of you - polite singular or plural form
Gen. ? - Special case!
Do you have a fax machine?
Dat. .
I`ll call you.
.
I will come to you tomorrow.
Acc. .
I don`t know you.
Instr. .
I`ll go with you.
Prep. .
I heard much of you.
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.


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THE DECLENSION OF THE PRONOUNS /
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 :
SUMMARY TABLE OF THE THIRD-PERSON PERSONAL PRONOUNS
Gen.
()
()
()
Nom.
,
Acc.
Instr.
()
()
()
Prep.

Dat.
()
()
()
? Whom did you tell it?
? Whom are you going to?
M, N F
Pl
M, N F
Pl
M, N F
Pl
M, N F
Pl
M, N F
Pl
M, N F
Pl
Acc. ? Whom do you know here?
Instr. ? Whom are you going with?
Prep. ? Whom are you talking about?
Nom. ? Who is that man?
Gen. ? Who has a car?
Dat.
O
O
O
O
O
O
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The Interrogative / Relative pronoun
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.
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. ?
What kind of program is it?
Pl. ?
What kind of people are they?
Notice!
h
refers to a thing, animal or an action

? What is that?
? What is that?
? What is he doing?

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Gen. - ?
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?
h
- .
Will you buy something for breakfast.
- , .
If someone arrives, call me.
The Case Forms of these pronouns are similar to and forms:
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?
Notice that - and - do not change.
Notice!
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THE DECLENSION AND THE USE OF THE REFLEXIVE PRONOUN
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.
-, -
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.
The Reflexive pronoun and its case forms are used for all persons
and both numbers irrespective of Gender.
It may correspond to:
Gen. .
John is at his office.
Dat. .
I invite you to my place.
Acc. .
He loves only himself.
Instr. ?
Do you have any papers with you?
Prep. .
He thinks only about himself.
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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.

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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:
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
O
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.
O
Part 6 The Case Usage
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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:
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:
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.
.
Natasha has a dog.
Gen.
- map of Russia
- train schedule
+
noun or
proper name
noun or
proper name
Gen.
. - He is not available.
. - Natasha was not at home.
Gen.
. - I have no car.
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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
The Genitive is used after words denoting certain amount, measure,
containers, set of objects, for example:
The Genitive is used to denote part of a whole, for example:
, .The Genitive is used also after
- 1
1
/
2
- 2
1
/
2
-
-1
/
3
-
1
/
4
-
3
/
4
Only the Genitive Singular
is used after these words.
Notice!
h

much snow
Gen. Sing.
of uncountables
Gen. Pl.
of countables

many books

Gen. Sing.
of uncountables
Gen. Pl.
of countables
Gen.
+
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The Genitive is used to denote the exact number of persons or objects:
cardinal numerals + Gen.
There is a certain rule which regulates the use of the Genitive
Singular or the Genitive Plural after the cardinal numerals.
See below:
The Genitive Plural is used after the following collective and double
numerals:
, , , , ,
for example:
Cardinal numeral 1 and any number ending in 1
take the Nominative Singular, for example:
1 , 21 etc.
E.g.
10
100
2
12
E.g.
2 , 22 , 102 etc.
2, 3, 4
any number ending in 2, 3, 4
5
15
any number from 5 to 19
any number ending in a numeral from 5 to 19
any number ending in 0
125
120
The Genitive Plural is used after the following words:
- thousand, - million, - billion (10
12
),
for example:
, .
Notice!
h
Notice!
h
take the Genitive Plural

take the Genitive Singular
E.g.

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Gen.
coll. 6 - 6 a.m.
Gen.
2 - 2 p.m.
Gen.
6 - 6 p.m.
Gen.
2 - 2 a.m.
dates of events
Gen. Gen.

intervals

Gen. Gen.
.
time points
Gen.
. He works here from September.
13
00
14
00
Gen. Gen.
.
The Genitive of Time can be used both with or without prepositions.
age points or limits

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

Gen. Gen. Gen.
Gen. Gen. Gen.

1991
The Genitive is used to denote:
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approximate time
coll. - about twelve o`clock
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:
time of the day
first part of an hour:
Gen.
11
05
, 23
05
-
second part of an hour:
Gen.
11
30
, 23
30
-
Gen.

Gen.
11
55
, 23
55
-
- to the left from
- to the right from
- in front of
/ - behind
- inside
- outside
- near
- near, at
- not far from
- close to
- far from
- far from
- opposite
/
- in the middle of
- among
- around
- along
- across
- by, passing by
E.g Gen.
- not far from our house
. We stayed at our friends.
+ + +
+ Genitive

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The Genitive is used to denote distance between two or more objects/
persons or part of the way:
The Genitive is used to denote a place from where the action is directed
(the starting point of motion). The following prepositions are used:
E.g.
.
He came back from Paris yesterday night.
8
00
.
I usually leave home at 8
00
.
.
He came from work very late.
.
We went from Stockholm by bus.
.
From Moscow to Kiev we were driving the whole night .
? 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).
, , - from a place
- - from behind
- - from beneath
+
Genitive
After preposition the Genitive is used to denote a place of

destination:
+ Gen.
+ Gen.
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/ - to make
/ -
to make, to manifacture, to produce
/ - to build
/ - to cook
- to consist of
/ - to sew
/ - to knit
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.
E.g. .
This box is made of wood.
.
This book consists of five chapters.
+ Genitive
Preposition is used mostly with the following verbs:
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- 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
- 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 following verbs take the Genitive:
E.g. . She is afraid of dogs.

. I`ll ask my brother.
.
You have to translate it from English.
THE GENITIVE USED AFTER CERTAIN VERBS
The Genitive is also used after some other verbs:
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Very often the Genitive descriptive combinations are used in questions:
The primary meaning of the Dative Case is to denote a person for whom
an action is performed, for example:
O
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).
THE USE OF THE DATIVE CASE
The Dative of Person
/ - to speak/say/tell
/ - to answer/reply
/ - to tell
The main verbs which take the Dative of Person are as follows:
/ - to call/phone
/ - to show
/ - to give
Asking about...
..? size
..? model, type
..? breed (of dogs, cats etc.)
..? height of a person
..? length
..? width
..? height
..? depth
..? brand, sort, type
..? quality
Dat
. Help me.
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/ - to send
/ - to bring
/ - to pay
/ - to help
/ - to send
/ - to bring
/ - to help
- 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
. - I am cold. (lit. To me it is cold).
When Russians wish to specify the state of a person they use
the Dative, for example:
The Dative of Person can be used in formally impersonal senteces.
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.
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

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/ - to send
/ - to send
/ - to send
/ - to recieve

/ - to hear
/ - to broadcast
/ - to broadcast
/ - to speak
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:
O
+
Preposition is also used with communication verbs to denote
means of communication:
/ - to call phone
/ - to speak, to talk
/ - to show
/ - to watch, to see
- to say
+
- I bought a dog. .
+
+
expressed by
transitive verbs
action subject object
in Accusative
Dat.
Dat.
Dat.
Dat.
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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:
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.
I am going to London. .
expressed by
motion verbs
action subject object in Accusative
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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 about followed by the
Prepositional:
- 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...
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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.
to denote frequency of occurence:
- once a week
- once a month
- once a year
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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
with - in, during, in the time of...
- in bad weather
- when it`s hot
- when it`s cold
- 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.
O

(coll.)
during the war
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- 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 /:
. He was a famous photographer.
. He will become a surgeon.
... When I was small...
The Instrumental is used after 5 prepositions to denote a place of an object:
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
Notice!
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Also , ,

- to command
to control
to manage, to run
- to own
-sacrifice
- to be sick
- to pay (in)
- to feed (with)
- to reward (with)
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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.
O
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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
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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:
Part 7 Verbs
THE SYSTEM OF THE RUSSIAN VERB
Russian verbs have the following forms:
The Infinitive - - to read
The Indicative mood
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.
{
Present Tense - - I read, I am reading
Past Tense - , - I read, I have read
Future Tense - - I will read,
I will be reading
The Present Tense
The Past Tense
The Future Tense
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THE USE OF THE INFINITIVE IN RUSSIAN
The Infinitive is normally combined with a great many verbs:
The infinitives end in:
-, -, -, -, -, -, -
The combinations with the Infinitive can be represented by the following
scheme:
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:
.
It is difficult to drive a car in Moscow.
. I like reading.
. I want to go sightseeing.
. He asked me to come.
. I will always help you.
Verbs
Infinitive
It is phrases
with forms
O
O
O
O
O
O
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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.
- 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:
The Aspect formation scheme:
Mind that the Aspect goes through the whole system of the verb:
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Tense ending
Stem
of the verb
Aspect Aspect
Infinitives Tenses Imperatives Participles
Suffix
Prefix
Stem
of the verb
+
Tense
ending
+
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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:
THE PRESENT TENSE OF THE VERBS
Only the Imperfective verbs can be used in the Present Tense.
Perfective Aspect (Second Form)
As a base for the Present tense formation we use part of the Infinitive,
for example:
The infinitive Present tense stem
-
-
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
Notice!
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Imperfective Aspect (First Form)
These verbs are simply called the Imperfective verbs.
PAST TENSE PRESENT TENSE FUTURE TENSE
PAST TENSE FUTURE TENSE
These verbs are simply

called the Perfective verbs.
Imperfective verb
PRESENT TENSE PAST TENSE FUTURE TENSE

and
-nd
conjugation
O
-st
conjugation
O
O
O
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-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
- - after consonants

- - after vowels
and (soft sign)
-/ -
, -/ -
O
-ND CONJUGATION, REGULAR FORMATION
Many Russian 2-nd conjugation verbs are conjugated on the pattern
of (consonant stem):

,
O
Plural
-
-
- after , , ,
, , .
- in other cases.
Plural
-/-
-/-
- - after consonants
- - after vowels and

(soft sign)
Exception!!! Some - verbs also belong to the 1-st Conjugation:
- to live, - to drink, - to pour and some others.
The 2-nd conjugation comprises verbs ending in - .
The Present Tense endings are as follows:
Singular
- - after , , , , , .
- - in other cases.
-
, -
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A big group of common verbs ending in -, - and -
also belongs to the 2-nd Conjugation ( Conjugation).
Among them are:
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)-
- to watch,
to look at, to see
- to see
- to hear
- to lie
- to sit
- to stand
- to sleep
- to be silent
- to shout, to scream
- to depend on
- to knock
- to hold, to keep
- to breathe
and many others.
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

also - - to recognize
- to get up etc.
Verbs in -:
- to give
- is dropped.
The stem is -

also - - to demand
- etc.
Verbs in -/-:
- to vote
-- is dropped, -- is added.
Notice!
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Notice!
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changing of the stem vowel
- to sing

also - - to swim
- appears in conjugation:
- to live
- to wash

Verbs in -:
- to take

also
- to strike,
- to pour,
- to sew, etc.
- to drink

Verbs in -:
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Verbs in - with consonant interchange throughout conjugation:
- to write, / interchange

also
- to tear,
- to lie

,
/
- to look for, to seek
/ - - to whisper -
/ - - to weep -
/ - - to knit -
- verbs:
Verbs in - like:
- to wait

,
- , ,
to go , ,
- , ,
to convey , ,
- , ,
to grow , ,
- , ,
to carry , ,
- , ,
to lead , ,
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THE IRREGULAR 2-ND CONJUGATION

,
The verbs described before had the peculiarity gone throughout
the conjugation. But now you`ll meet with a special case:
Verbs in -/:
- to place

,
Regular - verbs are conjugated as :
consonant stem
- to remember, - to smoke,
- to believe, - to teach, to learn,
- to give (as a present).
vowel stem
- 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 -.
Verbs in -:
- to be able

,
// interchange
also - to flow
- to bake
Notice!
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/
/
interchange
So, the 1-st Person Sigular differs from other forms.
Notice!
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- 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 fly

,
/ interchange:
-to ask
/ interchange :
-to pay

,

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

,
(also / interchange)
| - to run, also / interchange

,
- to be
Only one form is used - ,
which is the 3-d Person Singular and Plural
- to eat
|
|
, |
As for the Past Tense Formation all the verbs
fall into 2 groups
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: -, -, -, -, -, -, - .

Regular Past Tense formation,
modern productive type of verbs,
vowel stem.
First Group
-, -
verbs
Irregular Past Tense formation,
non-productive old type of verbs,
consonant stem.
-, -, -, -,
-, several - verbs
Second Group
Notice!
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Notice!
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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:
O
O
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First Group, Regular Past Tense Formation
Let us take, for example, the verb to be - .
To give the Masculine Past we have to replace - by -:
=
he was, he has been
So, the full table is:
The Past agrees also in Number:
- we were, we have been
- you were, you have been
- they were, they have been
Stem + -
Stem + -
Inf.
- verbs, vowel stem

Stem + -
The Feminine Past - we replace - by -:
=
she was, she has been
The Neuter Past - we replace - by -:
= ,
it was, it has been
Stem + -
O
Singular Plural & Polite
M. , ,
F. , , , ,
N. ,
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E.g.
- to fall down
- verbs
as part of the Regular Group
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:
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.
Notice!
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- you were -
- you fell down -
- I was -
- I fell down -

Inf.

M. , ,
F. , , , ,
N. ,
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Some other verbs of the same type of the Past Tense Formation:
- to help
- he helped
- she helped
- it helped
- they helped
/ - interchange
- to cut (hair), grass

/ - interchange
- to flow

/ - interchange
- to bake

/ - interchange
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.
Let us take for example the verb - to be able to,
will be replaced by . So, the Past Tense forms are:
IRREGULAR PAST TENSE FORMATION
Verbs ending in
- to lie down

/ - interchange
Notice!
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M. , ,
F. , , , ,
N. ,
O
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- to save, to keep, to guard, to protect

/ - interchange
- to light, to switch on a lamp
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:
So, the Past Tense forms
are as follows:
- he died
- she died
- they died
- to get used to
the stem is -
A lot of - verbs (consonant stem):
- to die.
To this type belong
some other verbs:
- to lock,
- to wipe etc.
So, the Past Tense forms are:
- he got used to
- she got used to
- they got used to

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- 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:
Some other verbs of the same type:
Inf. - to go (from )
Past Tense
, , ,
+

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Inf. - to leave
(from )
Past Tense
, , ,
Inf. - to come
(from )
Past Tense
, , ,
+ +
Inf.
(from )
Past Tense
, , ,
carrying verbs
Inf.
(from )
Past Tense
, , ,
+ +
leading verbs
Inf.
(from )
Past Tense
, , ,
Inf.
(from )
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.
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Some other verbs with the same peculiarities in the Past Tense formation:
The above mentioned verbs can have different prefixes
or meanings, but their Past Tense Formation retains
the same peculiarities.
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 Future Tense
of the verb
- to be
+
The Imperfective
Infinitive
Notice!
h
Infinitive Past Tense forms
- to grow - , , ,
- to save,
to rescue - , , ,
- to bloom - , , ,
- to shake - , , ,
- to sweep - , , ,
- to row - , ,
- to climb up - , , ,
- to crawl - , , ,
THE COMPOUND FUTURE FOR THE IMPERFECTIVES

consists of two verbs:

So,

Summary
PRESENT TENSE
So, the Imperfective verbs have the following Tense forms:

PAST TENSE FUTURE TENSE
O
O
O
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THE SIMPLE FUTURE FOR THE PERFECTIVES consists of one verb.
The Future Perfectives follow all the patterns
of the Present Imperfectives of the same root.
Here are some difficult forms of the Future Perfectives:
- to understand

- I will understand

- to start, to begin

- I will start

- to take

- I will take

- to get up

- I will get up

- to give

- I will give

Notice!
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Summary
So, the Perfective verbs have the following Tense forms:
FUTURE TENSE PAST TENSE

- to sell

- I will sell

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:
.

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a - to sit, to take a sit

- I will sit

- to find

- I will find

- to translate

- I will translate

- to arrive

- I will arrive

- to come

- I will come

- to show

- I will show

- to say, to tell

- I will tell

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 called , drop the -.
The basis for the Infinitive is the Present Tense Stem.
-
-
-
If you are speaking
to someone you call
}
! form,
! form.
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vowel stem + -()
Infinitive Imperative
()
Special case!
The rarest ending is -(),
it is used also after the consonant stems:
- to forget ()
- to answer ()
- to be ()

If the verb is reflexive it retains the reflexive ending /:
Notice!
h
The most common ending IS -().

Use it if a stem ends in a consonant.
Infinitive Present Stem Imperative

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 - / ()
Infinitive Present Stem Imperative
to open - / ()
to give - ()
to pass - ()
to find out - ()
! / ! Have a seat!
! / ! Come back!
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from Perfectives
-, -, -

- unfinished novel
- broken glass
MAIN TYPES OF PARTICIPLES
Short Passive Participles
from Perfectives
(only transitive verbs)
.
The shop has been already
closed.
O
Short Active Participles
from Imperfectives
= While/when doing smth
,
. from |
While/when closing the door,
he dropped the keys.
ending in -, -,
(-, - if Reflexive)
from Perfectives
= Having done smth
,
. from
Having come back home he went to bed
at once.
ending in -,
(-, if Reflexive)
from Imperfectives
-, -
- favourite film
from Imperfectives
-,-,-,-
,
from - the
passenger who might miss the
train
O O

Long Passive Participles
from Perfectives
-
,
from - the passenger
who has missed the train
Short Participles

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

Notice!
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+
Long Active Participles
Long Participles
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SHORT PASSIVE
PERFECTIVE PARTICIPLES
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.
Past tense .
The shop was closed yesterday.
Present tense .
The shop is closed today.
Future tense .
The shop will be closed tomorrow.
The short Passive Perfective Participles are used only as a
complement to the verb - to be(in Compound Predicates),
for example:
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
Notice!
h
M. F. N.
Pl.
M. . - The renovation has been done.
F. . - The work has been done.
N. . - Everything has been done.
Pl. . - All the things have been done.
+
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...
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All long participles are declined as ordinary adjectives

Notice!
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a
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.
O
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.
Follow the rule:
- often
- sometimes
- always
- never
- seldom
- several times
1 - once a week
- many times
- every day
other expressions with
- in the mornings
- on Mondays etc.
The Imperfective aspect is used with the time expressions denoting
frequency or occurence:
O
Perfective verbs describe the completion of a single action.
Usually, a result is implied, for example:
. .` He has written a novel.
Aspect in Question Aspect in Answer
Imperfective Imperfective
Perferfective Perferfective
USAGE (MEANING) OF THE ASPECTS
Imperfective verbs describe:
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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 Present Future
, , etc.
, ,
, , ,
, ,
, ,
, , ,
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. c s a M , t s a P . c s a M , t s a P . c s a M , t s a P . c s a M , t s a P . c s a M , t s a P . g n i S , . p - 3 , t n e s e r P & . f n I . g n i S , . p - 3 , t n e s e r P & . f n I . g n i S , . p - 3 , t n e s e r P & . f n I . g n i S , . p - 3 , t n e s e r P & . f n I . g n i S , . p - 3 , t n e s e r P & . f n I . g n i S , . p - 3 , e r u t u F . g n i S , . p - 3 , e r u t u F . g n i S , . p - 3 , e r u t u F . g n i S , . p - 3 , e r u t u F . g n i S , . p - 3 , e r u t u F
, ,

/ / / / / e k a t o t -
,
,
, ,
, , , , ,

/ / / / / e e s o t -
,
,
, ,

/ //// n r u t e r o t -
,
,
, ,

/ / / / / p u t e g o t -
,
,
, ,
, , , , ,

/ / / / / y a s , k a e p s , k l a t o t -
,
,
, ,
, , , , ,

/ / / / / o d o t -
,
, , , , , ,

, ,

/ / / / / t i a w o t -
,
,
, ,,,,
, ,

e v i l o t -
,
,
, ,
, , , , ,

/ / / / / e n o h p o t , l l a c o t -
,
,
, ,

/ / / / / t u p o t -
,
,
, ,

/ / / / / n w o d e i l o t , d e b o t o g o t -
,
,
, ,

e i l o t -
,
,

, ,

e k i l , e v o l o t -
,
,

, ,

/ / / / / d n i f o t -
,
,
, ,

/ / / / / n e p o o t -
,
,
, ,
, , , , ,

/ / / / / e t i r w o t -
,
,
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. c s a M , t s a P . c s a M , t s a P . c s a M , t s a P . c s a M , t s a P . c s a M , t s a P . g n i S , . p - 3 d n a t n e s e r P & . f n I . g n i S , . p - 3 d n a t n e s e r P & . f n I . g n i S , . p - 3 d n a t n e s e r P & . f n I . g n i S , . p - 3 d n a t n e s e r P & . f n I . g n i S , . p - 3 d n a t n e s e r P & . f n I . g n i S , . p - 3 , e r u t u F . g n i S , . p - 3 , e r u t u F . g n i S , . p - 3 , e r u t u F . g n i S , . p - 3 , e r u t u F . g n i S , . p - 3 , e r u t u F
, ,
, , , , ,
/ / / / / g n i s o t -
,
,
,
, ,

/ / / / / w o h s o t -
,
,
, ,

/ / / / / y u b o t -
,
,
, ,

/ / / / / e v i e c e r , t e g o t -
,
,
, ,
, , , , ,

/ / / / / p l e h o t -
,
,
, ,

/ / / / / d n a t s r e d n u o t -
,
,
, ,

/ / / / / d n e s o t -
,
,
, ,

/ / / / / h t m s o d o t k s a o t -
,
,
, ,

/ / / / / t i s a e k a t o t , n w o d t i s o t -
,
,
, ,

t i s o t -
,
,

, ,

n e t s i l o t -
,
,

. N
/ / / / / n e p p a h o t -

, ,
, ,,,,

/ / / / / r a e h o t -
,
,
, ,
, , , , ,

/ / / / / , h c t a w o t -
t a k o o l , e e s o t
,
,
,

, ,

/ / / / / k s a o t -
,
,
, ,
, , , , ,

/ / / / / d a e r o t -
,
,

,
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This part deals with:
The Reflexive Verbs (- verbs)
Modal Verbs and Constructions
Possessive Constructions
Russian Word Order
Part 8
Verbs and Constructions
|.
|.
|!
- is also attached to all active participles.
- is attached to forms ending in a vowel, for example:
|.
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-reflexivepair verb.
The ending - is attached to verb forms ending in a consonant
or -:
vowel + -
consonant or - + -
E.g.

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MAIN USE OF THE REFLEXIVES
The true Reflexives
A group of true Reflexives is limited to groomingverbs:
There are also 2 Aspect forms:
Imp. Perf.
/
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
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The Reflexives can be used in the sentences with inanimate objects
and the action is presented as if preformed by itself:
. The door opened.
19
00
. The performance starts at 19
00
.
. Suddenly the computer switched off.
? When does the shop open?
. My car broke.
- 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
?
- 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?
The Reflexives with the passive meaning
Reflexive suffix adds the passive meaning to many transitive verbs:
non - Reflexives Reflexives
There is usually a third-person subject in these sentences.
also
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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
.
My dog does not bite.
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
The Reflexives are used to denote a purposeful action:
/ - to try
/ - to attempt
/ + gen. - to achieve
Special case:
Notice!
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Other verbs with a similar meaning:
The Reflexives are used to denote a joint action:
. We met in Moscow.
.
.
The counterpart is expressed by c + Instrumental -
- 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 or Impersonal sentences
with / with or
with with /
with /

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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:
PERSONAL SENTENCES
Personal sentences with / + Infinitive,
/ - can, be able to
Infinitive Present Past, Masc.
Perfective: /
Future Past
Imperfective: /
E.g. . I cannot come.
. I could not come./I failed to come.
Masc. , ,
Fem. , ,
Pl. & Pol. , ,

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, .
I think, it is possible to do this.
, .
I think, it is impossible to do this.
IMPERSONAL SENTENCES
=
Impersonal sentences with / + Infinitive
denote possibility or impossibility:
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.
.
.
I have got to go.
I must go.
I have to go.
is more conversational.
Impersonal sentences with or + infinitive.
They express necessity or obligation, for example:
=

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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. = .
The Tense forms of modal constructions
Modal constructions are based on the verb - be forms:
person object
who possesses which is possessed
+ +
Genitive

Nominative
Past
,
,
+
Future
,
,
+
Present
,
,
Past
M. + inf.
F. + inf.
N. + inf.
Pl. + inf.
Future
M. + inf.
F. + inf.
N. + inf.
Pl. + inf.
Present
M. + inf.
F. + inf.
N. + inf.
Pl. + inf.
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.

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These verb forms are used only in one form, irrespective of gender
or number of possessed objects:
POSITIVE Present Past Future
M. S.
F.
N
Pl. Pl.
used depending
on the gender and
number of the
possessed objects
used depending
on the number
of the possessed
objects
The Negative of the Possessive Construction
In the Negative Possessive construction the negated object
Gen.
is expressed by the Genitive: .
Negative
.
I have no dog.

Positive
.
I have a dog.

+ + .

Notice!
h
NEGATIVE Present Past Future

The Tense forms of possessive constructions

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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:
The reverse word order
Impersonal sentences normally have the reverse word order:
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.
A Pronoun object may precede the Verb:
.
I can not hear you.
.
I do not know anything.
Russian equivalent to There is / There are sentences
In such sentences the place modifiers always come first:
.
There are many new hotels in Moscow.
I bought a car
Subject + Verb + Object
+ +
Indirect object Verb Subject

+ +
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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.
Some adverbs usually precede the verb:
.
He has not come yet.
Some other adverbs of this kind:
, , , ,
Notice!
h
The position of adverbs and adverbial phrases
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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 Verbs of Motion

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BASIC FORMS OF NON-PREFIXED PAIR-VERBS OF GOING
First Pair
Second Pair
Present & Future Tense
1
2

/
Present & Future Tense

/

/
1 2
1
2

Past Tense
Third Pair
Summing-up pair
1
2
/
/
/
/
Infinitives

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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
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.
1
/, (e verbs) 2
2

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THE GRAMMATICAL USAGE OF NON-PREFIXED GOING VERBS
To be used properly non-prefixed goingverbs have to be divided
as follows:
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.
UNIDIRECTIONAL VERBS
Verbs of single motion
Present and Future Tense
Unidirectional verbs
Multidirectional verbs
Verbs of general ability or capacity
Verbs with special (figurative) meaning
O
O
O
7
Verbs of
motion in progress
Verbs of habitual
/repeated motion
Verbs of
single motion
O
O
O
O

/

/
First Pair

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Verbs of habitual/repeated motion
O

/
- every day
- every week
- every month
- every year etc.
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
- always
- usually
- sometimes
- once a week
- every other day
- on Saturdays, etc.
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.
Second Pair
Present and Future Tense
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It so happened that both groups of verbs (single motion and
habitual/repeated motion) have one and the same Past Tense forms:
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

O O
and
+
Present & Future
Single motion in a definite direction
/
/
Present & Future
Repeated or habitual motion
in a definite direction
/
/
Past Tense
/
/
M. , , ,
F. , , ,
Pl.&Pol. , , ,
The Past Tense forms of verbs of both single and habitual/repeated
motion (within the unidirectional verbs)
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Present Tense
/
Future Tense
/
Past Tense
/
Present Tense
/
Past Tense
/
+
- now
- for a long time
- slowly
- fast, quickly
For example:
/ , .
When I was going/driving home I met Natasha.
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.
O
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:
Here are the Tense forms:
O
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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.
Going verbs denoting ability or capacity to perform an action
(or used when talking of likes and dislikes)
Here we use the following forms:
Present - ,
Past - , , ,
Future - ,
or ,
Non-prefixed goingverbs with special (figurative) meaning
O
O
Some examples:
. - The film is on.
. - The lesson is on.
. - It is snowing.
. - This cap suits you.
. -Time goes fast.
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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.
Some means of transport are used to perform an action.
Group 2

See:
Group 1 .
Group 2 .
1
2
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THE TENSE FORMS AND THE GENERAL MEANING OF THE ASPECT
PAIRS OF MOST COMMON PREFIXED VERBS OF MOTION
First table
Meaning: coming by air, arriving at a place
Meaning: coming, arriving at a place, visiting someone by transport
(also by planes)
Meaning: coming on foot (or the motion is unspecified) and bringing
(delivering) something or someone to somewhere or somebody.
Meaning: coming by transport and bringing (delivering) something
or someone to somewhere or somebody
Imp. Perf.
Present Past Future

Past Future

Meaning: coming, arriving at a place, visiting someone either on foot
or the motion is unspecified
Imp. Perf.
Present Past Future

Past Future

Imp. Perf.
Present Past Future

Past Future

Imp. Perf.
Present Past Future

Past Future

Imp. Perf.
Present Past Future

Past Future

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Meaning:
leaving a place or a person, going either on foot or the motion is unspecified
Meaning: leaving a place or a person by transport
Meaning: leaving a place or a person by air
Meaning:
taking a thing or a person, going either on foot or the motion is not specified
Meaning: taking a thing or a person to some place by transport
Second table
Imp. Perf.
Present Past Future

Past Future

Imp. Perf.
Present Past Future

Past Future

Imp. Perf.
Present Past Future

Past Future

Imp. Perf.
Present Past Future

Past Future

Imp. Perf.
Present Past Future

Past Future

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Here you can find a table of the PREPOSITIONS AND CASES
ACCOMPANYING some common PREFIXED VERBS OF MOTION
O
O
- from a place
- from a place
or happening
- from a person
+ Gen.
- to a place
- to a place
or happening
- to a person
+ Acc.
+ Dat.
+
coming, arriving at
/
/
/
delivering, carrying to
/
/
- to a place
- to a place or happening
to a person - with or
without preposition + Dat.
+ Acc.
- from a place
- from a place
or happening
- from a person
+ Gen.
+
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O
going away, leaving,
departing
/
/
/
- to a place
- to a place
or happening
- to a person
+ Acc.
+ Dat.
O
delivering, taking to
/
/
- to a place
to a person
with or without preposition + Dat.
+ Acc.
O
setting off for destination
- to a place
- to a person
+ Acc.
+ Dat.
+
- from a place
- from a place
or happening
- from a person
+ Gen.
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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 , , , :
. I have got to go.
? May I have a look?
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.
Part 10 Adverbs
Adjective Adverb
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:

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 -:
-
-
-
-

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- . 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.
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
Adverbs of Time
- in the morning
- in the afternoon
- in the evening, at night
- at night
Common Adverbs of Measure and Grade
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a - 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 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.
e c a l p f o s b r e v d a e c a l p f o s b r e v d a e c a l p f o s b r e v d a e c a l p f o s b r e v d a e c a l p f o s b r e v d a f o s b r e v d a f o s b r e v d a f o s b r e v d a f o s b r e v d a f o s b r e v d a n o i t c e r i d n o i t c e r i d n o i t c e r i d n o i t c e r i d n o i t c e r i d
? ? ? ? ? ? e r e h W ? K ? K ? K ? K ? K
? ) o t ( e r e h W
? ? ? ? ? ? m o r f e r e h W
? e d i s t a h w m o r F ?
, , , , ,
.
. e r e h s e v i l e H

!
! e r e h e m o C

.
. o g a r u o h n a ) e r e h m o r f ( t f e l e H

.
. w o n e r e h t s e v i l e H

.
. w o r r o m o t e r e h t o g l l i w I

.
k c a b e m o c l l i w I ( e r e h t m o r f ) . k e e w a n i

.
. e m f o t n o r f n i g n i h t y n a e e s t o n o d I
, , , , ,
. . .
. . . n o t h g i a r t s o G

.
s m a r t s s a p y b o t e v a h u o Y . t n o r f e h t m o r f
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e c a l p f o s b r e v d a s b r e v d a n o i t c e r i d f o

,
.
I d n a k c a b e h t n i d o o t s e H
. m e h t e c i t o n t o n d i d
, , , , ,
.
. e c n o t a k c a b o g l l i w e W

t e k c i t n r u t e r -

.
s s a p y b o t e v a h u o Y
. k c a b e h t m o r f s e s u b

.
. t h g i r e h t n o s i p o h s e h T
/

n r u t o t e v a h u o Y .
. w o n t h g i r e h t o t

, e s a e l p , u o y l l i W .
. t h g i r e h t o t t i b a e v o m

.
m o r f e t i r w s b a r A
. t f e l o t t h g i r

.
. t f e l e h t n o s i p o h s e h T
/

n r u t o t e v a h u o Y .
. w o n t f e l e h t o t
.
a e v o m , e s a e l p , u o y l l i W
. t f e l e h t o t t i b

.
o t t f e l m o r f e t i r w e W
. t h g i r
/
.
. s r i a t s p u g n i t i a w s i e H
.
. p o t e h t t a b o n k a s i e r e h T
/
.
. s r i a t s p u t n e w e H
!
! p u s d n a H

.
l l i r d r e t t e b d ` u o Y
. p o t e h t m o r f
/
.
. s r i a t s n w o d g n i t i a w s i e H
.
e h t t a b o n k a s i e r e h T
. m o t t o b

.
. s r i a t s n w o d t n e w e H

.
l l i r d r e t t e b d ` u o Y
. m o t t o b e h t m o r f

: .
.
t o n s e o d e n i h c a m x a f e h T
k c u t s t o g r e p a p e h t : k r o w
. e d i s n i

. . .
. . . d r a c e h t t r e s n i t s r i F

- K
.
e h t d e k c o l e n o e m o S
. e d i s n i m o r f r o o d

.
. e d i s t u o g n i t i a w s a w e H

.
. e d i s t u o s n e p o r o o d e h T

- K
e n o e m o S .
m o r f r o o d e h t d e k c o l
. e d i s t u o

.
. w o n e m o h t a s i e H

.
. e m o h g n i o g m a I
t u b

e m o h m o r f -
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Negative Adverbs
Indefinite Adverbs
- .
He has already come.
- .
He does not sleep anymore.
- .
He is still sleeping.
- .
- .
- .
- .
It is not always easy to pigeonhole even common adverbs.
Below you can find some of them.
- no place, no room, nowhere
- no place, no room, nowhere - direction
- no reason, useless
-, - - somewhere, anywhere
-, - - somewhere (to), anywhere (to) - direction
-, - - some time, any time, ever
-, - - for some/any reason
-, - - for some/any reason

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Since many of these comparatives are very irregular in their formation,
it is better to learn them as new vocabulary items:
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:
In colloquial style the comparatives can be prefixed with - :
! Will you, please, come a bit earlier.
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.
Comparative
- faster, quicker
Comparative
- better
- worse
- less, fewer
- more

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THE SUPERLATIVE DEGREE OF THE ADVERBS
The Superlative Degree is formed as follows:
Summary of the degrees of comparison:
The comparatives can be emphasized by the following words:
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:
, .
Notice!
h
- faster than anyone -

when compared to a group of people or objects.
- best of all -
when compared to something abstract.
Positive Comparative Superlative

For example:
- much quicker
- much better
- much earlier
much (much more)

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Adverb Comparative Adjective

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:
THE COMPARATIVE DEGREE OF THE ADJECTIVES
SIMPLE FORM
E.g.
, .
Nikolay`s car is more expensive than John`s car.
COMPLEX FORM
E.g.
, .
Nikolay bought a more expensive car than Ivan.
- does not change.
The Comparative forms can be emphasized by the following words:
E.g.
, .
Nikolay`s car is much more expensive than Ivan`s car.
much more
link verb + adjective/adverb ending in //

+ adjective + noun

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As a compliment to the verb (function )
some common adjectives can be used in a shortened form, for example:
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:
THE SHORT FORM OF THE ADJECTIVES
Some Russian Adjectives can be used in two functions:

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Positive Comparative Superlative

/
/

Pl. & Pol.
, ,
M.
, ,
N.
()
F.
, ,
| - free, vacant . He is free.

The short adjectives can have the following forms:
as characterizing words
as a compliment to the link verb
adjective + noun + adjective

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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.

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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.
/// - sick, ill
. Natasha is sick.
/// - obliged, must
. You must go.
Many other
adjectives can be
used in the short
form by the native
speakers.
The short adjectives are used in some forms of politeness:
, ...
, ...
! Be careful!
! Be healthy!
Would you (be so kind)
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THE SIMPLE NEGATIVE WITH
You can negate any meaningful word in Russian with the help of the particle .
The particle always preceeds the negated word:
Part 11 Negative Sentences

.
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.

etc.

etc.

etc.
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A lot of Russian negative sentences can have the following pattern:
words can be :
Prepositions are inserted between and the pronoun,
for example:

Negative pronouns
and their case forms
based on /:
Negative adverbs: Negative adjectival
pronouns:
N. /
G. /
D. /
A. /
I. /
/
P. /
/
- never
- nowhere
- nowhere (direction)
- not at all
- in no way
- not once
- from nowhere
and their case forms.

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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 verb
Nobody came.

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and its case forms - no one, nobody, anybody
Nom. .
Nobody came.
Gen. .
He did not ask anybody.
Dat. .
He did not tell anything to anybody.
Acc. .
I don`t know anybody here.
Instr. .
I didn`t speak to anybody about that.
Prep. .
He is not guilty in anything.
Nom. .
Nothing interests him.
Gen. .
I don not have anything.
Dat. .
I don not believe anything.
Acc. .
I don not know anything.
Instr. .
He is not interested in anything.
Prep. .
He is not sure in anything.
and its case forms - nothing, anything

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

replaces when the verb is omitted:
- ?
Is he still in Moscow?
- . .
Not any more. He has left for London.

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The Negative constructions denoting non-existence or non-availiablity
These constructions are always impersonal.
.
He was not at home.
.
He is not at home.
.
He will not be at home.
.
I have no time.
.
I will not have time.
.
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.
Present
Past
Future
Present
Past
Future

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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 Dative of Person is used in constructions denoting age:
20 . I am 20 years old.
lit. To me 20 years were given.
The Detailed Description of the Impersonal Constructions with the
Dative of Person.
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 IMPERSONAL CONSTRUCTIONS INVOLVING PEOPLE

Part 12 Impersonal Constructions
Dative
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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.
In the Past Tense the verbs are used in the Neuter:
. - He was lucky.
Constructions with /, ,
could be used in different tense forms:
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...
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Constructions denoting objective necessity :
Present Tense I need, I have to
Future tense I will have to
Past Tense I had to
- I have to, I need
- I had to
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(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.
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.
The Detailed Description of the Impersonal
Constructions with the Accusative of a Person.
The Passive Constructions.
Accusative=
Genitive
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. - He was robbed.
. -
He was transferred into another unit.
. - He was poisoned. etc.
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.
. 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.
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.
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Genitive
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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:
THE IMPERSONAL CONSTRUCTIONS DEALING
WITH NATURE OR OBJECTIVE REALITY
The subjectless sentence. The -o forms.
THE IMPERSONAL CONSTRUCTIONS

DEALING BOTH WITH HUMAN STATES AND NATURE
(WITH THE ACCUSATIVE OF A PERSON OR AN OBJECT).
Present Tense . - It is cold today.

Future Tense . - It will be cold tomorrow.
Past Tense . -It was cold yesterday.
. - by water.
. - by snow
The natural phenomenon or the external force is in the Instrumental:
. - 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.
There is a limited group of impersonal sentences dealing both with people

and nature, where the Accusative is used. The verbs are in the third-
person Singular in the Present and Future, and in the Past the Neuter
form is used:
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SEMI-IMPERSONAL CONSTRUCTIONS
one and you constructions = constructions

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):
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 said, told, it was said

- they wrote, it was written
- they showed, it was shown
- they broadcast, it has been
broadcast
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Part 13 Numerals
The numerals are divided into two main groups:
There are three smaller groups:
O Double numerals: /
O Indefinite numerals: , etc.
O Collective numerals: , etc.

The Ordinals
, etc.
O The Cardinals
, etc.
O
The Cardinals O
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
0 /
1 ///
2 /
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
30
40
50
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The gender and the case forms of some cardinal numerals
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.
How to make the compound cardinals
The pattern is as follows:
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:
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.
175 = 100 + 70 + 5 =
If preceded by a preposition or a verb, or being used in the negative
construction all cardinals change according to the cases.
M. F. N.
+
Meaning Alone :
.
I go there alone.
Meaning Same :
.
We live in the same building.
1
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The Nominative case of the Russian cardinal numerals used for two,
has two Gender forms:
Masculine and Neuter - ,
Feminine - .
The case forms of the cardinal numerals /, ,
The declension of
All the other case forms do not have this Gender difference.
You`ll find them below.
E.g.
M.
N.
F.
Gen. .
I will come after two.
Dat. .
I will come by two.
Acc. , .
I will come at two.
Instr. .
I will come between two and three.
Prep. .
= Gen. The dictionary was in two volumes.
2, 3, 4
M/N F Pl
N. /
G.
D.
A. , , ,
I.
P.

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Model - 5
Gen. - 12
55
Dat. - by five o`clock
Acc. - at five o`clock
Instr. - between five and six
Prep. - in five instances out of ten
Gen. = Dat. = Prep.
Acc. = Nom.
The case forms of the cardinal numerals
Most common are the two case forms:
Gen.- , , , ,
, , , .
.
Acc.=Nom. .
The noun follows the noun declension type.
The case forms of the cardinal numerals
5-20, 30, 50, 60, 70, 80
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.
Gen. = Dat. = Instr. = Prep. Acc. = Nom.
200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900
The case forms of the cardinal numerals 40, 90, 100

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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:
Each part of a compound numeral changes, for example:
Nom. Nom. Nom.
Nom. + +
Gen. Gen. Gen.
Gen. + +
Gen. = Dat. = Prep
Nom. = Acc.
175
The case forms of the compound cardinal numerals

Genitive Nominative
16
35

16
40

16
45

16
50

16
55

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The combinations with the cardinal numerals
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 Plural
Nom. - Gen. -
Plural Plural
Nom. - Gen. -
The characterizing words in such combinations are always
in the Plural form.
E.g.
Gen. Pl. Gen. Sing.

The combinations of the type cardinal numeral + noun

The combinations of the type cardinal + characterizing + noun
numeral word
Halves
- 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
- meter
- for Masculine and Neuter nouns,
- for Feminine nouns, for example:
- hour
- ton
Nom. ,
Gen. ,
+ Genitive
1
/
2
1
1
/
2
2
1
/
2
, 3
1
/
2
1
1
/
2
+ Genitive
+ Genitive, for example:
2
1
/
2
Gen. Pl. Gen. Pl.

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300
th
301
st

400
th

401
st

500
th

501
st

600
th

601
st

700
th

701
st

800
th

801
st

900
th

901
st

1000
th
1001
st

1002
nd

2000
th
2001
st

10 000
th

100 000
th

1 000 000
th
70
th

71
st

80
th

81
st

90
th

91
st

100
th

101
st

200
th
201
st

1
st
2
nd
3
rd
4
th
5
th
6
th
7
th
8
th
9
th
10
th
21
st

22
nd

30
th
31
st

40
th
41
st

50
th
51
st

60
th
61
st

11
th
12
th
13
th
14
th
15
th
16
th
17
th
18
th
19
th
20
th
THE ORDINAL NUMERALS

O
The ordinal numerals have all the gender, number and case forms
as the adjectives (hard-type adjectives, except for - third).
They are as follows:

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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.
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:
flight 707
- coll.
- off.
Compound ordinals
In the compound ordinals only the last part is ordinal and changes according
to cases, for example:
cardinal ordinal
- the 21
st
floor
- on the 21
st
floor
The use of the ordinals

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The date is denoted by the Neuter of the ordinal, for example:
Neuter
- ? What is the date today?
- . The tenth of January.
The Genitive of ordinals is used to denote the date answering the
question ? - when?, for example:
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
The ordinals are also used to denote historical periods, for example:
- in the 19
th
century
Genitive
.
- I`ll come back on the second of May.
Genitive Genitive
.
- He was born on the second of May 1975.
Neuter ordinal + Noun in Genitive
Masculine/Neuter ordinal in Genitive + Noun in Genitive
in the thirties

()

16
05
16
10
16
15
16
20
16
25
16
30
16
35
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THE DOUBLE NUMERALS
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.
1 6
2 7
3 8
4 9
5 10
. He got an excellent mark.
When counting in some units we use:
- a ten - ten eggs
- a hundred - twins, - triplets
O
The double numerals / -both deal with two people,
two animals or two objects.
two people
The double numeral is used for a group of two Masculine nouns
or a group of one Masculine and one Feminine noun, for example:
+ =
- both students
- they both
M. M.
+ +
+ =
- both students
- they both
M. F.
+ +
two animals
M. M.
+ = - both tigers
- they both

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- many, much, a lot
- not many, a few
- how many, how much
- little, few
M. M.
+ =
- both houses
- they both
two objects
The double numeral is used for a group of two Feminine nouns
denoting two people, two animals or two objects, for example:
N. N.
+ =
- both windows
- they both
F. F.
+ = - both girls
- they both
F. F.
+ =
- both dogs
- they both

F. F.
+ =
- both cars
- they both
Special case:
- a lot of people
Countables
Gen. Pl.
- many books
Uncountables
Gen. S.
- much snow
Notice!
h
The Indefinite Numerals are as follows:

O THE INDEFINITE NUMERALS
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:
- several
- enough
- so many
.., - as much.., as

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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.
- ? How many are you?
- . We are three.
The Collectives are used to denote groups of people either solely
male or mixed (male + female), for example:
O
THE COLLECTIVE NUMERALS
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 Collective Numerals are used in the impersonal sentences only.
Other
ollective
Numerals:
- a group of five
- a group of six
- a group of seven
Most commonly used
Collective Numerals
are as follows:
- a group of two
- a group of three
- a group of four

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- paper for the printer
. - That`s news to me.
. - He will play instead of me.
. - I go with my brother.
. - I live in Moscow.
. - I was born in May.
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.
- without sugar
. - I am going to London.
. - I will go to London on Friday.
+ Gen.
+ Acc.
+ Prep.
+ Gen.
+ Instr.
+ Gen.
Part 14 Prepositions

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+ 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.
7. - I leave home at seven.
. - All parts are made of wood.
.
- Some of us will go to Italy this summer.
+ Gen.
+ 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.
? - How can I get to the railway station?
. - He works tilI five.
! - See you tomorrow!
+ Gen.
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- . - Everyone left the table.
- . - I came late because of a traffic-jam.
. - Come to see me.
.
- We approached Moscow late at night.
. - I will come by two.
() + Dat.
+ Gen.
, .
- He eats everything except fish.
+ Instr.

- hockey match between Sweden and Canada
. - We drove past the railway station.
+ Gen.
. - I am going to the railway station.
.
- I am going to the concert tomorrow.
-.
- I will go for three days to New York.
+ Acc.
- + Gen.
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+ 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.
.
- There is a bell over the entrance.
. - He works on a new book.
+ Instr.
. - We spoke about the problems.
? - What is this film about?
(, ) + Prep.
- near the house
- about hundred dollars
+ Gen.
. - I got a letter from Nikolay.
- key to the car
- anti-allergic medicine
+ Gen.
.
- We drove from Boston by car.
700 .
- It is seven hundred kilometers from Moscow to Kiev.
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. - He put the box under the table.
+ Acc.
. - He travels a lot about Russia.
- Russian exam
- in the mornings
- according to the law
.
- He is talking on the phone now.
+ Dat.
+ Instr.
. - He stood in front of us.
. - We will talk before the lesson.
+ 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.
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. - I have a dog.
.
- I`ll be waiting for you at the entrance.
.
- We wilI fly to Moscow via Frankfurt.
. - We wilI go through the center.
. - I wilI come in an hour.
+ Acc.
+ Gen.
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.

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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.
More complicated use of prepositions and
The preposition + Acc./Prep. is used with nouns denoting:

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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,
The Preposition + Acc./Prep. is used with nouns denoting:

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asome 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.
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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
Nouns used with both prepositions
Prepositions and as correlated to and
+ 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.
+ Gen.
.
I came home late from hockey.
+ Acc.
.
I like going to hockey.
.
I was at hockey yesterday.
+ Prep.
+ Gen.
from, out of
+ Acc.
+ Prep.
+ Gen.
from, down from
+ Acc.
+ Prep.

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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:

- 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?
include

Connective conjunctions
Coordinating Subordinating and
Coordinating conjunctions
connective
- and
... - both, and
... - neither, nor
- and
disjunctive
- or
, - either, or
adversative
- but
- but


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Foreign learners permanently experience difficulty in making the choice
between the adversative conjunctions and . See the difference:
Adversative conjunctions
, .
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Disjunctive conjunctions

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- 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.
Most Common Subordinating Conjunctions
+ 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.
, .
- She is crying because she fell down.
- because

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