LESSON 2

Intonation of a completed statement (IK-1) Intonation of a question with

a question word (IK-2). Intonation of a question without an interrogative word
(IK-3). Negative sentences. Word order in denial. Demonstrative constructions
with the words это, вот (this). Interrogative sentence with the words кто, что
(who, what).
Intonation.
In Russian Language in the completed sentence at the end of the sentence the voice drops.
For example: Мы учимся в университете.
When we ask a question voice goes up at the end of the sentence.
Мама дома? - Is mom at home?
Это мама? - Is this mom?

If the sentence has question words Кто? Что? (Who? What?), then on the interrogative
word the voice rises.
Кто это? - Who is this?
Что ты делаешь сейчас? - What are you doing now?

IK-1 is the intonational construction of narrative sentences. Used in sentences containing

a statement or message. Such sentences are characterized by a decrease in tone at the end of the
sentence (on the last word):

Это дом. Антон дома. (_ _ ↓)

IK-2 is an intonational construction of interrogative sentences. Used in sentences

containing a question word. Such sentences are characterized by a slight increase in tone on the
interrogative word:

Кто это? Что это? (↑ _ _ )

IK-3 is an intonational construction of interrogative sentences without an interrogative

word. The question in such sentences is conveyed using intonation, and the center of the intonation
structure will be on the stressed syllable of the word to which the question is being asked

Это дом? Антон дома? ( _ _ ↑)

Negative sentences.
Narrative sentences (IK-1) with negation contain the word "нет" (no). If for negation you
use the word contained in the question, then you need to put the particle не (not) in front of it.

Это мама? - Нет, это не мама.

If you use another word for negation, then the negative particle is not used.

- Мама там? - Нет, она тут.

Это мама? - Нет, это не мама, это бабушка. - Нет, это бабушка.

Это Самина? - Нет, это не Самина, это Фатима.

Это мама и папа. Они тут (здесь)? - Нет, они не тут (здесь), они там.
These are mother and father. Are they here? - No, they are not here, they are there.
 Interrogative sentence with the words кто, что (who, what).
Interrogative pronouns and adverbs are words used to form different kinds of questions.
The most frequently used interrogative words in Russian are:
кто 'who'
что 'what'
As a rule, pronouns кто and что are used to form questions about an animate (кто) or an
inanimate (что) referent. These pronouns do not reflect gender or number of their referents. These
pronouns require their predicates to agree in singular. As for gender agreement, the predicate of
the pronoun кто must agree in masculine gender:

Кто написал это? - Who wrote this? (написал - masculine form)

and the predicate of the pronoun что must be in neuter:

Что стояло на столе? - What was on the table? (стояло - neuter form)