Grammar 1.1 Flashcards
Cards crafted to test your understanding of lessons 1-5 of Learn Russian on My Slavic Studies.
Translate into Russian:
What is this?
Что это?
This is used when referring to non-animate objects - not humans.
Note: Что это? can also mean what is that? what is it? or even what are these?
-Что это? -Это дерево.
What is this? -It’s a tree.
Note that in Russian, while there is a verb for to be, it is rarely used in the present tense. You’re literally saying what this? what that? or what it?
Translate into Russian:
Who is this?
Кто это?
This is used when referring to living beings - humans, people.
Note: Кто это? can also mean who is it? and who is that?
-Кто это? -Это Павел.
Who is this? -It’s Pavel.
Note that in Russian, while there is a verb for to be, it is rarely used in the present tense. You’re literally saying who this? who that? or who it?
Translate into Russian:
I
я
pronounced: ya
Это я Маркус, твой преподаватель.
It’s me Marcus, your instructor.
Я мужчина.
I’m a man.
Translate into Russian:
you
Depending on who you are addressing, the answer will differ. Use ты [informal] for people you are familiar with. And use вы [formal] for someone you want to show respect to, or when addressing a group of people formally and informally. Sometimes Вы is written to highlight that one person is being addressed formally.
-Кто Вы? -Я Маркус.
-Who are you? -I’m Marcus.
-Кто вы? -Мы Александр и Дария. Мы студенты.
Who are you [guys]? -We’re Aleksandr and Dariya. We’re students.
-Это ты на фото? -Нет, это не я. Это мой брат. Мы похожи друг на друга.
Is that you in the photo? -No, it’s not me, it’s my brother. We look alike.
Translate into Russian:
Russian
the Russian language
русский
русский язык is the full term
This is actually an adjective that can function as a noun.
язык [i-zEEk] means language [means of communication] and also tongue [anatomy].
Русский [язык] прекрасный.
Russian is beautiful.
Translate into Russian:
he
он
This word can also mean it when referring to masculine nouns.
-Кто он по профессии? -Он инженер.
-What does he do? [lit. Who is he by profession?] -He’s an engineer.
Он скромный мужчина.
He’s a modest man.
-Это дом. Он белого цвета.
This is a house. It’s white.
Translate into Russian:
she
она
This word can also mean it when referring to feminine nouns.
-Кто она по профессии? -Она учительница.
-What does she do? [lit. Who is he by profession?] -She’s a school teacher.
Это машина. Она красного цвета.
This is a car. It’s red.
Translate into Russian:
it
оно
This always translates as it but its usage is for neuter nouns.
Это море. Оно большое и глубокое.
This is a sea. It’s large and deep.
Translate into Russian:
This is a red car.
Это красная машина.
In Russian there are no words for a or the.
Depending on context, this sentence could possibly translate as This is the red car.
Translate into Russian:
He’s a tall man.
Он высокий мужчина.
мужчина has a feminine ending, but since it refers to a masculine being, it requires masculine agreement.
высокий means tall and high
Translate into Russian:
She’s a smart woman.
Она умная женщина.
умный means smart, intelligent
Translate into Russian:
This is a green apple.
Это зелёное яблоко.
Translate into Russian:
we
мы
Мы Евгений и Сергей. Мы друзья.
We’re Evgenii and Sergey. We’re friends.
Translate into Russian:
they
они
Это Михайл и Данил. Они мои друзья.
These are Mikhail and Danil. They are my friends.
Это мобильник и ноутбук. Они дорогие.
These are a cell phone and a laptop. They are expensive.
Translate into Russian:
and
и
Это книга и ручка.
These are a book and a pen.
Translate into Russian:
but
а
а can also translate as and, but it highlights a contrast.
а is always preceded by a comma, unless it starts a sentence
Я преподаватель, а вы студенты.
I’m an instructor, and [or: whereas, while] you are students.
Это не ручка, а карандаш.
This is not a pen, but [rather] a pencil.
What is the nominative case’s main function?
The nominative case’s function is to indicate the subject in a sentence.
It answers the questions кто? and что?
Это школа.
[Что это?]
This is a school.
Здесь парк, а там озеро.
[Что здесь, а что там?]
Here’s a park, and there’s a lake.
What are the typical endings for masculine nouns in Russian?
Masculine nouns end in a consonant, the letter й, and occasionally the letter ь.
дом [house], человек [person], трамвай [tram], дождь [rain], год [year], etc.
These nouns can all be substituted with он, when expressing it.
What are the typical endings for feminine nouns in Russian?
Feminine nouns end in vowels -а, -я and occasionally the letter ь.
девочка [girl], книга [book], неделя [week], ванная [bathroom], вещь [thing], etc.
These nouns can all be substituted with она, when expressing it.
What are the typical endings for neuter nouns in Russian?
Neuter nouns end in vowels -о, -е and occasionally -мя.
озеро [lake], окно [window], море [sea], поле [field], время [time], etc.
These nouns can all be substituted with оно, when expressing it.
Translate into Russian:
The instructor is smart and kind.
Преподаватель умный и добрый.
Translate into Russian:
I’m interesting.
for a female
Я интересная.
For a male, it would be Я интересный.
Translate into Russian:
I’m not a student.
Я не студент. [for a male]
Я не студентка. [for a female]
студент usually refers to a college/university student
Negation in Russian is simple - just place не before whatever you want to negate.
Translate into Russian:
or
или
Это магазин или дом?
Is this a store or a house?
Translate into Russian:
but
но
но is always preceded by a comma, unless it starts a sentence
Он добрый, но ленивый.
He’s kind, but lazy.
Translate into Russian:
I’m an engineer. And you?
Use formal you.
Я инженер. А Вы?
In this context, it could also translate as and what about you?
а is used when you want to move on to something else. It’s a good transitional word.
Translate into Russian:
I’m an accountant, and you’re an accountant.
use informal you
Я бухгалтер, и ты бухгалтер.
Translate into Russian:
It’s a pretty, but strange house.
Это красивый, но странный дом.
Translate into Russian:
An apple, a pencil and a book.
Яблоко, карандаш и книга.
Give the plural of:
автобус
автобусы
Masculine nouns add -ы to form the plural.
Give the plural of:
неделя
недели
For feminine nouns ending in -я, replace it with -и to form the plural.
Give the plural of:
карта
карты
For feminine nouns ending in -а, replace it with -ы to form the plural.
Give the plural of:
блюдо
блюда
For neuter nouns ending -о, replace it with -а.
Give the plural of:
поле
поля
For neuter nouns ending -е, replace it with -я. Also, note the stress shift - it has moved to the ending. This is pretty common not only in neuter nouns, but also in nouns of other genders. We’ll explore that issue later on.
Give the plural of:
вещь
вещи
this is a feminine noun
For nouns, masculine and feminine, ending in -ь, replace it with -и. Despite this, you still need to memorize the gender of these nouns for proper adjective agreement and for later declensions [how words change by case].
Give the plural of:
ночь
ночи
this is a feminine noun
For nouns, masculine and feminine, ending in -ь, replace it with -и. Despite this, you still need to memorize the gender of these nouns for proper adjective agreement and for later declensions [how words change by case].
Give the plural of:
словарь
словари
this is a masculine noun; note the stress shift
For nouns, masculine and feminine, ending in -ь, replace it with -и. Despite this, you still need to memorize the gender of these nouns for proper adjective agreement and for later declensions [how words change by case].
Translate into Russian:
There are green fields.
Там зелёные поля.
Remember! While the verb to be exists in Russian, it isn’t always necessary, especially in the present tense.
Translate into Russian:
He’s tall, strong and good-looking.
Он высокий, сильный и красивый.
Surely, with such a phrase, you’ll boost any male’s ego, including mine.
Translate into Russian:
She’s beautiful, smart and kind.
Она красивая, умная и добрая.
The ideal woman, in my view.
Translate into Russian:
Deep seas and high mountains.
Глубокие моря и высокие горы.
In addition to meaning tall, высокий also means high.
Translate into Russian:
She’s interesting, but he’s boring.
Она интересная, а он скучный.
Remember! To make a contrast between people and things, use the conjunction а.
Translate into Russian:
This is a museum. It’s old.
Это музей. Он старый.
Translate into Russian:
This is a book. It’s heavy.
Это книга. Она тяжёлая.
Translate into Russian:
This is a field. It’s large.
Это поле. Оно большое.
Translate into Russian:
I’m a man, and you’re a woman.
use informal you
Я мужчина, а ты женщина.
Translate into Russian:
It’s you and I.
Это ты и я.
Translate into Russian:
Is it a table? -No, it’s not a table. It’s a chair.
-Это стол? -Нет, это не стол. Это стул.
Translate into Russian:
Is it a computer? -Yes, it’s a computer.
-Это компьютер? -Да, это компьютер.
Translate into Russian:
Here are cheap things.
Здесь дешёвые вещи.
Translate into Russian:
Is that rain? -Yes, that’s rain. -And [what about] that?
-Это дождь? -Да, это дождь. -А это?
Translate into Russian:
I’m not an accountant, but rather a journalist.
for a man
Я не бухгалтер, а журналист.
If you wanted to be simple, you could say: Я не бухгалтер. Я журналист.
Translate into Russian:
These are men. They’re tall and strong.
Это мужчины. Они высокие и сильные.
Translate into Russian:
These are women. They’re beautiful and smart.
Это женщины. Они красивые и умные.
Translate into Russian:
This is a difficult question.
Это трудный вопрос.
Translate into Russian:
Math is very boring.
Математика очень скучная.
Translate into Russian:
Languages are very cool.
Языки очень крутые.
крутой, in addition to many other meanings, has the meaning of cool [something or someone that you find fun, impressive].
Он крутой парень, ничего и никого не боится.
He’s a cool guy - fears nothing and no one.
Translate into Russian:
Round windows and square doors.
Круглые окна и квадратные двери.
