1221 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1221 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 3922
Colloquial
Russian
THE COLLOQUIAL SERIES Series Adviser: Gary King The following languages are available in the Colloquial series: Afrikaans Albanian Amharic Arabic (Levantine) Arabic of Egypt Arabic of the Gulf Basque Bengali Breton Bulgarian Cambodian Cantonese Catalan Chinese Croatian Czech Danish Dutch English Estonian Finnish French
German Greek Gujarati Hausa (forthcoming) Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Icelandic Indonesian Irish Italian Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Malay Mongolian Norwegian Panjabi Persian Polish Portuguese
Portuguese of Brazil Romanian Russian Scottish Gaelic Serbian Slovak Slovene Somali Spanish Spanish of Latin America Swahili Swedish Tamil Thai Turkish Ukrainian Urdu Vietnamese Welsh Yoruba Zulu (forthcoming)
COLLOQUI COLLOQUIAL AL 2s series: series: The Next Step in Language Learning Chinese Dutch French
German (forthcoming) Italian Portuguese of Brazil
Russian Spanish Spanish of Latin America
All these Colloquials are available in book & CD packs, or separately. You can order them through your bookseller or via our website www.routledge.com www.routledge.com..
1221 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1221 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 3922
Colloquial
Russian The Complete Course for Beginners Svetlana le Fleming and Susan E. Kay
First published 1993 Second edition published 1997 This edition first published 2010 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 1993, 1997 and 2010 Svetlana le Fleming and Susan E. Kay Typeset in 9.5/13 Helvetica by Florence Production Ltd, Stoodleigh, Devon
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data le Fleming, Svetlana. Colloquial Russian: the complete course for beginners/ Svetlana le Fleming and Susan E. Kay. – 3rd ed. p. cm. — (The colloquial series) 1. Russian language – Conversation and phrase books – English. 2. Russian language – Textbooks for foreign speakers – English. 3. Russian language – Spoken Russian. I. Kay, Susan E., 1947– II. Title. PG2121.L364 2009 491.783 421 – dc22 2009003473 ′
ISBN13: ISBN13: ISBN13: ISBN13: ISBN13: ISBN13:
978–0–415–46995–1 (pbk) 978–0–415–48629–3 (audio CDs) 978–0–415–48628–6 (pack) 978–0–415–55068–0 (MP3) 978–0–203–87386–1 (ebk) 978–1–315–74114–7 (eBook Pack)
1221 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1221 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 3922
Contents
List of abbreviations
vii
Introduction
1
Introduction to the Russian language
3
1
Как вас зову́ т? Whatʼs your name? 2 Изуча́ ем ру́сский язы́ к We are studying Russian 3 В гости́ нице At the hotel 4 Типи́чный день A typical day 5 Семья́ Family 6 Идём в го́ сти Visiting friends 7 Спорт Sport 8 Люби́мый о́тдых Favourite holidays 9 Пра́здники Festivals 10 Арба́ т The Arbat 11 Как снять кварти́ру в Москве́ How to rent a flat in Moscow 12 Росси́ йские СМИ Russian mass media
15 26 39 53 70 84 103 119 137 153 167 187
vi
Contents
13 За поку́ пками! Shopping 14 Путеше́ ствия Travelling 15 Теа́тр The theatre 16 Здравоохране́ние Health care 17 Петербу́рг St Petersburg 18 Cиби́рь Siberia
205
Grammar summary Spelling rules · Gender · Declension tables · Verbs · Prepositions · Stress
315
Key to the exercises
339
English–Russian vocabulary Russian–English vocabulary
379 388
Grammar index Russian index
411 413
222 240 262 278 299
Please email
[email protected] with proof of purchase to obtain access to the supplementary content for this eBook. An access code and instructions will be provided.
1221 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1221 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 3922
Abbreviations
acc adj adv coll comp dat f gen I II inf imp inst m m indecl n n indecl nom p.p. pf pl prep sing
accusative adjective adverb colloquial comparative dative feminine genitive 1st conjugation verb 2nd conjugation verb infinitive imperfective instrumental masculine indeclinable masculine noun neuter indeclinable neuter noun nominative past participle perfective plural prepositional singular
1221 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1221 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 3922
Introduction
Colloquial Russian is intended for students working on their own or
with a teacher. It covers the situations, vocabulary and grammar required to take students up to GCSE level and, in the later units, it also includes some of the additional structures required at a more advanced level. Units begin with dialogues and short texts. These introduce all the new structures dealt with in that unit and are followed by lists of new vocabulary. Only the new vocabulary is explained in each unit. There is a cumulative Russian–English vocabulary at the back of the book, but it is important to try to master the vocabulary for each unit before moving on to the next. Each unit, as well as introducing new grammatical structures, also has a theme and teaches the student how to deal with a particular situation or situations in Russian. The English–Russian vocabulary does not contain all the words used in the book. It is intended for use with exercises in the book where you are required to translate into Russian, principally the improvisation exercises. After the dialogue there are communicative and situation-based exercises, which give practice in using and understanding the new vocabulary: multiple-choice questions, questions on the text and related questions directed at the student. Additional short pieces are associated with the theme of the unit, such as forms and questionnaires to complete, advertisements, menus, maps and street plans. There are also vocabulary-building exercises. This section is particularly useful for students working towards GCSE, and teachers will find plenty of material for oral and group work. It includes ʻRussian realiaʼ, which are docu ments drawn from Russian daily life; these may be used as practice for the GCSE reading exercise. You will not find every single word and expression used in these extracts explained in the book. Only the minimum of key words is given. Treat this as a real-life exercise.
2
Introduction
Do not expect to understand every word but just enough to be able to work out the answers to the questions. Next in each unit is a grammar section in which the new structures introduced in that unit are explained. Explanations are strictly related to the material in the unit and are, therefore, not exhaustive: they do not, for example, cover exceptions that do not appear in the book. It will probably be helpful to glance forward to these explanations when translating the text and dialogue and then work through the section more methodically before attempting the grammar exercises that follow. Exercises on the grammar follow the explanation of each new point of grammar. Finally, there is an improvisation, or role-play, exercise. This gives you the opportunity to use the new vocabulary and structures learnt in the unit to communicate in a real-life situation. There is a key to the exercises in the back of the book so that students working on their own can monitor their progress, but in respect of the improvisation exercise the answers given are only suggestions. They are not the only possible version. The object of the exercise is to communicate the message using expressions you feel confident with. At the end of the book is a grammar summary. This presents the main grammatical forms dealt with in the book in tables for easy reference. Also for reference at the back of the book is the two-way vocabulary and an index to the grammatical points covered in each unit. The recordings, which may be purchased to accompany the book, will not only help the student with pronunciation but also develop oral and aural skills. The symbol indicates which material is on the recordings. We would like to express our gratitude to Ian Ferguson who designed the Russian cursive font used in the handwritten alphabet section.
1221 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1221 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 3922
Introduction to the Russian language
The alphabet The alphabet used for Russian has many similarities with the Greek alphabet. This is because it was devised by missionaries from the Greek Orthodox Church. If an earlier form of written Russian existed before the conversion to Christianity in the tenth century, it has not been preserved. The alphabet is known as ʻCyrillicʼ in honour of the missionary St Cyril, who was once thought to have invented it. The sounds that the alphabet represents are the same or very similar to sounds that also exist in English. (CD1; 2)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Russian letter
Closest English equivalent
А Б В Г Д Е Ё Ж З И Й К Л М Н
a b v g d ye yo zh/s z ee y k l m n
а б в г д е ё ж з и й к л м н
as in fa ther
as in g irl as in ye s as in yo nder as in treas ure as in fee t as in buy
4
Introduction to the Russian language
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33
Russian letter
Closest English equivalent
О П Р С Т У Ф Х Ц Ч Ш Щ
o p r s t oo f ch ts ch sh shsh hard sign as in si t soft sign e yu/u ya
Э Ю Я
о п р с т у ф х ц ч ш щ ъ ы ь э ю я
as in o r
as in shoo t as in loch as in bits as in ch imp as in rush as in fishsh op
as in ne t as in u se as in ya rd
Learning the alphabet letter by letter (CD1; 3) Use the following practice words, many of which are similar to English words, to familiarise yourself with the Russian alphabet. If you have the recordings, you can also listen to the words. It will be useful to study this section in conjunction with the recordings, since the English equivalents are only approximate. These practice words have stress marks added to tell you which syllable to put most emphasis on when the word has more than one syllable. The letter ё is always stressed. Russian letter
English equivalent
Practice word
Meaning
т о м
t as in o r m
том
volume (ʻtomeʼ)
5
Introduction to the Russian language
1221 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1221 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 3922
Russian letter
English equivalent
a p п c
a as in fa ther r p s
e э к
ye as in ye s e as in ne t k
н и л
n ee as in fee t l
б
b
д y
d oo as in shoo t
ф
f
г
g
з й
z y as in buy
ж в
zh/s as in treas ure v
ц
ts as in bits
Practice word
́
́
́
́ атом ́ мотор порт спорт стоп па́спорт метр э́ра экспорт орке́стp ́ рестора н и́мпорт лампа киломе́тр ́ бaлет биле́т доктор ́ ст тури стyде́нт ́ футбо л фрукт грамм програ́мма килогра́мм ́ коммуни зм мyзе́й тролле́йбус май мой журна́л ́ волейбо л Во́лга центр конце́рт
Meaning
atom motor port sport stop passport metre era export orchestra restaurant import lamp kilometre ballet ticket doctor tourist student football fruit gram programme kilogram communism museum trolleybus May my journal volleyball Volga centre concert
6
Introduction to the Russian language
Russian letter
English equivalent
Practice word
Meaning
ю
yu/u as in us e
ш щ ё x я ы ч
sh as in rush shsh as in fishshop yo as in yo nder ch as in loch ya as in ya rd i as in si t ch as in ch imp
ю́ мор сюже́т шок това́рищ ёлка э́хо як музыка ́ н чемпио чай
humour subject shock comrade fir tree echo yak music champion tea
́
ь
soft sign (CD1; 4) The soft sign (ь) does not have a sound of its own. It tells you how to pronounce the consonant that precedes it. Consonants followed by a ь are softened or ʻpalatalisedʼ. That means that they are pronounced with the middle of the tongue rising towards the roof of the mouth. It is rather like making a short y sound after the consonant: стиль ʻstyleʼ; фильм ʻfilmʼ. �
ъ
hard sign Similarly, the hard sign (ъ) does not represent a sound of its own. Make a slight break in the word where the hard sign comes: объе́кт ʻobjectʼ. �
Pronunciation You will be surprised how easily you can read Russian aloud once you have mastered the alphabet. The transition from recognising individual letters to being able to read whole words is much easier in Russian than in English. If you pronounce Russian words letter by letter, as they are written, you will come very close to a correct pronunciation. However, there are some additional points that you must take note of if you wish to perfect your pronunciation. They are described below. If you have the recordings, make sure you listen for these points.
Introduction to the Russian language
1221 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1221 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 3922
Stress and vowel reduction Stress marks are used throughout this book to show you which syllable to emphasise in your pronunciation of each word. This phenomenon of stress is not peculiar to Russian. English words also have a stressed syllable. For example, ʻelʼ is pronounced differently in ʻе́ligibleʼ, where it is stressed, and ʻtrа́velʼ, where it is not stressed. In Russian the emphasis on the stressed syllable is even greater than in English. The unstressed syllables, in consequence, suffer greater reduction.
Reduction of vowels (CD1; 5) Vowels in stressed syllables are pronounced with their full value, normally exactly as they are written. Vowels in unstressed syllables are articulated less strongly and this changes the pronunciation of some vowels quite considerably. For example:
Unstressed ‘o’ An unstressed ʻoʼ is reduced to either: �
1 a weak ʻaʼ sound if the ʻoʼ is at the beginning of the word or in the syllable immediately before the stress, e.g. объе́кт ʻobjectʼ, мото́p ʻmotorʼ, тролле́йбус ʻtrolleybusʼ or 2 an even weaker ʻeʼ (as in fathe r) in all other unstressed syllables, e.g. а́том ʻatomʼ, ю́ мop ʻhumourʼ, э хo ́ ʻechoʼ, па́спорт ʻpassportʼ.
Unstressed ‘e’ and ‘я’ When they are not stressed ʻeʼ and ʻяʼ are usually pronounced more like a weak ʻиʼ, e.g. о́пepa ʻoperaʼ, рecтора́н ʻrestaurantʼ, язы́к ʻlanguageʼ. At the end of a word they often sound more like the ʻeʼ in fathe r, e.g. до́бpоe ʻgoodʼ, фами́лия ʻsurnameʼ. Other vowels are not so greatly affected when they are in unstressed syllables, generally being pronounced like a weak version of themselves. Because stress can affect the pronunciation of a Russian word to such a significant extent, it is important to adopt good habits from the very beginning, always making every effort to stress words correctly �
7
8
Introduction to the Russian language
when reading and always learning new words with the correct stress. When the ending on a Russian word changes, the position of the stress may also change. For example, the stress may be on different syllables in the plural and singular forms of a noun or be in a different position in different parts of the same verb. Some common stress patterns are included in the grammar summary at the end of this book. It is not necessary to put stress marks on Russian words when writing unless this helps with the learning process. Russians do not use stress marks when they write.
Pronunciation of the vowel ‘ы’ There is no exact equivalent sound in English. It is pronounced like ʻiʼ in ʻsitʼ but the tongue is drawn further back: язы́ к ʻlanguageʼ, му́зыка ʻmusicʼ. This is not an easy sound to copy. Try saying oo but with your lips unrounded.
Pronunciation of certain consonants (CD1; 6) Some Russian consonants, while very similar to sounds in English, are pronounced in a slightly different way. •
•
•
•
•
•
The Russian letter p (the ʻrʼ sound) is rolled. The tongue vibrates against the front of the palate: Росси́я ʻRussiaʼ. T, д and н are pronounced like English ʻtʼ, ʻdʼ and ʻnʼ except that the tip of the tongue is against the upper teeth, its tip pointing downwards and not with the tongue further back as in English: том ʻvolumeʼ, порт ʻportʼ, до́ктор ʻdoctorʼ, рeстора́н ʻrestaurantʼ. B is pronounced like English ʻvʼ but with the lower lip behind the upper teeth: Во́лга ʻRiver Volgaʼ. Л is pronounced like English ʻlʼ but with the back of the tongue low and the tip against the upper teeth: ла́мпа ʻlampʼ. Ш is pronounced like the ʻshʼ in ʻrushʼ, but with the tongue curled away from the palate: шок ʻshockʼ. Щ is pronounced like a doublelength ʻshʼ, but with the tongue flat against the palate: товáрищ ʻcomradeʼ. Ж is like ʻsʼ in ʻtreasureʼ but with the lower jaw extended: , журна́л ʻmagazineʼ.
Introduction to the Russian language
1221 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1221 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 3922
Soft consonants (CD1; 7) The effect of a soft sign ь on the consonant that precedes it has already been mentioned. Certain vowels have the same effect. They are e, ё, и, ю, я. Consonants followed by these vowels are pronounced in the same way as consonants followed by a soft sign, i.e. with the middle of the tongue rising towards the roof of the mouth: биле́т. Most Russian consonants have both this soft form and a hard form which is pronounced with the tongue lower in the mouth. The difference in sound is most noticeable with the consonants л and т: журна́л ʻmagazineʼ, стиль ʻstyleʼ, спорт ʻsportʼ, мать ʻmotherʼ. A small number of Russian consonants have only a hard or only a soft form. Ж, ш and ц are always hard. After them и sounds like ы, е sounds like э and a soft sign ь is ignored: цирк ʻcircusʼ, центр ʻcentreʼ. Ч and щ are always soft and after them a sounds like я and y like ю: чай.
Consonants at the ends of words (CD1; 8) At the end of a word
д is pronounced like т: г is pronounced like к: в is pronounced like ф: з is pronounced like c: ж is pronounced like ш: б is pronounced like п:
шокола́д ʻchocolateʼ (pronunciation шокола́т) друг ʻfriendʼ (pronunciation друк) Горбачёв ʻGorbachevʼ (pronunciation Горбaчёф) джаз ʻjazzʼ (pronunciation джас) ́ ж ʻluggageʼ бага (pronunciation бага́ш) гриб ʻmushroomʼ (pronunciation гpип).
This is because д, г, в, з, ж, б are voiced consonants, i.e. when they are pronounced the vocal chords vibrate. T, к, ф, c, ш, п are voiceless consonants. They are pronounced with exactly the same shaped mouth and tongue position as their voiced partners but without the vibration of the vocal chords. Consonants at the ends of words in Russian are always pronounced as if they are voiceless, irrespective of how they are written.
9
10
Introduction to the Russian language
When there is a combination of two or more consonants in Russian they are either all pronounced as if voiced or all pronounced as if voiceless. The character of the last consonant in the combination determines how the others are pronounced. If it is voiced the others will be voiced: фyтбо́л (pronunciation фyдбо́л). If it is voiceless the others will be voiceless: во́дка ʻvodkaʼ (pronunciation во́тка). This occurs not just within a word but where two words are pronounced without a pause between them: в кино́ ʻto the cinemaʼ (pronunciation ф кино́). The exception to this rule is the combination св where it is the first of the two letters which determines pronunciation, for example свитер ʻsweaterʼ (pronunciation сфитер).
The handwritten alphabet А
а
Б
б
Β
в
Г
г
Д
д
Е
е
Ё
ё
Ж
ж
З
з
И
и
Й
й
К
к
Л
л
М
м
Н
н
Ο
о
П
п
A B V G D E É @ Z I J K L M N O P
a b v g d e é ' z i j k l m n o p
Р
р
С
с
Т
т
У
у
Ф
ф
Х
х
Ц
ц
Ч
ч
Ш
ш
Щ
щ ъ ы ь
Э
э
Ю
ю
Я
я
R S T U F X C H W }
r s t u f x c h w ] # y ; | \ { [ Q q
11
Introduction to the Russian language
1221 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1221 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 3922
1 Do not omit the small hook at the beginning of the letters м, л, я:
биле́т
дя́дя
2 Put a line over т and under ш:
том
шок
3 The only ʻtallʼ letters are б and в. The letters л, н, к are the same size as the letter a:
бaле́т
волейбо́л
кино́
Practising writing letter by letter Russian letter
Practice word
T O M A R P S
t o m a r p s
E | K
e \ k
л
N I L
n i l
б
B
b
Т
т
О
о
М
м
А
а
Р
р
П
п
С
с
Е
е
Э
э
К
к
Н
н
И
и
Л Б
tom atom а́том motor мото́р port порт sport спорт stop стоп pasport па́спорт metr метр \ra э́ра \ksport э́кспорт orkestr орке́стр restoran рестора́н import и́мпорт lampa ла́мпа kilometr киломе́тр balet бале́т bilet биле́т том
12
Introduction to the Russian language
Russian letter
Practice word
у
D U
d u
Ф
ф
F
f
Г
г
G
g
Z J
z j
@ V
' v
C
c
Д
д
У
З Й
Ж В Ц
з й
ж в ц
Ю
ю
{
[
Ш Щ Ё Х Я
ш щ ё х я ы ч
W } É X Q
w ] é x q y h
Ч
H
ь
;
ъ
#
до́ктор тури́ст студе́нт футбо́л фрукт грамм програ́мма килогра́мм коммуни́зм музе́й тролле́йбус май мой журна́л волейбо́л Во́лга центр конце́рт ю́ мор сюже́т шок това́рищ ёлка э́хо як му́зыка чемпио́н чай стиль фильм объе́кт
doktor turist student futbol frukt gramm programma kilogramm kommunizm muzej trollejbus maj moj 'urnal volejbol Volga centr koncert [mor s['et wok tovari] élka \xo qk muzyka hempion haj stil; fil;m ob#ekt
13
Introduction to the Russian language
1221 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1221 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 3922
Alphabet recognition Test your knowledge of the alphabet by trying to work out the meaning of the following words: �
1 2 3 4 �
1 2 3 4
(a) Sporting terms те́ннис 5 матч 6 гол футбо́л 7 фи́ниш баскетбо́л 8 спортсме́н хокке́й
9 чемпио́н 10 стадио́н 11 атле́тика
(b) Out and about 5 кaфе́ парк 6 университе́т порт 7 институ́т теа́тр рeстора́н 8 зоопа́рк
9 банк 10 центр 11 бульа́р
(c) Things you might order in a café 1 ко́фе 3 во́дка 2 лимона́д 4 бифште́кс �
5 фру́кт 6 суп
(d) Entertainment 1 теа́тр 4 бале́т 2 конце́рт 5 фильм 3 о́пера 6 му́зыка
7 програ́мма 8 pа́дио
(e) Useful words for a tourist 1 па́спорт 4 авто́бус 2 тури́ст 5 тролле́йбус 3 тра́нспорт 6 тaкси́
7 аэропо́рт 8 бага́ж
(f) Cities of the world 1 Ло́ндон 4 Нью-Йо́рк 2 Москва́ 5 Амстерда́м 3 Петербу́рг 6 Эдинбу́рг
7 Гла́зго 8 Берли́н
�
�
�
14
Introduction to the Russian language
(g) Countries of the world 1 A´нглия 4 Фра́нция 2 Росси́я 5 Герма́ния 3 Аме́рикa 6 Австра́лия �
7 Ита́лия 8 Шотла́ндия
Unit One
1221 2 3 4 5 What’s your name? 6 7 8 9 10 1221 12 In this unit you will learn how to: 13 identify yourself – your name, nationality, profession and 14 address 15 ask simple questions 16 describe things using ʻmyʼ, ʻyourʼ and adjectives 17 use the prepositional case 18 19 20 21 22 23 В самолёте On the plane (CD1; 9) 24 25 Peter Green, an English businessman, is on his way to Moscow to 26 join a Russian–British computer company. He has learnt a little bit of 27 Russian and when he notices the woman sitting next to him on the 28 plane reading a Russian magazine he seizes the opportunity to try 29 out his Russian on her. 30 Пи́тер: Э´то ру́сский журна́л? 31 Мари́на: Да, ру́ сский. 32 Пи́тер: Интере́ сный? 33 Мари́на: О´чень интере́сный! 34 Пи́тер: Вы тури́ стка? 35 Мари́на: Нет, я не тури́ стка. Я студе́нтка. 36 Пи́тер: Студе́ нтка в Москве́? 37 Мари́на: Я студе́ нтка МГУ. МГУ – э́то Моско́вский 38 Университе́т. А вы тури́ст? 3922
Kак вас зову́т?
•
• • •
Диало́г 1 – Dialogue 1
Unit 1: Kак вас зову́т?
16
Пи́тер: Мари́на: Пи́тер: Мари́на: Пи́тер: Мари́на: Пи́тер: Мари́на:
Пи́тер:
Нет, я не тури́ ст. Я бизнесме́н. Англи́ йский бизнесме́н? Э´то ва́ша профе́ссия? Нет, я инжене́ р. Англи́йский инжене́р – Пи́ тер Грин. О´чень прия́тно! А как вас зову́ т? Меня́ зову́т Мари́на Петро́ва. Ва́ша фами́лия Петро́в а? Вы ру́сская? Да, ру́ сская, но я не типи́чная ру́сская! Мой оте́ц ру́сский, а моя́ мать англича́нка. А э́то не о́чень типи́чно! А я типи́ чный англича́нин! Мой оте́ц англича́нин, и моя́ мать англича́нка.
Кремль
Диалоѓ 2 – Dialogue 2 Вы господи́н Грин? Are you Mr Green?
(CD1; 10)
A man meets Peter at the arrivals gate at Moscow airport. Ивано́в: Пи́тер:
Здра́ вствуйте! Вы господи́н Грин? Да, я Пи́тер Грин. До́брое у́тро!
17
Unit 1: What’s your name?
1221 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1221 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 3922
Ивано́в: Пи́тер: Ивано́в: Пи́тер: Ивано́в:
Пи́тер: Ивано́в: Пи́тер:
Я ваш шофёр, Ивано́в Ива́н Ива́нович! О´чень прия́тно! Ваш а́ дрес в Москве́ – гости́н ица «Марс». Гости́ ница «Марс»? А где гости́ница «Марс»? Гости́ ница «Марс» – в це́нтре. Э´то Тверска́я у́лица – центра́льная у́лица в Москве́. Там Кремль, Кра́сная пло́щадь. О´чень хорошо́! А вот и ва́ша маши́н а! Пожа́луйста! Спаси́ бо!
Слова́рь – Vocabulary a а́дрес англи́йск||ий, -ая, -ое англича́н||ин, (-ка) аэропо́рт бизнесме́н в (+ prep ) ваш, ва́ша, ва́ше вот вы где господи́н гости́ница да журна́л и инжене́р интере́сн||ый, -ая, -ое как Кра́сная пло́щадь (f ) Кремль (m )
and, but address English Englishman (English woman) airport businessman in, at your here is you where Mr hotel yes magazine and engineer interesting how Red Square Kremlin
мать mother маши́на car МГУ Moscow State (Моско́вский University госуда́рственный университе́т) мой, моя́, моё my Моско́вский Moscow университе́т University не not нет no оте́ц father о́чень very профе́ссия profession ру́сск||ий, -ая Russian (man), Russian (woman) самолёт aeroplane, airplane студе́нт, -ка (male, female) student там there Тверска́я Tverskaya у́лица Street типи́чно itʼs typical типи́чн||ый, typical -ая, -ое
Unit 1: Kак вас зову́т?
18
тури́ст, -ка фами́лия хорошо́ центр
(male, female) tourist surname it is good centre
центра́льн||ый, -ая, -ое шофёр э́то я
Как вас зову́т? Меня́ зову́т . . . Как ва́ша фами́ лия? Моя́ фами́лия . . . О´чень прия́тно! Здра́вствуйте! До́брое у́тро! Спаси́бо! Пожа́луйста!
central driver this, it I
Whatʼs your name? My name is. . . Whatʼs your surname? My surname is . . . Pleased to meet you! Hello! Good morning! Thank you! Please!
N.B. When Russians give their names they often give their surname first. Peterʼs driver introduces himself as Ивано́в Ива́ н Ива́ нович. His surname is Ивано́в and his first name is Ива́н. Ива́нович is a middle name based on his fatherʼs first name. A more detailed explanation of Russian names is given in Unit 5.
Language in action Сде́лай вы́ бор – Make a choice (CD1; 11) (a) Use the information in the dialogues and decide whether the following statements are true or false. Answer да if the statement is true and нет if it is false. For example : Гости́ница «Марс» в це́нтре?
Да, в це́нтре. 1 2 3 4
Кремль в Москве́? Пи́тер Грин – англи́йский тури́ст? Пи́тер Грин – ру́сский инжене́р? Петро́ ва – ру́сская фами́лия?
Unit 1: What’s your name?
1221 5 Мари́ на – тури́стка? 2 6 Мари́ на – студе́нтка МГУ? 3 7 Грин – ру́ с ская фами́лия? 4 8 Пи́тер Грин – англича́нин? 5 6 (b) Choose the correct phrase to complete the sentence: 7 8 1 Пи́тер Грин (англи́йский студе́нт, ру́сcкий бизнесме́н, 9 англи́йский инжене́р). 10 1221 2 Гости́ н ица «Марс» (в Ло́ндоне, в Москве́, в Кремле́). 3 Мари́ на Петро́ва (англи́йская тури́стка, ру́сский инжене́р, 12 студе́нтка). 13 14 4 Грин (англи́йский шофёр, ру́ccкая фами́лия, англи́йская 15 фами́лия). 16 5 МГУ (Моско́ вский Кремль, Моско́вский университе́т, 17 моско́вская гости́ницa). 18 6 Мари́ на и Пи́тер в (Кремле́ , университе́те, Москве́, 19 самолёте). 20 21 22 Вопро́сы – Questions 23 Answer the following questions about yourself in Russian. Try to answer 24 in complete sentences: 25 26 Как вас зову́т?; (to a woman) Вы англича́н ка?; (to a man) Вы 27 англича́нин? Вы инжене́р ?; (to a woman) Вы студе́н тка?; (to a 28 man) Вы студе́нт? Вы студе́нт(ка) в университе́те? Где ваш 29 университе́т? Ваш oте́ц англича́нин? Ва́ша мать англича́нка? 30 31 32 – Grammar 33 34 Absence of ‘a’ and ‘the’ 35 There is no definite article (the word ʻtheʼ) or indefinite article (the words 36 ʻaʼ or ʻanʼ) in Russian. Я инжене́р means either ʻI am an engineerʼ or 37 ʻI am the engineerʼ, and you have to select the appropriate translation 38 3922 according to the context.
Грамма́тика
19
Unit 1: Kак вас зову́т?
20
Omission of ‘am’, ‘are’, ‘is’ In Russian the present tense of the verb ʻto beʼ is usually omitted. Thus the sentence ʻI am Russianʼ is translated as Я ру́сская – literally ʻI Russianʼ. Between two nouns a dash can be used in place of the verb:
Петро́ва – ва́ша фами́ лия. Petrova is your surname. The word это means ʻthis/that/itʼ, but since the present tense of ʻto beʼ is usually omitted it is generally translated as ʻit isʼ, ʻthis isʼ etc.:
Э´то ру́сский журна́л It is a Russian magazine. Э´то ва́ша профе́ссия. It is your profession. Вот translates as ʻhere is/here areʼ: Вот ва́ша маши́на Here is your car. Note the use of нe in the negative form:
Я нe тури́ст. I am not a tourist. Э´то нe о́чень типи́чно. That is not very typical.
Interrogative sentences You can ask a question in Russian simply by putting a question mark at the end of a statement or by changing your intonation if you are speaking:
Э´то ва́ша профе́ссия. It is your profession. Э´то ва́ша профе́ссия? Is it your profession? Э´то ру́сский журна́л? Is it a Russian magazine?
21
Unit 1: What’s your name?
1221 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1221 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 3922
Упражне́ние 1 – Exercise 1 Using the following words, ask a question and reply in the affirmative. For ехаmрlе:
Э´то журна́л? Да, э́то журна́л. 1 2 3 4
самолёт aэропо́ рт бизнесме́ н университе́т
5 6 7 8
гости́ ница Кремль ́ сная пло́щадь Кра мать
9 оте́ц 10 англича́нин 11 ру́сский
Упражне́ние 2 – Exercise 2 Using the following pairs of words, ask a question and reply in the negative. For example :
Э´то Москва́? Нет, э́т о нe Москва́, э́то Ло́ ндон. 1 2 3 4 5
тури́ ст – бизнесме́н студе́ н т – студе́нтка Кра́ сная пло́щадь – Тверска́я у́лица гости́ ница – университе́т англича́ нин – ру́сский
Gender of nouns Russian has three genders: masculine, feminine and neuter. Nouns denoting male people or animals are masculine and those denoting female people or animals are feminine. Unlike English, not all nouns denoting inanimate objects are neuter. Some are masculine and some are feminine. The gender of a noun in Russian can generally be determined by its last letter. Nouns ending in a consonant are masculine: журна́л ʻmagazineʼ; а́дрес ʻaddressʼ. Nouns ending in -a or -я are feminine: фами́лия ʻsurnameʼ; профе́ссия ʻprofessionʼ. Nouns ending in -о are neuter: у тро ʻmorń ingʼ. Some nouns ending in -ь are feminine and others are masculine, so their gender has to be learnt: пло́щадь ʻsquareʼ – feminine; кремль ʻkremlinʼ – masculine.
Unit 1: Kак вас зову́т?
22
Note that there are two forms of the words ʻtouristʼ and ʻstudentʼ: тури́ст ʻmale touristʼ; тyри́cтка ʻfemale touristʼ; студе́нт ʻmale studentʼ; студе́нткa ʻfemale studentʼ.
Possessive adjectives The words for ʻmyʼ and ʻyourʼ change according to the gender of the nouns they are describing: мой оте́ц ʻmy fatherʼ; моя́ мать ʻmy motherʼ; моё у́тро ʻmy morningʼ. The form мой is used with a masculine noun, the form моя́ is used with a feminine noun, and the form мoё is used with a neuter noun. Ваш а́дрес ʻyour addressʼ; ва́ша фами́лия ʻyour surnameʼ; ва́ше у́тро ʻyour morningʼ. The form ваш is used with a masculine noun, the form ва́ша with a feminine noun and the form ва́ше with a neuter noun.
Упражне́ние 3 – Exercise 3
(CD1; 12)
Using the following words, ask a question and reply in the affirmative. For ехаmрlе:
Э´то ва́ша фами́лия? Да, это моя́ фами́лия. 1 2 3 4
маши́ на журна́л гости́ница а́дрес
5 ́ отец 6 мать 7 самолёт
Adjectives All adjectives change their endings according to the gender of the nouns they are describing: интере́сный журна́л ʻinteresting magazineʼ; интере́с ная профе́ссия ʻinteresting professionʼ; интере́сное у́тро ʻinteresting morningʼ. The ending -ый is used when the noun it describes is masculine, the ending -ая when the noun is feminine and the ending -оe when it is neuter. Note these other examples: Моско́вский yниверсите́т ʻMoscow Universityʼ; англи́йский бизнесме́н ʻEnglish businessmanʼ; ру́сская фами́лия ʻRussian surnameʼ. In Mоско́вский and англи́йский the ending is -ий rather than the regular -ый ending because it is a rule of Russian spelling that ы is replaced by и after к.
23
Unit 1: What’s your name?
1221 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1221 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 3922
The word ру́сская as well as being the feminine form of the adjective ʻRussianʼ can also mean ʻa Russian womanʼ. Similarly ру́cский, the masculine form, can also mean ʻa Russian manʼ. In order to translate the adjective in an English expression such as ʻit is good / that is goodʼ Russian uses a form ending in -о: хорошо́. ʻIt (that) is good.ʼ It can also be combined with the word это:
Э´то типи́ чно. That is typical.
Упражне́ние 4 – Exercise 4
(CD1; 13)
Using the following words with the adjective ру́сский, ask a question and reply in the affirmative. For example :
Э´то ру́ сская гости́ница? Да, э́то ру́с ская гости́ницa. 1 2 3 4
а́дрес фами́ лия аэропо́рт самолёт
5 6 7 8
́ р инжене ́ н бизнесме ́ нтка студе ́ стка тури
Упражне́ние 5 – Exercise 5 Using the same words, ask a question and reply in the negative replacing ру́сский with aнгли́йский. For example :
Э´то ру́ с ская гocти́ница? Нет, э́т о англи́й скaя гости́ница.
Cases Russian is a language with a case system. Nouns appear in different cases, indicated by different endings according to the role they fulfil in the sentence. There are six cases in Russian: nominative, accusative, genitive, dative, instrumental, prepositional.
Unit 1: Kак вас зову́т?
24
Nominative case The nominative case of a noun is used when that noun is the subject of the sentence. This is the form in which it is listed in the dictionary and is the form we look at to determine the gender. Most nouns in this unit are in the nominative case. Журна́л, фами́лия, тури́ст, а́дрec are examples of nouns in the nominative case. Э´тo and вот are followed by nouns in the nominative case:
Bот маши́на. Here is the car. The nominative case is also used after ʻamʼ, ʻareʼ, ʻisʼ when these words are omitted in Russian:
Я aнглича́нин. I am an Englishman.
Prepositional case Following a preposition a noun will no longer be in the nominative case and its ending will probably change. The preposition that appears in this unit is в, meaning ʻinʼ. It is followed by the prepositional case although other prepositions in Russian may be followed by other cases such as the accusative or the genitive. The ending for most nouns in the prepositional case in the singular is -e. Nouns ending in a consonant add -е after the final letter: центр ʻcentreʼ; в це́ нтре ʻin the centreʼ. Nouns ending in a vowel and masculine nouns ending in -ь change the final letter to -е: Москва́ ʻMoscowʼ; в Москве́ ʻin Moscowʼ; Кремль ʻthe Kremlinʼ; в Кремле́ ʻin the Kremlinʼ. Note that in Russian ʻon the planeʼ is в самолёте.
Упражне́ние 6 – Exercise 6 Using the following words, answer the question: Где тури́ст? For example :
Где тури́ст? Тури́с т a Москве́. 1 Ло́ндон 2 гости́ ница 3 университе́т
4 центр 5 самолёт
Unit 1: What’s your name?
1221 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1221 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 3922
Импровизац́ ия – Improvisation (CD1; 14)
Now itʼs your turn to join in a Russian conversation. Try to convey the sense of the English phrases using the Russian expressions you have learnt in this unit. – До́брое у́тро. – Reply by saying ʻgood morningʼ in return.
– Моя́ фами́лия Петро́в. А как ва́ша фами́лия? – Give your surname as Ivanov if you are a man, or Ivanova if you are a woman.
– О´чень прия́тно! – Respond by saying ʻpleased to meet youʼ.
– Вы ру́сский? (Вы ру́сская?) – Reply, no, you are English.
– Ва́ша фами́ лия ру́сская? – Say that your father is Russian and your mother is English.
– Интере́сно! Вы тури́ст(ка)? – Reply that you are not a tourist but an engineer.
– Где ва́ша гости́ница в Москве́? – Tell him that your hotel is in the centre.
– В це́нтре? Э´то хорошо́! Кремль и Кра́сная пло́щадь в це́нтре.
25
Unit Two
Изучае́ м ру́сский язы́к We are studying Russian
In this unit you will learn how to: • • • • • • • •
say which languages you can speak talk about television and newspapers ask more questions use personal pronouns use verbs in the present tense make nouns plural form adverbs use a wider range of adjectives
Текст – Text Бизнecмéн в Мocквé A businessman in Moscow Peter Green is settling into his work as a computer programmer in Moscow. He realises that to do business there he needs to improve his Russian and is listening to the radio and reading Russian newspapers and magazines for practice. Пи́тер Грин – англи́йский бизнесме́н. Он рабо́тает в Ло́ндоне. Фи́рма, где он рабо́тает, де́лает компью́ терные програ́ммы, и Пи́тер – отли́чный специали́ст. Но тепе́рь Пи́тер в Москве́, потому́ что здесь мо́жно де́лать би́знес. Пи́тер понима́ет, что де́лать би́знес в Москве́ тру́дно. Вот почему́ он изуча́ет ру́ccкий
27
Unit 2: We are studying Russian
1221 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1221 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 3922
язы́ к. «B Москве́ на́до говори́ть по-ру́с ски», – ду́мает он. Коне́чно, на́до мно́го рабо́тать, чита́ть ру́сские газе́ты, журна́лы, слу́шать ра́дио. Ка́ждое у́тро Пи́тер слу́шает моско́вcкое ра́дио и ка́ждый ве́чер смо́трит ру́сский телеви́зор. Он уже́ немно́го понима́ет и говори́т по-ру́сски. Он ча́сто чита́ет люби́мый журна́л «Огонёк». Журна́л «Огонёк» и гaзе́та «Моско́вские но́вости» о́чень попyля́рные.
1 Where does Peter normally work? 2 What does Peterʼs company make? 3 What is Peterʼs favourite magazine?
Слова́рь – Vocabulary вот почему́ газе́та говори́ть II (говор||ю́ , -и́шь) де́л ать I би́знес (де́лa||ю, -ешь) ду́мать I (ду́ма||ю, -ешь) здесь знать I (зна ||́ ю, -ешь) изуча́ть I (изуча ||́ ю, -ешь) ка́ждый ве́чер ка́ждое у́тро компью́ терная програ́мма люби́м||ый, -ая, -ое, -ые мно́го мо́жно на́до немно́го но́вость (f ) отли́чн||ый, -ая, -ое, -ые
that is why newspaper to speak, say to do business to think here to know to study every evening every morning computer programme favourite a lot it is possible it is necessary a little news excellent
понима́ть I to understand (понима́||ю, -ешь) популя́рн||ый, popular -ая, -ое,-ые потому́ что because рабо́тaть I to work (рабо́та||ю, -ешь) слу́шать I to listen to ра́дио(n indecl ) the radio (слу́ша||ю,-ешь) смотре́ть II to watch телеви́зор television (смотр||ю́ ,-ишь) специали́ст specialist тепе́рь now тру́дно it is difficult тру́дн||ый, difficult -ая, -ое, -ые уже́ already фи́рма firm, company ча́сто often чита́ть I to read (чита́||ю, -ешь) что what, that язы́ к language
Unit 2: Изуча́ем ру́сский язы́ к
28
Language in action Сде́лай вы́ бор – Make a choice 1 Пи́тер Грин (музыка́нт, спортсме́н, тури́ст, бизнесме́н). 2 Фи́рма, где он рабо́тает, де́лает (телефо́ны, телеви́зоры, ра́дио, компью́ терные програ́ммы). 3 Пи́тер изуча́ет ру́сский язы́ к, потому́ что (ру́сский язы́ к интере́сный, в Москве́ на́до говори́ть по-ру́сски). 4 Пи́тер чита́е т журна́л (Спорт, Моско́в ский би́знес, Огонёк).
Question words: кто – who? что – what? где – where? как – how? почему́ – why? како́й, кака́я, каки́е – what kind?
Вопро́сы – Questions Firstly based on the text above: 1 2 3 4
Где Пи́ тер рабо́тает в Москве́? Что он изуча́ ет? Почему́ он изуча́ет ру́ с ский язы́ к? Как он изуча́ ет ру́сский язы́ к?
And now about yourself: 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Почему́ вы изуча́ете ру́сский язы́ к? Как вы изуча́ете ру́сский язы́ к? Вы чита́ ете ру́сские газе́т ы (журна́лы)? Како́ й ваш люби́мый ру́сский (англи́йский) журна́л? Вы смо́ трите ру́сский (англи́йский) телеви́зор? Кака́я ва́ша люби́мая ру́сская (англи́йская) програ́мма? Каки́е но́вости вы смо́трите (ру́сские, англи́йские)?
29
Unit 2: We are studying Russian
Диало́г 1 – Dialogue 1 Я программи́ст I am a computer programmer (CD1; 15)
Peter gets into conversation with a Russian who asks him questions about his job. Ру́сский: Извини́ те, вы англи́йский бизнесме́н? А кака́я ва́ша специа́льность? Пи́тер: Я программи́ст. Ру́сский: А что де́ лает программи́ст? Пи́т ер: Я де́лаю компью́ терные програ́ммы. Русский: Э´то тру́дная рабо́та? Пи́тер: Тру́дная, но интере́сная. Ру́сский: А где ва́ша фи́рма? Пи́тер: Наш гла́ вный о́фис в Ло́ндоне, а в Москве́ на Арба́те наш филиа́л.
Слова́рь – Vocabulary Извини́те! программи́ст
Excuse me! computer programmer специа́льность specialism (f )
наш, на́ша, на́ше гла́вный о́ фис филиа́л
our main office branch
Диало́г 2 – Dialogue 2 Я говорю́ по-ру́сски I speak Russian
(CD1; 16)
A fellow guest in the hotel is surprised to see Peter watching Russian television. Peter explains that itʼs excellent practice if you are studying Russian. – До́брый ве́чер! – До́брый ве́чер!
Unit 2: Изуча́ем ру́сский язы́ к
30
– – – – – – – – – –
Что вы де́лаете? Я смотрю́ телеви́зор. Вы зна́ете ру́сский язы́ к? Я немно́го говорю́ по-ру́сски. Интере́сно смотре́ть телеви́зор? Смотре́ть интере́сно, но понима́ть тру́дно! Ру́сские говоря́т о́чень бы́ стро! A кака́я э́то програ́мма? Э´то но́вости. Ру́сские но́вости? Интере́сно смотре́ть но́вости? Да, о́чень интере́сно. И зна́ете, э́то – отли́чная пра́ктика.
Слова́рь – Vocabulary До́брый ве́чер! Good evening! бы́ стро quickly
отли́чная пра́ктика
excellent practice
Which of the above is a newspaper and which a magazine?
Nationalities – национа́льности Aнглича́нин, англича́нка Aмерика́нец, америка́нка Испа́нец, испа́нка Не́мец, не́мка Pу́сский, ру́сская Францу́з, францу́женка
English(man, woman) American (man, woman) Spaniard (man, woman) German (man, woman) Russian (man, woman) French(man, woman)
31
Unit 2: We are studying Russian
1221 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1221 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 3922
Упражне́ние 1 – Exercise 1 Complete the sentences by specifying the personʼs nationality: For example :
Джон говори́т пo-англи́йски, потому́ что он . . . aнглича́нин. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Мэ́ ри говори́т по-англи́йски, потому́ что онá . . . Ива́ н говори́т по-ру́сски, потому́ что он . . . Та́ ня говори́т по-ру́сски, потому́ что она́ . . . Мари́ я говори́т по-испа́нски, потому́ что она́ . . . Хосе́ говори́т по-испа́нски, потому́ что он . . . Хе́льмут говори́т по-неме́цки, потому́ что он . . . Ха́ нна говори́т по-неме́цки, потому́ что она́ . . . Жан говори́т по-францу́зски, потому́ что он . . . Симо́ на говори́т по-францу́зски, потому́ что она́ . . .
Learn to speak languages францу́зский язы́ к (French), испа́нский язы́ к (Spanish), неме́ц кий язы́ к (German) говори́ть
по-ру́ сски по-англи́йски по-францу́зски по-испа́нски по-неме́цки
to speak (in) English (in) French (in) Spanish (in) German
(in) Russian
Упражне́ние 2 – Exercise 2 Complete the sentences: For example :
Ми́ша ру́ с ский студе́нт. Он . . . зна́ет ру́с ский язы́ к и говори́т пo-ру́сски. 1 Мэ́ ри англи́йская студе́нтка. Она́ . . . 2 А́нна францу́зская студе́нтка. Она́ . . . 3 Ге́льмут неме́цкий инжене́р. Он . . .
Unit 2: Изуча́ем ру́сский язы́ к
32
4 Та́ ня и Ива́н ру́сские студе́нты. Они́ . . . 5 Мари́ я испа́нская тури́стка. Она́ . . . 6 Мы англи́ йские бизнесме́ны. Мы . . .
Грамма́тика – Grammar Personal pronouns The personal pronouns in Russian are as follows:
я ты он oна́ оно́ мы вы они́
I you he it she it it we you they
(familiar singular) (male people and animals) (masculine inanimate nouns) (female people and animals) (feminine inanimate nouns) (neuter nouns only) (polite singular and familiar/polite plural) (all genders, animate and inanimate)
Note the two forms of ʻyouʼ. Ты is only used when talking to one person with whom you are on informal terms, the equivalent of ʻtuʼ in French. Вы is used both for the plural and when talking to one person with whom you are on polite terms. Even when addressing one person, verbs used with вы are always plural.
Spelling rule It is a rule of spelling in Russian that the letter ы may never follow the letters г, к, x, ж, ч, ш, щ. Instead the letter и is written.
Plural of nouns The usual nominative plural ending for masculine nouns ending in a consonant and feminine nouns ending in -a is -ы. If, however, that consonant or the letter preceding the -a is г, к, x, ж, ч, ш or щ then the ending will be -и: жуpна́л – жуpна́лы and газе́та – газе́ты, but