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CHAPTER 12

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5 =L (Russian from Scratch) 212
CHAPTER TWELVE - BEHAHATAR IHABA
EDUCATION - OBPA3OBAHHE
In Chapter Twelve you will learn how to do the following:
1. to understand school and university timetables
2. to fill in and interpret forms relating to education
3. to express precise time using dates and years
You will learn the following points of grammar:
1. the genitive case with dates
2. the prepositional plural of nouns and adjectives
3. the genitive plural of nouns and adjectives
Activity One - Hepnoe sa(anne
Reading Nina Gamelgaard is a Danish student who is studying Russian (as a foreign
language) and Linguistics at a Russian University. Look at her timetable below and answer
the questions on the Iollowing page.
H O H L , L I H H K L T B L P I
1 nc1on |I| 1 a:ionona eni
2 nc1on |I| 2 a:ionona eni
3 cnn1axcnc 3 aynonanne
4 cnn1axcnc 4 aynonanne
5 neeno 5 conexennin yccxnn :ix
6 neeno 6 conexennin yccxnn :ix
B T O P H H K H T H H J A
1 anan: 1exc1a 1 n1ea1ya |I|
2 anan: 1exc1a 2 n1ea1ya |I|
3 cexan1nxa 3 nc1on yccxoio :ixa
4 cexan1nxa 4 nc1on yccxoio :ixa
5 c1anoneenne 5 c1nnc1nxa
6 c1anoneenne 6 c1nnc1nxa
C P L , A C V I I O T A
1 naixa1nxa 1 n1ea1ya |II|
2 naixa1nxa 2 n1ea1ya |II|
3 iaxxa1nxa 3
4 iaxxa1nxa 4
5 nc1on |II| 5
6 nc1on |II| 6
cnn1axcnc syntax c1anoneenne background (country) conexennin modern
neeno translation studies n1ea1ya literature
anan: textual a:ionona eni spoken language nc1on yccxoio history oI
1exc1a analysis naixa1nxa pragmatics :ixa Russian
cexan1nxa semantics aynonanne listening (comprehension) c1nnc1nxa stylistics
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1. Koia y nee cexan1nxa' V nee cexan1nxa no n1onnx.
2. Koia y nee nc1on'
3. Koia y nee iaxxa1nxa'
4. Koia y nee n1ea1ya'
5. Koia y nee c1nnc1nxa'
6. Kaxne nexe1i y nee n cy66o1y' B cy66o1y y nee
7. Kaxne nexe1i y nee n cey'
8. Kaxne nexe1i y nee n n1nnny'
9. Kaxne nexe1i y nee n ne1nei'
10. Kaxne nexe1i y nee no n1onnx'
Activity Two - B1opoe sa(anne
Speaking Pairwork. One of you asks questions about Nina`s timetable (such as
Koia y 1e6 ...' or Kaxne nexe1i y 1e6 n ...') and the other replies as if you
were Nina Gamelgaard. When you have asked Iive questions, reverse the roles.
Activity Three - Tpe1te sa(anne
Speaking/Writing Pairwork. Eirst, you should run through the following questions
on student life with your partner, then you should write a brief description of student life.
1,. :z 4nnz.x" Where do vou go to universitv? (literally:
Where do vou studv?)
ynyci n Byinexexn1oncxox I go to (i.e. study at) the University of
ynnnecn1e1e. Wolverhampton.
1u kuku: k.. :z 4nnz.x" Which vear are vou in? (literally: On which
{1u kuku: :z k..") course are vou?)
na nenox/n1oox/1e1iex xyce. I am in my first/second/third year.
:ku.zku ..: Juk ,u..u :z ,..z How manv vears / How long have vou been
4nnz.x" (studving) here?
:eci ynyci ... onn xecn, na/1n/ I`ve been here ... one month, two/three/
ne1ie xecna, n1i > onnnana1i xecnen four months, five > eleven months
... onn io, no1oa/na/1n/ne1ie ... one year, one and a half/two/three/four
ioa, n1i > onnnana1i e1. years, five > eleven years.
Jukn. u.,:.:z :z n4u.nz" Which subects do vou studv?
:u :z 4nnz s nns..n:.:." What do vou studv at universitv?
n:ynan/yny ... ( acc) I study ...
Jukn. :.0x unx:nx s uun.,..znnksu What classes do vou have on Mondav/
s:unnk/s ..,/4.:s../ux:nn" Tuesdav/Wednesdav/Thursdav/Fridav?
B noneeinnx/no n1onnx y xen ... On Monday/on Tuesday I have ...
:ku.zku ..: :z 0,.nz n4u:z ..knn How manv vears will vou studv Russian/
xzk/qun.knn xzk/n.:.knn xzk" French/German?
6yy n:yna1i yccxnn :ix onn io, I will study Russian for one year, two/
no1oa/na/1n/ne1ie ioa, n1i e1. three/four years, five years.
Jukun :sun .a0n:zn u.,:.:" Which is vour favourite subfect?
Mon n6nxin nexe1 ... My favourite subject is ...
Jukn. xzkn {ku:. ..ku.u) :z Which languages (apart from Russian)
n4u.nz" do vou studv?
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1axe n:ynan ncnancxnn :ix/ I also study Spanish/French/German/
]anny:cxnn :ix/nexenxnn :ix/ Italian.
n1aincxnn :ix.
Jukun xzk :.0. 0u.zn. s...u nusn:.x" Which language do vou like most of all?
Mne 6oime nceio nann1c ... I like ... most of all.
J.0. nusn:.x .:,.n4..kux xnnz" Do vou like student life?
He1, xne (concex) ne nann1c No, I do not like student life (at all) /
c1yennecxa n:ni / ,a, xne (oneni) Yes, I (very much) like student life.
nann1c c1yennecxa n:ni.
Activity Four - He1np1oe sa(anne
Speaking Role-play. You play the part of A and your partner plays the role of B, then
reverse the roles. (You should use the informal mode of address in the first dialogue and the
ni form in the second dialogue.)
A B
1. Ask your partner where he/she goes to Reply appropriately.
university.
Ask him/her which year he/she is in. Give your year oI study.
Eind out what classes he/she has today. Tell him/her what classes you have.
Ask him/her what his/her Iavourite subject is. State your Iavourite subject.
Ask him/her iI he/she likes Russian. Reply appropriately.
Enquire about the other languages he/she studies. State which other languages you study, iI any.
2. Introduce yourselI. Say that you are pleased to meet him/her and Iind
out what he/she does (e.g. xex ni a6o1ae1e').
Say that you do not work - you are a student. Ask where he/she studies.
Reply appropriately. Ask him/her which subjects he/she studies.
Tell him/her which subjects you study. Eind out iI he/she likes student liIe.
Tell him/her what you think oI student liIe. Establish whether he/she has to do a lot oI studying
in the library (e.g. ni xnoio :annxae1eci ...').
Reply appropriately
Activity Five - Hn1oe sa(anne
Reading/Writing Complete Marina`s school timetable on the following page based
on the information which she provides below. (Note that the word yox is used of lessons in
school, while :an1ne or, of course, exnn is preferred for classes in higher education.
The homework, oxamnee :aanne, is already filled in for you.)
1. B1oon yox n noneeinnx - xy:ixa.
2. Ceixon n nocixon yoxn n noneeinnx - ieoia]n.
3. Bo n1onnx y xen xa1exa1nxa, yccxnn :ix (ne1ne1in yox), enin,
6nooin n aninncxnn :ix.
4. B1oon yox n cey - xy:ixa. e1ne1in yox n cey - oxonoc1no.
Ho1ox y xen na yoxa nconann, a1nncxnn :ix n ]n:nxa.
5. B ne1nei 1e1nn n ne1ne1in yoxn - nc1on. Bocixon yox - oxonoc1no.
6. B n1nnny nenin yox - enin, n1oon yox - xnxn, 1e1nn yox -
yccxnn :ix n yox n onnnana1i nacon - ]n:nxa. ,na nocennx yoxa n
n1nnny - nc1on.
yox lesson oxonoc1no home economics a1nncxnn :ix Latin
enin religious studies nconanne drawing, art nocennn last, Iinal
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mKOIHOL PACHHCAHHL MAPHHL mLBLHKO
H O H L , L I H H K L T B L P I
1 6nooin 1 aninncxnn :ix
2 2 oxonoc1no
3 aninncxnn :ix 3
4 aninncxnn :ix 4
5 yccxnn :ix 5 ]anny:cxnn :ix
6 yccxnn :ix 6 ]anny:cxnn :ix
7 7 ]n:xyi1ya
8 8
, O M A m H L L 3 A , A H H L , O M A m H L L 3 A , A H H L
i xnxn i ]n:nxa
ii yccxnn :ix ii ]anny:cxnn :ix
iii nc1on iii
B T O P H H K H T H H J A
1 xa1exa1nxa 1
2 xa1exa1nxa 2
3 3
4 4
5 6nooin 5 ieoia]n
6 6nooin 6 ieoia]n
7 aninncxnn :ix 7
8 aninncxnn :ix 8
, O M A m H L L 3 A , A H H L , O M A m H L L 3 A , A H H L
i enin i xa1exa1nxa
ii 6nooin ii ]anny:cxnn :ix
iii aninncxnn :ix iii
C P L , A C V I I O T A
1 ]anny:cxnn :ix 1
2 2
3 nc1on 3
4 4
5 5
6 6
7 a1nncxnn :ix 7
8 8
, O M A m H L L 3 A , A H H L , O M A m H L L 3 A , A H H L
i xa1exa1nxa i
ii a1nncxnn :ix ii
iii ieoia]n iii
Activity Six - mec1oe sa(anne
Speaking Pairwork. When you have filled in the timetable above, one of you should
pretend to be Marina and the other will ask a variety of questions about her timetable (such
as - Koia y 1e6 ...', - Kaxon y 1e6 nenin yox n ...', - Kaxne y 1e6 yoxn n
...', and - Kaxoe y 1e6 oxamnee :aanne na (+ acc) ...'). When you have asked six
or seven questions, reverse the roles.
mxoinoe acnncanne school timetable oxamnee :aanne homework ]n:xyi1ya P. E.
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Activity Seven - Ce(tuoe sa(anne
Reading/Writing Every four or five years an international Russian language
competition for schoolchildren (Meynaona onxnnaa) is held in Moscow. You
have been asked to attend as group leader. Eill in the form below as appropriate.
ML2,VHAPO,HA ACCOJHAJH
HPLHO,ABATLLH PVCCKOIO
3LKA H HTLPATVPL
ML2,VHAPO,HA OHMHHA,A mKOIHHKOB HO
PVCCKOMV 3LKV
A H K L T A P V K O B O , H T L I P V H H L
Oixoxn1e1 xeynaonon onxnnai mxoinnxon nnne1c1nye1 Bame ynac1ne
n xeynaonon onxnnae mxoinnxon no yccxoxy :ixy.
Hocnx :anonn1i anxe1y na yccxox n aninncxox :ixax nena1nixn 6yxnaxn.
1. daxnn, nx __________________________________________________
2. C1ana ________________________________________________________
3. Ho ___________________________________________________________
4. Io oenn __________________________________________________
5. 3nanne, ynena c1eneni ___________________________________________
6. Mec1o a6o1i, onoc1i _______________________________________
7. Honin aec xoecnonennnn (na aninncxox :ixe), 1ee]on
a) cye6nin __________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
6) oxamnnn ___________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
HO,HHCI ___________________________,ATA ________________________
Anxe1y neo6xonxo nnca1i o 1 xa 1999 i. no aecy:
Poccnncxa deeann, i. Mocxna 117485, y. Boinna, ox 6, Hnc1n1y1
yccxoio :ixa nx. A. C. Hymxnna, Cexe1ana1 MAHP.
2LALM BAM HOBLX VCHLXOB B HPLHO,ABAHHH PVCCKOIO 3LKA!
Oixoxn1e1 Onxnnai
xeynaonin international :anonn1i (II) to Iill in nonnci (I) signature
acconnann association nena1na 6yxna printed letter a1a date
onxnnaa olympiad no sex, gender neo6xonxo ( dat) must, it is
mxoinnx school pupil io oenn year oI birth necessary
anxe1a questionnaire :nanne title nnca1i to send
yxonon1ei (m) leader ynena c1eneni academic degree o ( gen) beIore
oixoxn1e1 organizing xec1o a6o1i place oI work ea1i (I) to wish
committee onoc1i (I) position ycnex(n) success
nnne1c1nona1i to welcome nonin Iull nx(enn) ( gen) named aIter
ynac1ne participation cye6nin/oxa- work/home cexe1ana1 secretariat
nocn1i (II) to ask, request mnnn 1ee]on telephone nenoananne teaching
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O J L H K H (O T M L T K H) - M A R K S
The Russian school system uses Iive grades Ior assessing schoolchildren, which are recorded in the
pupils` notebook/diary or nennnx. The marks are as Iollows: (5) n1exa - o1nnno
(excellent), (4) ne1nexa - xoomo (good), (3) 1onxa - yone1non1eino (satisIactory),
(2) nonxa - neyone1non1eino (unsatisIactory), (1) ennnna - oneni noxo (very
poor). In practice any mark below 4 is considered disappointing and teachers are very reluctant to
give 1 or 2. In some institutes oI higher education (ny:i) the Iourth grade disappears, while
universities Irequently apply just two grades, :ane1 (pass) and ne:ane1 (Iail). The term :ane1
means 'test' and is used in the phrases ca1i :ane1 (to pass a test) and xne noc1annn
:ane1 no ( dat) (I was awarded a pass in ...). Other phrases which you might need to know
include cana1i +x:axen (to take an exam), ca1i +x:axen (to pass an exam) and, purely
theoretically (we hope), ne ca1i +x:axen / nonan1ic na +x:axene (to Iail an
exam). Note that the majority oI the marks in Russia are based on oral assessments rather than on
written examinations.
Activity Eight - Boctuoe sa(anne
Writing Participants in the finals of the Russian language Olympiad are required to
provide a range of personal information (as listed below). Write a brief description of each of
the following pupils, using the vocabulary at the foot of the page, where necessary.
1. Name: Margaret Stephenson 2. Name: Erank Strassberger
Country: Britain Country: Germany
Sex: Eemale Sex: Male
Born: 10th January, 1978* Born: 24th October, 1980*
Place oI birth: Manchester Place oI birth: Bonn
Year: 12 Year: 10
Time spent studying Russian: 4 yrs Time spent studying Russian: 3 yrs
Total no. oI hours: 200 hrs Total no. oI hours: 250 hrs
School: comprehensive School: grammar school
Russian teacher(s): Mr J. Bradbury Russian teacher(s): Herr B. Schmidt
& Mrs N. Krylova
3. Name: Jacqueline Dupont 4. Name: Tadeusz Kolikovsky
Country: Belgium Country: Poland
Sex: Eemale Sex: Male
Born: 15th August, 1979* Born: 30th April, 1981*
Place oI birth: Brussels Place oI birth: Gdansk
Year: 11 Year: 9
Time spent studying Russian: 5 yrs Time spent studying Russian: 2 yrs
Total no. oI hours: 350 hours Total no. oI hours: 280 hrs
School: lycee School: special school
Russian teacher(s): Madame D. Pinot Russian teacher(s): Pan K.
& Monsieur I. Antonov Mularczyk
* Dates are explained in detail Activity 9.
omeopasonarentnax mkona comprehensive xepp Herr maam madam nan pan (Mr`)
rnmnasnx grammar school nnnen lycee mcte monsieur cnenmkona special school
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Activity Nine - enn1oe sa(anne
Writing Using the table below, write down when you and various members of your
family were born.
onc nenoio nna
Mon xy n1ooio ]ena
" 6a1 " 1e1ieio xa1a
" o1en " ne1ne1oio ane
" e(ymxa) " n1oio xa
" " mec1oio nnn
" xy:en* " ceixoio nn
" nexnnnx " nocixoio aniyc1a
" cin " en1oio cen16
" " " ec1oio ox16
" " " onnnana1oio no6
" " " nenana1oio exa6
" " " 1nnana1oio
" " " ne1inana1oio
onaci n1nana1oio
Mo ena " mec1nana1oio
" cec1a " cexnana1oio
" xa1i " nocexnana1oio
" 6a6ymxa " en1nana1oio
" 1e1 " nana1oio
" xy:nna* " nana1i nenoio
" nexnnnna " nana1i n1ooio
" oni " nana1i 1e1ieio
" " " nana1i ne1ne1oio
" " " nana1i n1oio
" " " nana1i mec1oio
" " " nana1i ceixoio
" " " nana1i nocixoio
Mon 6a1i onnci nana1i en1oio
" cec1i " 1nna1oio
" e1n " 1nna1i nenoio
* More commonly, nononin 6a1 and nonona cec1a.
Note that the date (e.g. n1oio) and the month (e.g. xa) are both in the Genitive case. II
a year is speciIied, that too takes the Genitive case (e.g. xon o1en onc 10 nnn, 1951 i.
= ec1oio nnn 1icna en1ico1 n1iec1 nenoio ioa).
on 12th April, 1945 - nenana1oio ane 1icna en1ico1 coox n1oio ioa
on 22nd January, 1950 - nana1i n1ooio nna 1icna en1ico1 n1nec1oio ioa
on 18th March, 1705 - nocexnana1oio xa1a 1icna cexico1 n1oio ioa
on 4th August, 1900 - ne1ne1oio aniyc1a 1icna en1nco1oio ioa
on 30th October, 2000 - 1nna1oio ox16 nyx1icnnoio ioa
xy:en = nononin 6a1 cousin nexnnnx nephew
xy:nna = nonona cec1a cousin nexnnnna niece
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Activity Ten - ecn1oe sa(anne
Speaking Interview other students in the group about their date of birth. In each case
you should ask the question Koia 1i onc/onaci' (Kaxoio nnca (gen)
1i onc/onaci') (On what date were you born?) and you should jot down the
reply which will include the year as well as the date and month.
Activity Eleven - O(nnna(na1oe sa(anne
Listening/Speaking/Writing Listen twice to the following recording in which a young
Russian describes her university course abroad (in German and Spanish) and fill in the miss-
ing details in her timetable below.
H O H L , L I H H K L T B L P I
1 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
6 6
B T O P H H K H T H H J A
1 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
6 6
C P L , A C V I I O T A
1 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
6 6
PVCCKA CHCTLMA OIPA3OBAHH - THE RUSSIAN SYSTEM OF EDUCATION
219
Eormal education in Russia usually begins with the nursery school or kindergarten, e1cxnn ca, at the
age oI 3 or 4. Children then move on to basic eleven-year schooling, onnnana1ne1n mxoa or
cen o6meo6a:ona1eina mxoa, consisting oI three parts, nanaina mxoa (6 - 10),
nenona cen mxoa (11 - 15) and nona cen mxoa (16 - 17). At 15 they receive a
general certiIicate oI (incomplete) secondary education, cnne1eic1no o nenonox cenex
o6a:onannn, and at 17 they are awarded their school-leaving certiIicate, a11ec1a1 :eoc1n.
Nowadays they tend to go on to a xoe, although they Irequently have the choice oI alternative
educational establishments, including technical and vocational schools, such as the HTV |pronounced
n+-1+-y| (no]eccnonaino-1exnnnecxoe ynnnme) or 1exnnxyx. Young people usually take
their higher education entrance exams, nc1ynn1einie +x:axeni, at the age oI 17 and, on successIul
completion oI their degree course at a ny: (H.E. institution), they receive their degree or nnox o
nicmex o6a:onannn. Graduates are called ninycxnnxn while postgraduates are known as
acnnan1i. The main higher education qualiIications are the xanna1cxa c1eneni, roughly
equivalent to a Ph.D., and ox1ocxa c1eneni, eIIectively a post-doctoral degree, which bestows on
scholars the highly prestigious title oI ox1o nayx. The only academic title with even higher status is
axaexnx.

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Activity Twelve - nena(na1oe sa(anne
Reading/Writing Read the following secondary school-leaving certificate
(Cnne1eic1no o nocixne1nex o6a:onannn) which was awarded to a Russian
pupil and answer the questions below.
1. Kax ee :ony1' A ]axnn n o1nec1no'
2. Kax no-yccxn name(s) oI the subjects`'
3. Ie naxon1c ee mxoa'
4. Kaxyn onenxy ona noynna no n1ea1ye'
5. Ho xaxnx nexe1ax ona noynna n1exn'
6. Kaxon :ix ona n:ynaa'
7. Koia Mame nian cnne1eic1no'
8. Kax no-aninncxn nex1o (mxoi)'
9. Kax no-yccxn teachers`'
10. Hn noxomn 1exc1a, neenen1e na yccxnn :ix optional courses`.
a11ec1a1 leaving certiIicate ]n:nnecxa P. E. onenxa no a mark in ...
ocnonnon basic xyi1ya ( dat) ...
o6mnn general (= ]n:xyi1ya) no xaxnx in which
cen mxoa secondary school 1yonoe labour nexe1ax ...' subjects ...?
noynn1i (II) (pI) to receive o6ynenne instruction, nia1i (pI) to issue
nanxenonanne name, title teaching cnne1eic1no certiIicate
aie6a algebra nano law, rights nn noxomn with the
ieoxe1n geometry nneenne n ( acc) introduction to ( gen) help (oI)
nnoc1annin :ix Ioreign language +xonoxnxa economics neenen1e translate
nenenne sketching xnonon world (imperative) s.th. into
n:o6a:n1einoe Iine arts xyoec1nennin art(istic) ( acc) na Russian
ncxycc1no xyi1ya culture yccxnn :ix
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Activity Thirteen - Tnnana1oe :aanne
Reading Match up the educational status of the people on the left with an
appropriate type of institution on the right. Two of the answers are interchangeable.
mxoinnxn yna1c n ynnnmax
c1yen1i " ynnnecn1e1ax
ynennxn " nanainix mxoax
ynamnec " cennx mxoax
PREPOSITIONAL PLURAL OF NOUNS AND AD1ECTIVES
As the above exercise illustrates, the Prepositional plural oI nouns and adjectives in Russian is
very straightIorward. The hard adjective ending is -mx Ior all genders (or -nx where there is a
soIt adjective or the spelling rule applies). The normal noun ending is -ax Ior all genders (or -nx
where the nominative plural is -tn and where the singular noun ends in (i) a soIt sign, (ii) the
vowels -n, -n or soIt -n, or (iii) the vowel -e, except in the combinations -ne and -me, which
have the ending -ax).
GENITIVE PLURAL OF AD1ECTIVES
The Genitive plural oI adjectives is exactly the same as the Prepositional plural oI adjectives,
i.e. -mx or -nx Ior all genders.
Activity Fourteen - He1mpna(na1oe sa(anne
Listening Listen twice to the following dialogue between a young child and her teacher
about the various objects which she has in her bedroom and fill in the gaps in the partial
transcription below.
Vnn1ei - Cxan, noaync1a, Mama, n1o y 1e6 ec1i n xoxna1e'
Vnennna - V xen, ____________, ec1i xona1i, mxa] n iaeo6.
Vnn1ei - A n1o eme'
Vnennna - V xen ____________ xnoio niymex.
Vnn1ei - Kaxne y 1e6 niymxn'
Vnennna - V xen ____________ , xyxi n xamnni.
Vnn1ei - ____________ y 1e6 xyxo'
Vnennna - V xen n1i xyxo n mec1i xamnn.
Vnn1ei - A ____________ y 1e6 ec1i'
Vnennna - ,a, ec1i. V xen cexi ____________ xoxnin1enix ni.
Vnn1ei - Cexi'
Vnennna - ,a, n eme y xen oneni xnoio xnni. ____________ nn 1nna1i.
Vnn1ei - Ti ____________ nn1a1i'
Vnennna - ,a, n6n.
Vnn1ei - A 1e6e nann1c ____________ '
Vnennna - ,a, nann1c. V xen ____________ xacce1 n cexi xoxnax1nix
ncxon. ____________ non-xy:ixy n nian na ____________.
Vnn1ei - Ti xoomo niaemi'
Vnennna - He1, ne oneni. Xo1n1e nocyma1i'
mxoinnx/-nnna schoolchild mxa] cupboard nia1i na ( prep) to play (an
ynennx/-nnna school pupil niymxa toy instrument)
ynamnnc/ student (in trade/ xyxa doll xo1e1i (xony, xonemi, to want,
ynamac vocational school) xoxnin1ena computer xone1, xo1nx, wish
nanaina mxoa junior school nia game xo1n1e, xo11)
ynnnme vocational school xoxnax1nin ncx CD nocyma1i (II) (pI) to listen (to)
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GENITIVE PLURAL OF NOUNS
II you have been especially observant, you will have noticed in this chapter and earlier chapters a number oI endings which
are unIamiliar to you. The principal grammatical Iorm which we have not yet covered is the Genitive plural oI nouns. The
Genitive plural is used (i) to express possession, (ii) aIter numbers (above 4), (iii) aIter expressions oI quantity, (iv) aIter
negatives, and (v) aIter certain prepositions and verbs. There are Iive main endings: (masculine) -on, -en (or -n), -en;
(neuter and Ieminine) zero ending, -en, -nn. Examples which you have already met are marked with an asterisk below.
M (nac) n1i nacon* (add -on)
(inox) y nac ne1 inxon (inox ~ inxon, fleeting vowel)
(o1en) xnoio o1non (o1en ~ o1non, |stressed -en|, fleeting vowel)
(1axnan) ne1 1axnaen (remove -n, add -en)
(6a1) mec1i 6a1ien (iI plural is -i, remove -, add -en)
(nnoc1anen) xao nnoc1annen (nnoc1anen ~ nnoc1annen, |unstressed -en|, fleeting vowel)
(+1a) ec1i +1aen (iI ending is -, -n, -m or -m, add -en)
(y6i) 1icna y6en* (remove -i, add -en)
N (xec1o) xnoio xec1 (remove -o, :ero ending)
(oxno) cexi oxon (oxno ~ oxon, :ero ending, fill vowel -o)
(noe) 6e: noen (remove -e, add -en)
(:anne) xao :annn (remove -e, add -n)
F (xnnia) xnoio xnni* (remove -a, :ero ending)
(xyxa) cexi xyxo* (xyxa ~ xyxo, :ero ending, fill vowel -o)
(niymxa) xnoio niymex* (niymxa ~ niymex, :ero ending, fill vowel -e iI ending is
-xa, -nxa, -mxa, -mxa)
(1e1) y nnx ne1 1e1en (remove -, add -en; colloquially 1e1i)
(ayn1on) n1i ayn1onn (remove -, add -n)
(1e1ai) ne1 1e1aen* (remove -i, add -en)
PL (yci) y neio ne1 ycon (remove -i, add -on)
(nn) xnoio nen (remove -n, add -en)
(6nxn) y xen ne1 6nx (remove -n, :ero ending)
Activity Fifteen - H1nana1oe :aanne
Reading/Speaking Underline every use of the Genitive plural in the following
passage (about shopping for fruit in Russia) and then read the passage in pairs.
Hoxyna1ei - ,an1e, noaync1a, xno iym.
Hoanen - V nac ne1 iym.
Hoxyna1ei - A aneicnni y nac ec1i'
Hoanen - Aneicnnon 1oe ne1.
Hoxyna1ei - A necnxn ec1i'
Hoanen - H necnxon ne1.
Hoxyna1ei - A 6oxn'
Hoanen - 6oxn ec1i.
Hoxyna1ei - ,an1e, noaync1a, noxno 6ox.
Hoanen - Hoaync1a. ,nana1i n1i y6en. 1o eme'
Hoxyna1ei - Cxoixo c1o1 6anani'
Hoanen - Iananon y nac ne1.
Hoxyna1ei - A nxoni'
Hoanen - H nxonon ne1.
Hoxyna1ei - Maia:nn na:inae1c Cynep|pykrt, a y nac nax1nnecxn ne1 ]yx1on.
Hoanen - 1o ni! V nac naxnoio 6oime ]yx1on, nex anime.
inox market noanen/noanmnna shop assistant 6anan banana
nnoc1anen Ioreigner noxyna1ei-nnna) shopper nxon lemon
niymxa toy iyma pear nax1nnecxn practically
yci moustache aneicnn orange n1o ni! what are you saying!
6e: ( gen) without necnx peach naxnoio (before much, Iar, many
nn people noxno halI a kilo comparatives)
6nxn trousers 6oxo (pl 6oxn) apple 6oime more
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Activity Sixteen - mec1nana1oe :aanne
Reading/Writing So Iar we have concentrated on school timetables and on the timetables
oI students who are studying abroad. Higher educational courses Ior Russians studying in Russia,
however, diIIer signiIicantly Irom those illustrated up to now, as shown by Inna Rostovtseva`s
timetable below. Read her timetable careIully and answer the questions on the Iollowing page.
n e x HOHL,LIHHK ay. n e x LTBLPI ay.
09.00 - 10.30 aninncxnn :ix 74 09.00 - 10.00 nexenxnn :ix 106
(iaxxa1nxa) (iaxxa1nxa)
10.30 - 12.00 yccxa 59 10.30 - 12.00 aninncxnn :ix 78
n1ea1ya (a:iono)
12.00 - 13.30 aninncxnn :ix 78 12.00 - 13.30 nc1on ]nooinn 43
(a:iono)
13.30 - 15.00 ]noco]n 45 13.30 - 15.00 aninncxnn :ix 74
(iaxxa1nxa)
n e x BTOPHHK ay. n e x HTHHJA ay.
09.00 - 10.00 nexenxnn :ix 106 09.00 - 10.00 aninncxnn :ix 74
(iaxxa1nxa) (a:iono)
10.30 - 12.00 aninncxnn :ix 72 10.30 - 12.00 yccxa n1ea1ya 59
(]one1nxa)
12.00 - 13.30 o6mee 18 12.00 - 13.30 aninncxnn :ix 74
:ixo:nanne (iaxxa1nxa)
13.30 - 15.00 aninncxnn :ix 74 13.30 - 15.00 nexenxnn :ix 101
(a:iono) (]one1nxa)
n e x CPL,A ay. n e x CVIIOTA ay.
09.00 - 10.00 nexenxnn :ix 107 09.00 - 10.00 nc1on aninncxoio
(a:iono) :ixa 78
10.30 - 12.00 aninncxnn :ix 74 10.30 - 12.00 o6mee :ixo:nanne 18
(iaxxa1nxa)
12.00 - 13.30 :ay6ena 35 12.00 - 13.30
n1ea1ya
13.30 - 15.00 aninncxnn :ix 70 13.30 - 15.00
(c1anoneenne)
Further information about Inna
Hnna na nenox xyce.
Ona ynn1c ... n Tax6oncxox iocyac1nennox ynnnecn1e1e.
(Tambov State University)
... na ]nooinnecxox ]axyi1e1e.
(Eaculty oI Languages and Literatures)
... na o1eennn aninncxoio :ixa n
aninncxon n1ea1yi.
(Department oI English Language and Literature)
Ho1ox ona xone1
ynn1ic n acnnan1ye ... na xa]ee iexancxon ]nooinn.
(Sub-Iaculty oI German Philology)
a:iono conversation :ay6ena Ioreign iocyac1nennin state
]noco]n philosophy n1ea1ya literature ]axyi1e1 Iaculty, school
]one1nxa phonetics ]nooin philology (language o1eenne department, section,
o6mee :ixo- general (adf. ]no- and literature) division
:nanne linguistics oinnecxnn) xa]ea sub-Iaculty
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1. Koia y Hnni yccxa n1ea1ya'
2. Koia y nee nc1on aninncxoio :ixa'
3. Koia y nee nc1on ]nooinn'
4. Koia y nee o6mee :ixo:nanne'
5. Koia y nee ]noco]n'
6. B xaxon ayn1onn* y nee iaxxa1nxa aninncxoio :ixa'
7. B xaxon ayn1onn* y nee ]one1nxa nexenxoio :ixa'
8. B xaxon ayn1onn* y nee nc1on ]nooinn'
9. B xaxon ayn1onn* y nee :ay6ena n1ea1ya'
10. Cxoixo a: n neen y nee :ay6ena n1ea1ya'
11. Cxoixo a: n neen y nee nc1on aninncxoio :ixa'
12. Cxoixo a: n neen y nee iaxxa1nxa aninncxoio :ixa'
13. Cxoixo a: n neen y nee yccxa n1ea1ya'
14. Koia nannnae1c nenoe :an1ne n noneeinnx'
15. Koia nannnae1c 1e1ie :an1ne no n1onnx'
16. Koia xonnae1c n1ooe :an1ne n cy66o1y'
17. Koia xonnae1c ne1ne1oe :an1ne n n1nnny'
18. B xaxox ynnnecn1e1e ona ynn1c'
19. Ha xaxox o1eennn ona ynn1c'
20. Ho xaxoxy :ixy ona cnennan:nye1c'
* Use the adjectival Iorm in your reply (e.g. n coox en1on ayn1onn).
GENITIVE SINGULAR OF NUMBERS
In order to express Irom ... to` with numbers (e.g. she has Philosophy from 13.30 to 15.00 on
Monday), Russian uses the construction c ( gen) ... o ( gen). The Genitive case oI numbers
(used in time expressions) is as Iollows:
c/o naca (colloquially o nacy)
c/o nyx/1ex/ne1iex
c/o n1n/mec1n/cexn/nocixn/en1n/ec1n/onnnana1n/nenana1n
II the minutes are included, the same pattern Iollows; e.g.
c ec1n n1nana1n (Irom 10.15) o 1nnana1n 1nna1n (to 13.30)
c nana1n 1nna1n (Irom 20.30) o nana1n nyx cooxa n1n (to 22.45)
More on higher education...
Each 1-hour session is known in Russian as a naa (i.e. a pair` oI 45-minute classes). Typically
linguists will major in one Ioreign language (English in the case oI Inna) and study a second related
language Ior 3 or 4 years (German in Inna`s case). In their third year they specialize in either
literature or linguistics and they may take up a third language Irom the same sub-Iaculty (e.g. Dutch
or Norwegian). In January and June students have their main assessment period (known as ceccn)
which consists oI 3 or 4 exams (+x:axeni) and 5 or 6 Iormal tests (:ane1i) on specialist
courses (such as pedagogics). In their IiIth year they take their State Examination (in Inna's case
Iocyac1nennin +x:axen no aninncxoxy :ixy, nexenxoxy :ixy n o6mexy
:ixo:nannn) and they also have to complete and deIend a dissertation (which is a process
known as :amn1a nnoxnon a6o1i).
cxoixo a: n ... ( acc) ? how many times per ...? cnennan:nona1ic to specialize in ...
a: time(s); once, one no ... ( dat)
2/3/4 a:a 2/3/4 times naa pair, couple; 1-hour class
5 ~ 20 a: 5 ~ 20 times ceccn examination period
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GRAMMAR
THE PREPOSITIONAL PLURAL
ENDINGS OF NOUNS
There are just two endings Ior nouns in the Prepositional plural, as illustrated below by the use oI the prepositions n, na
and o(). The normal ending is -ax Ior all genders. The ending -nx occurs where the Nominative plural is -tn and where
the singular noun ends in (i) a soIt sign, (ii) the vowels -n, -n or soIt -n (i.e. -n not resulting Irom the spelling rule), or (iii)
the vowel -e, except in the combinations -ne and -me, which have the ending -ax).
ioo n iooax
inox na inxax (fleeting vowel)
o1en o6 o1nax (fleeting vowel)
xec1o n xec1ax
oxno n oxnax (fleeting vowel)
ynnnme n ynnnmax
xnnia n xnniax
xyxa o xyxax
cniae1i o cniae1ax
6nxn na 6nxax
6a1 (pl 6a1i) o 6a1inx
cin (pl cinoni) o cinoninx
no1]ei n no1]enx
o nx
1axnan na 1axnanx
noe n nonx
:anne n :annnx
oni (pl onen) o onenx
nac1i n nac1nx
1e1 o 1e1nx
ayn1on n ayn1onnx
e1n o e1nx
ENDINGS OF AD1ECTIVES
There are just two endings Ior adjectives in the Prepositional plural. The standard adjective ending is -mx Ior all
genders. The ending -nx occurs where there is a soIt adjective or the spelling rule applies, as illustrated below.
nonin n nonmx iooax
c1ain n c1amx xec1ax
conexennin n conexennmx ynnnmax
ioy6on na ioy6mx 1axnax
xaxon' n xaxnx oxnax' (spelling rule)
6oimon n 6oimnx oxax (spelling rule)
cnnnn na cnnnx 6nxax (soft adfective)
ENDINGS OF POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS
xon (pl xon) xonx
1non (pl 1non) 1nonx
eio eio
ee ee
nam (pl namn) namnx
nam (pl namn) namnx
nx nx
cnon (pl cnon) cnonx
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OTHER AD1ECTIVAL FORMS
neci (pl nce) ncex
+1o1 (pl +1n) +1nx
1o1 (pl 1e) 1ex
:naxoxin/:naxoxa :naxoxmx (adfective used as noun)
yccxnn/yccxa yccxnx (adfective used as noun)
nno1noe nno1nmx (adfective used as noun)
Activity Seventeen - Ceuna(na1oe sa(anne
Writing Put the following phrases into the Prepositional plural, using the
preposition provided in brackets.
1. (n) c1aie mxoi
2. (n) 6oimne xaia:nni
3. (na) xon nonie 6nxn
4. (n) yccxne ynnnma
5. (o) namne aninncxne 6a1i
6. on ionon (o) cnon nn1eecnie onen
7. (na) cnnne y6amxn
8. (o) xaenixne e1n
9. (n) 6oimne conexennie ayn1onn
10. (o) eio cxynnie 1e1n
Activity Eighteen - Boceuna(na1oe sa(anne
Writing Translate the following phrases into Russian.
1. in old English towns
2. in big Russian villages (eennn)
3. in the new universities
4. in modern books
5. a play (nieca) about animals (nno1noe)
6. on my dark blue (cnnne) shoes
7. in all our books
8. Turgenev wrote a story (nannca accxa:) about Iathers and sons
9. about my new Erench dolls
10. you will Iind a pen (nanemi ynxy) in all these brieIcases
THE GENITIVE PLURAL
USES
1. To express possession
y:i xonx 6a1ien my brothers` Iriends
na1i xonx cec1e my sisters` dresses
2. After numbers (over 4) and expressions of quantity
n1i c1oon Iive tables
xno 6ox a kilogram oI apples
cxoixo c1yen1on' how many students?
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c1oixo nnoc1annen so many Ioreigners
xao nen Iew people
xnoio y:en many Iriends
3. After negatives
:eci ne1 xainnxon there are no boys here
ne 6io enymex there were no girls
ne nny xamnn (or xamnni) I cannot see the cars
4. For comparison (instead of nex + Nominative)
ona c1ame yinx c1yen1on she is older than the other students
on xooe xonx 6a1ien he is younger than my brothers
5. For animate accusatives (see Chapter Thirteen)
:nan +1nx enmnn I know these women
6. After certain prepositions
6e: omn6ox without mistakes
nxec1o ne6ocxe6on instead oI skyscrapers
noxyi an around the dachas
xonx e1en Ior my children
o xaen up to the brim (literally: the edges`)
(y:na1i) n: ia:e1 (to learn) Irom the newspapers
n:-:a neen Irom behind the doors
n:-:a no6ex because oI the problems
xoo6xa n:-no cniae1 a cigarette packet
xoxe xonx cec1e apart Irom my sisters
nano1nn c1aix :annn opposite the old buildings
oxoo cno1nnnix :aon near the sports halls
aexo o1 6oimnx iooon Iar away Irom the big cities
noce ncex oinx nonn aIter all long wars
no1nn namnx onannn against our expectations
on yna c econ he Iell oII the scaIIolding
cen namnx :naxoxix amongst our acquaintances
y 1nonx on1een at your parents`; your parents have
7. After certain verbs
() ean nax ycnexon I wish you success
ENDINGS
There are Iive main noun endings: (masculine) -on, -en (or -n), -en; (neuter and Ieminine) zero ending, -en,
-nn.
M nac nacon (final consonant)
inox inxon (final consonant, fleeting vowel)
o1en o1non (final stressed -en, fleeting vowel)
1axnan 1axnaen (final -n)
xan xaen (final -n, irregular)
6a1 (pl 6a1i) 6a1ien (nominative plural -i)
cin (pl cinoni) cinonen (irregular nominative plural)
nnoc1anen nnoc1annen (final unstressed en, fleeting vowel)
xecn xecnen (final unstressed n)
+1a +1aen (final -, -n, -m, -m)
nenoana1ei nenoana1een (final -i)
aninnannn aninnan (masculines with final -annn)
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N xec1o xec1 (final -o)
oxno oxon (final -o, fill vowel -o)
nncixo nncex (final -o, fill vowel -e, irregular)
eeno (pl eeni) eenien (nominative plural -i, irregular)
noe noen (final -e)
ynnnme ynnnm (final -nme)
cene ceen (final -e, fill vowel -e, irregular)
:anne :annn (final -ne)
nex nexen (neuters with final -)
F xnnia xnni (final -a)
xyxa xyxo (final -a fill vowel -o)
ena (pl eni) en (final -a, plural mutation -e ~ -e)
cec1a (pl cec1i) cec1e (final -a, plural mutation -e ~ -e, fill
vowel -e)
niymxa niymex (final -xa, -nxa, -mxa, -mxa, fill
vowel -e)
1e1 1e1en (colloquially 1e1i) (final -)
cexi cexen (final stressed -i)
nee neei (final -)
ayn1on ayn1onn (final -n)
1e1ai 1e1aen (final -i)
oni (pl onen) oneen (irregular nominative plural)
PL yci ycon (final -i)
maxxa1i maxxa1 (final -i)
1ycnxn 1ycnxon (final -n)
6nxn 6nx (final -n)
eniin enei (final -n, fill vowel -e, irregular)
nn nen (final -n)
e1n e1en (final -n)
Other Genitive plurals
neonex neonex (after numbers above 4 and necxoixo)
a: a:
coa1 coa1
iaxx iaxx(on)
ia: (pl ia:a) ia:
The Genitive plural oI adjectives is exactly the same as the prepositional plural oI adjectives, i.e. -mx or -nx Ior
all genders.
Activity Nineteen - enn1na(na1oe sa(anne
Writing Put the Iollowing phrases into the Genitive plural.
1. (xoo6xa) nxycnie aninncxne xon]e1i
2. (iynna) xooie yccxne c1yen1i
3. (cxoixo) nannnie nnoc1anni'
4. (y neio xnoio) xoomne y:i
5. (:eci ne1) nonie xamnni
6. (ona xooe) xon 6a1i
7. () nce nn1eecnie nenoana1en
8. (aexo o1) c1aie :ann
9. (xoxe) xon xamne cec1i
10. (cen) 6oia1ie yccxne
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Activity Twenty - ,nana1oe :aanne
Writing Translate the following into Russian.
1. How many Erench dolls?
2. I do not have dark blue trousers.
3. Opposite the new shops.
4. Many American Iriends.
5. Six big red trams.
6. He has no children and no parents.
7. She has six thousand roubles.
8. We bought (xi xynnn) many toys Ior the children.
9. Seventy-Iive thousand people live (nny1) in Lincoln.
10. He wrote (on nannca) the book Ior his (cnon) sons and daughters.
RULES FOR NUMBERS
(y xen) onn (m), ono (n), ona (I) Nominative singular
(y xen) na (m & n), ne (I), 1n, ne1ie Genitive singular
(y xen) n1i ~ nana1i Genitive plural
The system continues thereaIter. Hence, 32 takes the Genitive singular, 35 takes the Genitive
plural, 101 takes the Nominative singular, 213 takes the Genitive plural etc.
(y xen) ne1 Genitive singular or Genitive plural
Activity Twenty-One - ,nana1i nenoe :aanne
Writing Answer the following questions in Russian.
1. Cxoixo y nac 6a1ien'
2. Cxoixo y nac cec1e'
3. Cxoixo y nac :an1nn n noneeinnx'
4. Cxoixo y nac :an1nn n n1nnny'
5. Cxoixo y nac xacce1'
6. Cxoixo y nac xoxnax1nix ncxon'
7. Lc1i n y nac nn ce6e eniin'* Cxoixo'
8. V nac ec1i xen1nie xa1onxn' Cxoixo'
9. Cxoixo y nac nnoc1annix :naxoxix' K1o onn no nannonainoc1n'
10. Cxoixo nen n neee'
11. Cxoixo nen n +1ox ioy'
12. Cxoixo c1yen1on n +1on iynne'
* Do you have money on you?
Activity Twenty-Two na(na1t n1opoe sa(anne
Speaking/Writing Write down six questions beginning with the phrase Cxoixo y
1e6 ... (+ gen) ' and then interview your partner using your own questions.
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Pyccxnn yuennx

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