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7 Colloquial
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Russian
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 THE COLLOQUIAL SERIES
Series Adviser: Gary King

The following languages are available in the Colloquial series:

Afrikaans German Portuguese of Brazil

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COLLOQUIAL 2s series: The Next Step in Language Learning

Chinese German (forthcoming) Russian

Dutch Italian Spanish
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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.
1221
2
Colloquial
3
4
5
6
Russian
7
8
9
10 The Complete Course
1221
12
for Beginners
13
14
15
16
17
Svetlana le Fleming
18 and Susan E. Kay
19
20
21
22
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24
25
26
27
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3922
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: 978–0–415–46995–1 (pbk)

ISBN13: 978–0–415–48629–3 (audio CDs)
ISBN13: 978–0–415–48628–6 (pack)
ISBN13: 978–0–415–55068–0 (MP3)
ISBN13: 978–0–203–87386–1 (ebk)
ISBN13: 978–1–315–74114–7 (eBook Pack)
1221
2
Contents
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1221 List of abbreviations vii
12
13 Introduction 1
14
Introduction to the Russian language 3
15
16 1 Как вас зову́т? 15
17 Whatʼs your name?
18 2 Изуча́ем ру́сский язы́к 26
19 We are studying Russian
20 3 В гости́нице 39
21 At the hotel
22 4 Типи́чный день 53
23 A typical day
24 5 Семья́ 70
25 Family
26 6 Идём в го́сти 84
27 Visiting friends
28 7 Спорт 103
29 Sport
30 8 Люби́мый о́тдых 119
31 Favourite holidays
32 9 Пра́здники 137
33 Festivals
34 10 Арба́т 153
35 The Arbat
36 11 Как снять кварти́ру в Москве́ 167
37 How to rent a flat in Moscow
38 12 Росси́йские СМИ 187
3922 Russian mass media
vi Contents

13 За поку́пками! 205
Shopping
14 Путеше́ствия 222
Travelling
15 Теа́тр 240
The theatre
16 Здравоохране́ние 262
Health care
17 Петербу́рг 278
St Petersburg
18 Cиби́рь 299
Siberia

Grammar summary 315

Spelling rules · Gender · Declension tables ·
Verbs · Prepositions · Stress

Key to the exercises 339

English–Russian vocabulary 379

Russian–English vocabulary 388

Grammar index 411

Russian index 413

Please email AcademiceBooksSupport@informa.com with proof of purchase to

obtain access to the supplementary content for this eBook. An access code and
instructions will be provided.
1221
2
Abbreviations
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1221 acc accusative
12 adj adjective
13 adv adverb
14 coll colloquial
15 comp comparative
16 dat dative
17 f feminine
18 gen genitive
19 I 1st conjugation verb
20 II 2nd conjugation verb
21 inf infinitive
22 imp imperfective
23 inst instrumental
24 m masculine
25 m indecl indeclinable masculine noun
26 n neuter
27 n indecl indeclinable neuter noun
28 nom nominative
29 p.p. past participle
30 pf perfective
31 pl plural
32 prep prepositional
33 sing singular
34
35
36
37
38
3922
1221
2
Introduction
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1221 Colloquial Russian is intended for students working on their own or
12 with a teacher. It covers the situations, vocabulary and grammar
13 required to take students up to GCSE level and, in the later units, it
14 also includes some of the additional structures required at a more
15 advanced level.
16 Units begin with dialogues and short texts. These introduce all the
17 new structures dealt with in that unit and are followed by lists of new
18 vocabulary. Only the new vocabulary is explained in each unit. There
19 is a cumulative Russian–English vocabulary at the back of the book,
20 but it is important to try to master the vocabulary for each unit before
21 moving on to the next. Each unit, as well as introducing new grammatical
22 structures, also has a theme and teaches the student how to deal with
23 a particular situation or situations in Russian. The English–Russian
24 vocabulary does not contain all the words used in the book. It is
25 intended for use with exercises in the book where you are required to
26 translate into Russian, principally the improvisation exercises.
27 After the dialogue there are communicative and situation-based
28 exercises, which give practice in using and understanding the new
29 vocabulary: multiple-choice questions, questions on the text and related
30 questions directed at the student. Additional short pieces are associated
31 with the theme of the unit, such as forms and questionnaires to com-
32 plete, advertisements, menus, maps and street plans. There are also
33 vocabulary-building exercises. This section is particularly useful for
34 students working towards GCSE, and teachers will find plenty of material
35 for oral and group work. It includes ʻRussian realiaʼ, which are docu-
36 ments drawn from Russian daily life; these may be used as practice
37 for the GCSE reading exercise. You will not find every single word
38 and expression used in these extracts explained in the book. Only
3922 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
Introduction to the
3 Russian language
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1221 The alphabet
12
13 The alphabet used for Russian has many similarities with the Greek
14 alphabet. This is because it was devised by missionaries from the
15 Greek Orthodox Church. If an earlier form of written Russian existed
16 before the conversion to Christianity in the tenth century, it has not
17 been preserved. The alphabet is known as ʻCyrillicʼ in honour of the
18 missionary St Cyril, who was once thought to have invented it.
19 The sounds that the alphabet represents are the same or very
20 similar to sounds that also exist in English.
21
(CD1; 2)
22
23 Russian letter Closest English equivalent
24 1 А а a as in father
25 2 Б б b
26 3 В в v
27 4 Г г g as in girl
28 5 Д д d
29 6 Е е ye as in yes
30
7 Ё ё yo as in yonder
31
8 Ж ж zh/s as in treasure
32
9 З з z
33
10 И и ee as in feet
34
35 11 Й й y as in buy
36 12 К к k
37 13 Л л l
38 14 М м m
3922 15 Н н n
4 Introduction to the Russian language

Russian letter Closest English equivalent

16 О о o as in or
17 П п p
18 Р р r
19 С с s
20 Т т t
21 У у oo as in shoot
22 Ф ф f
23 Х х ch as in loch
24 Ц ц ts as in bits
25 Ч ч ch as in chimp
26 Ш ш sh as in rush
27 Щ щ shsh as in fishshop
28 ъ hard sign
29 ы as in si t
30 ь soft sign
31 Э э e as in ne t
32 Ю ю yu/u as in use
33 Я я ya as in yard

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 English equivalent Practice word Meaning

letter
т t
о as in or
м m том volume (ʻtomeʼ)
 Introduction to the Russian language 5

1221 Russian English equivalent Practice word Meaning

2 letter
3 a a as in father а́том atom
4 p r мото́р motor
5 п p порт port
6 c s спорт sport
7 стоп stop
8 па́спорт passport
9 e ye as in yes метр metre
10
э e as in net э́ра era
1221
к k э́кспорт export
12
орке́стp orchestra
13
н n рестора́н restaurant
14
15 и ee as in fee t и́мпорт import
16 л l ла́мпа lamp
17 киломе́тр kilometre
18 б b бaле́т ballet
19 биле́т ticket
20 д d до́ктор doctor
21 y oo as in shoot тури́ст tourist
22 стyде́нт student
23 ф f футбо́л football
24
фрукт fruit
25
г g грамм gram
26
програ́мма programme
27
килогра́мм kilogram
28
29 з z коммуни́зм communism
30 й y as in buy мyзе́й museum
31 тролле́йбус trolleybus
32 май May
33 мой my
34 ж zh/s as in treasure журна́л journal
35 в v волейбо́л volleyball
36 Во́лга Volga
37 ц ts as in bits центр centre
38
конце́рт concert
3922
6 Introduction to the Russian language

Russian English equivalent Practice word Meaning

letter
ю yu/u as in use ю́мор humour
сюже́т subject
ш sh as in rush шок shock
щ shsh as in fishshop това́рищ comrade
ё yo as in yonder ёлка fir tree
x ch as in loch э́хо echo
я ya as in yard як yak
ы i as in sit му́зыка music
ч ch as in chimp чемпио́н champion
чай tea

nь 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.

nъ 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 7

1221 Stress and vowel reduction

2
Stress marks are used throughout this book to show you which syllable
3
to emphasise in your pronunciation of each word. This phenomenon
4
of stress is not peculiar to Russian. English words also have a stressed
5
syllable. For example, ʻelʼ is pronounced differently in ʻе́ligibleʼ, where
6
it is stressed, and ʻtrа́velʼ, where it is not stressed. In Russian the
7
emphasis on the stressed syllable is even greater than in English. The
8
unstressed syllables, in consequence, suffer greater reduction.
9
10
1221 Reduction of vowels (CD1; 5)
12
Vowels in stressed syllables are pronounced with their full value,
13
normally exactly as they are written. Vowels in unstressed syllables
14
are articulated less strongly and this changes the pronunciation of some
15
vowels quite considerably. For example:
16
17 n Unstressed ‘o’
18
An unstressed ʻoʼ is reduced to either:
19
20 1 a weak ʻaʼ sound if the ʻoʼ is at the beginning of the word or in the
21 syllable immediately before the stress, e.g. объе́кт ʻobjectʼ, мото́p
22 ʻmotorʼ, тролле́йбус ʻtrolleybusʼ
23
or
24
25 2 an even weaker ʻeʼ (as in father) in all other unstressed syllables,
26 e.g. а́том ʻatomʼ, ю́мop ʻhumourʼ, э́хo ʻechoʼ, па́спорт ʻpassportʼ.
27
28 n Unstressed ‘e’ and ‘я’
29 When they are not stressed ʻeʼ and ʻяʼ are usually pronounced more
30 like a weak ʻиʼ, e.g. о́пepa ʻoperaʼ, рecтора́н ʻrestaurantʼ, язы́к
31 ʻlanguageʼ.
32 At the end of a word they often sound more like the ʻeʼ in fathe r,
33 e.g. до́бpоe ʻgoodʼ, фами́лия ʻsurnameʼ.
34 Other vowels are not so greatly affected when they are in unstressed
35 syllables, generally being pronounced like a weak version of them-
36 selves.
37 Because stress can affect the pronunciation of a Russian word to
38 such a significant extent, it is important to adopt good habits from the
3922 very beginning, always making every effort to stress words correctly
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: язы́к 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 double-
length 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 9

1221 Soft consonants (CD1; 7)

2
The effect of a soft sign ь on the consonant that precedes it has already
3
been mentioned. Certain vowels have the same effect. They are e, ё,
4
и, ю, я. Consonants followed by these vowels are pronounced in the
5
same way as consonants followed by a soft sign, i.e. with the middle
6
of the tongue rising towards the roof of the mouth: биле́т.
7
Most Russian consonants have both this soft form and a hard form
8
which is pronounced with the tongue lower in the mouth. The difference
9
in sound is most noticeable with the consonants л and т: журна́л
10
ʻmagazineʼ, стиль ʻstyleʼ, спорт ʻsportʼ, мать ʻmotherʼ.
1221
A small number of Russian consonants have only a hard or only a
12
soft form. Ж, ш and ц are always hard. After them и sounds like ы, е
13
sounds like э and a soft sign ь is ignored: цирк ʻcircusʼ, центр ʻcentreʼ.
14
Ч and щ are always soft and after them a sounds like я and y like
15
ю: чай.
16
17
Consonants at the ends of words (CD1; 8)
18
19 At the end of a word
20
д is pronounced like т: шокола́д ʻchocolateʼ
21
(pronunciation шокола́т)
22
г is pronounced like к: друг ʻfriendʼ
23
(pronunciation друк)
24
в is pronounced like ф: Горбачёв ʻGorbachevʼ
25
(pronunciation Горбaчёф)
26
з is pronounced like c: джаз ʻjazzʼ
27
(pronunciation джас)
28
ж is pronounced like ш: бага́ж ʻluggageʼ
29
(pronunciation бага́ш)
30
б is pronounced like п: гриб ʻmushroomʼ
31
(pronunciation гpип).
32
33 This is because д, г, в, з, ж, б are voiced consonants, i.e. when they
34 are pronounced the vocal chords vibrate. T, к, ф, c, ш, п are voiceless
35 consonants. They are pronounced with exactly the same shaped mouth
36 and tongue position as their voiced partners but without the vibration
37 of the vocal chords. Consonants at the ends of words in Russian are
38 always pronounced as if they are voiceless, irrespective of how they
3922 are written.
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 A a Р р R r
Б б B b С с S s
Β в V v Т т T t
Г г G g У у U u
Д д D d Ф ф F f
Е е E e Х х X x
Ё ё É é Ц ц C c
Ж ж @ ' Ч ч H h
З з Z z Ш ш W w
И и I i Щ щ } ]
Й й J j ъ #
К к K k ы y
Л л L l ь ;
М м M m Э э | \
Н н N n Ю ю { [
Ο о O o Я я Q q
П п P p
 Introduction to the Russian language 11

1221 1 Do not omit the small hook at the beginning of the letters м, л, я:
2
биле́т bilet дя́дя dqdq
3
4
2 Put a line over т and under ш:
5
6 том tom шок wok
7
8 3 The only ʻtallʼ letters are б and в. The letters л, н, к are the same
9 size as the letter a:
10
бaле́т balet волейбо́л volejbol кино́ kino
1221
12
13
14
Practising writing letter by letter
15 Russian letter Practice word
16
Т т T t
17
18 О о O o
19 М м M m том tom
20 А а A a а́том atom
21
Р р R r мото́р motor
22
23 П п P p порт port
24 С с S s спорт sport
25 стоп stop
26
па́спорт pasport
27
Е е E e метр metr
28
29 Э э | \ э́ра \ra
30 К к K k э́кспорт \ksport
31 орке́стр orkestr
32
Н н N n рестора́н restoran
33
34 И и I i и́мпорт import
35 Л л L l ла́мпа lampa
36 киломе́тр kilometr
37
Б б B b бале́т balet
38
3922 биле́т bilet
12 Introduction to the Russian language

Russian letter Practice word

Д д D d до́ктор doktor
У у U u тури́ст turist
студе́нт student
Ф ф F f футбо́л futbol
фрукт frukt
Г г G g грамм gramm
програ́мма programma
килогра́мм kilogramm
З з Z z коммуни́зм kommunizm
Й й J j музе́й muzej
тролле́йбус trollejbus
май maj
мой moj
Ж ж @ ' журна́л 'urnal
В в V v волейбо́л volejbol
Во́лга Volga
Ц ц C c центр centr
конце́рт koncert
Ю ю { [ ю́мор [mor
сюже́т s['et
Ш ш W w шок wok
Щ щ } ] това́рищ tovari]
Ё ё É é ёлка élka
Х х X x э́хо \xo
Я я Q q як qk
ы y му́зыка muzyka
Ч ч H h чемпио́н hempion
чай haj
ь ; стиль stil;
фильм fil;m
ъ # объе́кт ob#ekt
 Introduction to the Russian language 13

1221 Alphabet recognition

2
3 Test your knowledge of the alphabet by trying to work out the meaning
4 of the following words:
5
6 n (a) Sporting terms
7 1 те́ннис 5 матч 9 чемпио́н
8
2 футбо́л 6 гол 10 стадио́н
9
10 3 баскетбо́л 7 фи́ниш 11 атле́тика
1221 4 хокке́й 8 спортсме́н
12
13 n (b) Out and about
14 1 парк 5 кaфе́ 9 банк
15 2 порт 6 университе́т 10 центр
16
3 теа́тр 7 институ́т 11 бульа́р
17
18 4 рeстора́н 8 зоопа́рк
19
20 n (c) Things you might order in a café
21 1 ко́фе 3 во́дка 5 фру́кт
22 2 лимона́д 4 бифште́кс 6 суп
23
24 n (d) Entertainment
25 1 теа́тр 4 бале́т 7 програ́мма
26
2 конце́рт 5 фильм 8 pа́дио
27
28 3 о́пера 6 му́зыка
29
30 n (e) Useful words for a tourist
31 1 па́спорт 4 авто́бус 7 аэропо́рт
32 2 тури́ст 5 тролле́йбус 8 бага́ж
33 3 тра́нспорт 6 тaкси́
34
35 n (f) Cities of the world
36
1 Ло́ндон 4 Нью-Йо́рк 7 Гла́зго
37
38 2 Москва́ 5 Амстерда́м 8 Берли́н
3922 3 Петербу́рг 6 Эдинбу́рг
14 Introduction to the Russian language

n (g) Countries of the world

1 Áнглия 4 Фра́нция 7 Ита́лия
2 Росси́я 5 Герма́ния 8 Шотла́ндия
3 Аме́рикa 6 Австра́лия
1221
2
Unit One
3
4 Kак вас зову́т?
5
6 What’s your name?
7
8
9
10
1221
12 In this unit you will learn how to:
13
14 • identify yourself – your name, nationality, profession and
15 address
16 • ask simple questions
17 • describe things using ʻmyʼ, ʻyourʼ and adjectives
18 • use the prepositional case
19
20
21
22
Диало́г 1 – Dialogue 1
23
24 В самолёте On the plane (CD1; 9)
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
31 Пи́тер: Э́то ру́сский журна́л?
32 Мари́на: Да, ру́сский.
33 Пи́тер: Интере́сный?
34 Мари́на: О́чень интере́сный!
35 Пи́тер: Вы тури́стка?
36 Мари́на: Нет, я не тури́стка. Я студе́нтка.
37 Пи́тер: Студе́нтка в Москве́?
38 Мари́на: Я студе́нтка МГУ. МГУ – э́то Моско́вский
3922 Университе́т. А вы тури́ст?
16 Unit 1: Kак вас зову́т?

Пи́тер: Нет, я не тури́ст. Я бизнесме́н.

Мари́на: Англи́йский бизнесме́н? Э́то ва́ша профе́ссия?
Пи́тер: Нет, я инжене́р. Англи́йский инжене́р – Пи́тер Грин.
Мари́на: О́чень прия́тно!
Пи́тер: А как вас зову́т?
Мари́на: Меня́ зову́т Мари́на Петро́ва.
Пи́тер: Ва́ша фами́лия Петро́ва? Вы ру́сская?
Мари́на: Да, ру́сская, но я не типи́чная ру́сская! Мой оте́ц
ру́сский, а моя́ мать англича́нка. А э́то не о́чень
типи́чно!
Пи́тер: А я типи́чный англича́нин! Мой оте́ц англича́нин, и
моя́ мать англича́нка.

Кремль

Диало́г 2 – Dialogue 2
Вы господи́н Грин? Are you Mr Green? (CD1; 10)
A man meets Peter at the arrivals gate at Moscow airport.

Ивано́в: Здра́вствуйте! Вы господи́н Грин?

Пи́тер: Да, я Пи́тер Грин. До́брое у́тро!
 Unit 1: What’s your name? 17

1221 Ивано́в: Я ваш шофёр, Ивано́в Ива́н Ива́нович!

2 Пи́тер: О́чень прия́тно!
3 Ивано́в: Ваш а́дрес в Москве́ – гости́ница «Марс».
4 Пи́тер: Гости́ница «Марс»? А где гости́ница «Марс»?
5 Ивано́в: Гости́ница «Марс» – в це́нтре. Э́то Тверска́я у́лица –
6 центра́льная у́лица в Москве́. Там Кремль, Кра́сная
7 пло́щадь.
8 Пи́тер: О́чень хорошо́!
9 Ивано́в: А вот и ва́ша маши́на! Пожа́луйста!
10 Пи́тер: Спаси́бо!
1221
12
13 Слова́рь – Vocabulary
14
a and, but мать mother
15
а́дрес address маши́на car
16
англи́йск||ий, English МГУ Moscow State
17
-ая, -ое (Моско́вский University
18 госуда́рственный
англича́н||ин, Englishman
19 (-ка) (English woman) университе́т)
20 аэропо́рт airport мой, моя́, моё my
21 бизнесме́н businessman Моско́вский Moscow
22 университе́т University
в (+ prep) in, at
23 не not
ваш, ва́ша, your
24 ва́ше нет no
25 вот here is оте́ц father
26 вы you о́чень very
27 где where профе́ссия profession
28 господи́н Mr ру́сск||ий, -ая Russian (man),
29 Russian
гости́ница hotel
(woman)
30 да yes
самолёт aeroplane,
31 журна́л magazine airplane
32 и and студе́нт, -ка (male, female)
33 инжене́р engineer student
34 интере́сн||ый, interesting там there
35 -ая, -ое Тверска́я Tverskaya
36 как how у́лица Street
37 Кра́сная Red Square типи́чно itʼs typical
38 пло́щадь (f ) типи́чн||ый, typical
3922 Кремль (m) Kremlin -ая, -ое
18 Unit 1: Kак вас зову́т?

тури́ст, -ка (male, female) центра́льн||ый, central

tourist -ая, -ое
фами́лия surname шофёр driver
хорошо́ it is good э́то this, it
центр centre я I

Как вас зову́т? Whatʼs your name?

Меня́ зову́т . . . My name is. . .
Как ва́ша фами́лия? Whatʼs your surname?
Моя́ фами́лия . . . My surname is . . .
О́чень прия́тно! Pleased to meet you!
Здра́вствуйте! Hello!
До́брое у́тро! Good morning!
Спаси́бо! Thank you!
Пожа́луйста! Please!

N.B. When Russians give their names they often give their surname
first. Peterʼs driver introduces himself as Ивано́в Ива́н Ива́нович.
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 вы́бор – 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 Кремль в Москве́?
2 Пи́тер Грин – англи́йский тури́ст?
3 Пи́тер Грин – ру́сский инжене́р?
4 Петро́ва – ру́сская фами́лия?
 Unit 1: What’s your name? 19

1221 5 Мари́на – тури́стка?

2 6 Мари́на – студе́нтка МГУ?
3
7 Грин – ру́сская фами́лия?
4
5 8 Пи́тер Грин – англича́нин?
6
7 (b) Choose the correct phrase to complete the sentence:
8
1 Пи́тер Грин (англи́йский студе́нт, ру́сcкий бизнесме́н,
9
англи́йский инжене́р).
10
1221 2 Гости́ница «Марс» (в Ло́ндоне, в Москве́, в Кремле́).
12 3 Мари́на Петро́ва (англи́йская тури́стка, ру́сский инжене́р,
13 студе́нтка).
14 4 Грин (англи́йский шофёр, ру́ccкая фами́лия, англи́йская
15 фами́лия).
16 5 МГУ (Моско́вский Кремль, Моско́вский университе́т,
17 моско́вская гости́ницa).
18
6 Мари́на и Пи́тер в (Кремле́, университе́те, Москве́,
19
самолёте).
20
21
22 Вопро́сы – Questions
23
24 Answer the following questions about yourself in Russian. Try to answer
25 in complete sentences:
26 Как вас зову́т?; (to a woman) Вы англича́нка?; (to a man) Вы
27 англича́нин? Вы инжене́р?; (to a woman) Вы студе́нтка?; (to a
28 man) Вы студе́нт? Вы студе́нт(ка) в университе́те? Где ваш
29 университе́т? Ваш oте́ц англича́нин? Ва́ша мать англича́нка?
30
31
32
33
Грамма́тика – Grammar
34
Absence of ‘a’ and ‘the’
35
36 There is no definite article (the word ʻtheʼ) or indefinite article (the words
37 ʻaʼ or ʻanʼ) in Russian. Я инжене́р means either ʻI am an engineerʼ or
38 ʻI am the engineerʼ, and you have to select the appropriate translation
3922 according to the context.
20 Unit 1: Kак вас зову́т?

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 фами́лия.

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.:

Э́то ру́сский журна́л

It is a Russian magazine.

Э́то 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.

Э́то 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:

Э́то ва́ша профе́ссия.

It is your profession.

Э́то ва́ша профе́ссия?

Is it your profession?

Э́то ру́сский журна́л?

Is it a Russian magazine?
 Unit 1: What’s your name? 21

1221 Упражне́ние 1 – Exercise 1

2
3 Using the following words, ask a question and reply in the affirmative.
4 For ехаmрlе:
5 Э́то журна́л? Да, э́то журна́л.
6
7 1 самолёт 5 гости́ница 9 оте́ц
8 2 aэропо́рт 6 Кремль 10 англича́нин
9 3 бизнесме́н 7 Кра́сная пло́щадь 11 ру́сский
10
4 университе́т 8 мать
1221
12
13 Упражне́ние 2 – Exercise 2
14 Using the following pairs of words, ask a question and reply in the
15 negative.
16
17 For example:
18 Э́то Москва́? Нет, э́то нe Москва́, э́то Ло́ндон.
19 1 тури́ст – бизнесме́н
20
2 студе́нт – студе́нтка
21
22 3 Кра́сная пло́щадь – Тверска́я у́лица
23 4 гости́ница – университе́т
24 5 англича́нин – ру́сский
25
26
Gender of nouns
27
28 Russian has three genders: masculine, feminine and neuter. Nouns
29 denoting male people or animals are masculine and those denoting
30 female people or animals are feminine.
31 Unlike English, not all nouns denoting inanimate objects are neuter.
32 Some are masculine and some are feminine. The gender of a noun in
33 Russian can generally be determined by its last letter. Nouns ending
34 in a consonant are masculine: журна́л ʻmagazineʼ; а́дрес ʻaddressʼ.
35 Nouns ending in -a or -я are feminine: фами́лия ʻsurnameʼ;
36 профе́ссия ʻprofessionʼ. Nouns ending in -о are neuter: у́тро ʻmorn-
37 ingʼ. Some nouns ending in -ь are feminine and others are masculine,
38 so their gender has to be learnt: пло́щадь ʻsquareʼ – feminine; кремль
3922 ʻkremlinʼ – masculine.
22 Unit 1: Kак вас зову́т?

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:
Э́то ва́ша фами́лия?
Да, это моя́ фами́лия.
1 маши́на 5 оте́ц
2 журна́л 6 мать
3 гости́ница 7 самолёт
4 а́дрес

Adjectives
All adjectives change their endings according to the gender of the nouns
they are describing: интере́сный журна́л ʻinteresting magazineʼ;
интере́сная 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.
 Unit 1: What’s your name? 23

1221 The word ру́сская as well as being the feminine form of the adjective
2 ʻRussianʼ can also mean ʻa Russian womanʼ. Similarly ру́cский, the
3 masculine form, can also mean ʻa Russian manʼ.
4 In order to translate the adjective in an English expression such as
5 ʻit is good / that is goodʼ Russian uses a form ending in -о: хорошо́.
6 ʻIt (that) is good.ʼ It can also be combined with the word это:
7
Э́то типи́чно.
8
That is typical.
9
10
1221
Упражне́ние 4 – Exercise 4 (CD1; 13)
12 Using the following words with the adjective ру́сский, ask a question
13 and reply in the affirmative.
14
For example:
15
Э́то ру́сская гости́ница?
16
Да, э́то ру́сская гости́ницa.
17
18 1 а́дрес 5 инжене́р
19 2 фами́лия 6 бизнесме́н
20
3 аэропо́рт 7 студе́нтка
21
22 4 самолёт 8 тури́стка
23
24 Упражне́ние 5 – Exercise 5
25
Using the same words, ask a question and reply in the negative
26
replacing ру́сский with aнгли́йский.
27
28 For example:
29 Э́то ру́сская гocти́ница?
30 Нет, э́то англи́йскaя гости́ница.
31
32
Cases
33
34 Russian is a language with a case system. Nouns appear in different
35 cases, indicated by different endings according to the role they fulfil in
36 the sentence. There are six cases in Russian: nominative, accusative,
37 genitive, dative, instrumental, prepositional.
38
3922
24 Unit 1: Kак вас зову́т?

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.
Э́тo 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 це́нтре 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? Тури́ст a Москве́.

1 Ло́ндон 4 центр
2 гости́ница 5 самолёт
3 университе́т
 Unit 1: What’s your name? 25

1221
2 Импровиза́ция – Improvisation
3
4 (CD1; 14)
5 Now itʼs your turn to join in a Russian conversation. Try to convey the
6 sense of the English phrases using the Russian expressions you have
7 learnt in this unit.
8
9 – До́брое у́тро.
10 – Reply by saying ʻgood morningʼ in return.
1221 – Моя́ фами́лия Петро́в. А как ва́ша фами́лия?
12 – Give your surname as Ivanov if you are a man, or Ivanova if you
13 are a woman.
14 – О́чень прия́тно!
15 – Respond by saying ʻpleased to meet youʼ.
16 – Вы ру́сский? (Вы ру́сская?)
17 – Reply, no, you are English.
18 – Ва́ша фами́лия ру́сская?
19 – Say that your father is Russian and your mother is English.
20 – Интере́сно! Вы тури́ст(ка)?
21 – Reply that you are not a tourist but an engineer.
22 – Где ва́ша гости́ница в Москве́?
23 – Tell him that your hotel is in the centre.
24 – В це́нтре? Э́то хорошо́! Кремль и Кра́сная пло́щадь в це́нтре.
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
3922
Unit Two
Изуча́ем 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 компью́терные 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
 Unit 2: We are studying Russian 27

1221 язы́к. «B Москве́ на́до говори́ть по-ру́сски», – ду́мает он.

2 Коне́чно, на́до мно́го рабо́тать, чита́ть ру́сские газе́ты,
3 журна́лы, слу́шать ра́дио. Ка́ждое у́тро Пи́тер слу́шает
4 моско́вcкое ра́дио и ка́ждый ве́чер смо́трит ру́сский телеви́зор.
5 Он уже́ немно́го понима́ет и говори́т по-ру́сски. Он ча́сто чита́ет
6 люби́мый журна́л «Огонёк». Журна́л «Огонёк» и гaзе́та
7 «Моско́вские но́вости» о́чень попyля́рные.
8
9 1 Where does Peter normally work?
10 2 What does Peterʼs company make?
1221 3 What is Peterʼs favourite magazine?
12
13
14 Слова́рь – Vocabulary
15 вот почему́ that is why понима́ть I to understand
16 газе́та newspaper (понима́||ю, -ешь)
17 говори́ть II to speak, say популя́рн||ый, popular
18 (говор||ю́, -и́шь) -ая, -ое,-ые
19 де́лать I би́знес to do business потому́ что because
20 (де́лa||ю, -ешь) рабо́тaть I to work
21 ду́мать I to think (рабо́та||ю,
(ду́ма||ю, -ешь) -ешь)
22
здесь here слу́шать I to listen to
23
знать I to know ра́дио(n indecl) the radio
24 (слу́ша||ю,-ешь)
(зна́||ю, -ешь)
25
изуча́ть I to study смотре́ть II to watch
26 телеви́зор television
(изуча́||ю, -ешь)
27 (смотр||ю́,-ишь)
ка́ждый ве́чер every evening
28 специали́ст specialist
ка́ждое у́тро every morning
29 тепе́рь now
компью́терная computer
30 програ́мма programme тру́дно it is difficult
31 люби́м||ый, favourite тру́дн||ый, difficult
32 -ая, -ое, -ые -ая, -ое, -ые
33 мно́го a lot уже́ already
34 мо́жно it is possible фи́рма firm, company
35 на́до it is necessary ча́сто often
36 немно́го a little чита́ть I to read
37 но́вость (f ) news (чита́||ю, -ешь)
38 отли́чн||ый, excellent что what, that
3922 -ая, -ое, -ые язы́к language
28 Unit 2: Изуча́ем ру́сский язы́к

Language in action
Сде́лай вы́бор – Make a choice
1 Пи́тер Грин (музыка́нт, спортсме́н, тури́ст, бизнесме́н).
2 Фи́рма, где он рабо́тает, де́лает (телефо́ны, телеви́зоры,
ра́дио, компью́терные програ́ммы).
3 Пи́тер изуча́ет ру́сский язы́к, потому́ что (ру́сский язы́к
интере́сный, в Москве́ на́до говори́ть по-ру́сски).
4 Пи́тер чита́ет журна́л (Спорт, Моско́вский 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 Где Пи́тер рабо́тает в Москве́?

2 Что он изуча́ет?
3 Почему́ он изуча́ет ру́сский язы́к?
4 Как он изуча́ет ру́сский язы́к?

And now about yourself:

5 Почему́ вы изуча́ете ру́сский язы́к?

6 Как вы изуча́ете ру́сский язы́к?
7 Вы чита́ете ру́сские газе́ты (журна́лы)?
8 Како́й ваш люби́мый ру́сский (англи́йский) журна́л?
9 Вы смо́трите ру́сский (англи́йский) телеви́зор?
10 Кака́я ва́ша люби́мая ру́сская (англи́йская) програ́мма?
11 Каки́е но́вости вы смо́трите (ру́сские, англи́йские)?
Unit 2: We are studying Russian 29

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: Извини́те, вы англи́йский бизнесме́н? А кака́я ва́ша

специа́льность?
Пи́тер: Я программи́ст.
Ру́сский: А что де́лает программи́ст?
Пи́тер: Я де́лаю компью́терные програ́ммы.
Русский: Э́то тру́дная рабо́та?
Пи́тер: Тру́дная, но интере́сная.
Ру́сский: А где ва́ша фи́рма?
Пи́тер: Наш гла́вный о́фис в Ло́ндоне, а в Москве́ на Арба́те
наш филиа́л.

Слова́рь – Vocabulary
Извини́те! Excuse me! наш, на́ша, our
программи́ст computer на́ше
programmer гла́вный о́фис main office
специа́льность specialism филиа́л branch
(f )

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!
30 Unit 2: Изуча́ем ру́сский язы́к

– Что вы де́лаете?
– Я смотрю́ телеви́зор.
– Вы зна́ете ру́сский язы́к?
– Я немно́го говорю́ по-ру́сски.
– Интере́сно смотре́ть телеви́зор?
– Смотре́ть интере́сно, но понима́ть тру́дно! Ру́сские говоря́т
о́чень бы́стро!
– A кака́я э́то програ́мма?
– Э́то но́вости.
– Ру́сские но́вости? Интере́сно смотре́ть но́вости?
– Да, о́чень интере́сно. И зна́ете, э́то – отли́чная пра́ктика.

Слова́рь – Vocabulary
До́брый ве́чер! Good evening! отли́чная excellent
бы́стро quickly пра́ктика practice

Which of the above is a newspaper and which a magazine?

Nationalities – национа́льности

Aнглича́нин, англича́нка English(man, woman)

Aмерика́нец, америка́нка American (man, woman)
Испа́нец, испа́нка Spaniard (man, woman)
Не́мец, не́мка German (man, woman)
Pу́сский, ру́сская Russian (man, woman)
Францу́з, францу́женка French(man, woman)
 Unit 2: We are studying Russian 31

1221 Упражне́ние 1 – Exercise 1

2
3 Complete the sentences by specifying the personʼs nationality:
4 For example:
5 Джон говори́т пo-англи́йски, потому́ что он . . .
6 aнглича́нин.
7
1 Мэ́ри говори́т по-англи́йски, потому́ что онá . . .
8
9 2 Ива́н говори́т по-ру́сски, потому́ что он . . .
10 3 Та́ня говори́т по-ру́сски, потому́ что она́ . . .
1221 4 Мари́я говори́т по-испа́нски, потому́ что она́ . . .
12 5 Хосе́ говори́т по-испа́нски, потому́ что он . . .
13
6 Хе́льмут говори́т по-неме́цки, потому́ что он . . .
14
15 7 Ха́нна говори́т по-неме́цки, потому́ что она́ . . .
16 8 Жан говори́т по-францу́зски, потому́ что он . . .
17 9 Симо́на говори́т по-францу́зски, потому́ что она́ . . .
18
19
20
Learn to speak languages
21 францу́зский язы́к (French), испа́нский язы́к (Spanish),
22 неме́цкий язы́к (German)
23
говори́ть по-ру́сски to speak (in) Russian
24
по-англи́йски (in) English
25
по-францу́зски (in) French
26
по-испа́нски (in) Spanish
27
по-неме́цки (in) German
28
29
30 Упражне́ние 2 – Exercise 2
31
Complete the sentences:
32
33 For example:
34 Ми́ша ру́сский студе́нт. Он . . . зна́ет ру́сский язы́к и
35 говори́т пo-ру́сски.
36
1 Мэ́ри англи́йская студе́нтка. Она́ . . .
37
38 2 А́нна францу́зская студе́нтка. Она́ . . .
3922 3 Ге́льмут неме́цкий инжене́р. Он . . .
32 Unit 2: Изуча́ем ру́сский язы́к

4 Та́ня и Ива́н ру́сские студе́нты. Они́ . . .

5 Мари́я испа́нская тури́стка. Она́ . . .
6 Мы англи́йские бизнесме́ны. Мы . . .

Грамма́тика – Grammar
Personal pronouns
The personal pronouns in Russian are as follows:

я I
ты you (familiar singular)
он he (male people and animals)
it (masculine inanimate nouns)
oна́ she (female people and animals)
it (feminine inanimate nouns)
оно́ it (neuter nouns only)
мы we
вы you (polite singular and familiar/polite plural)
они́ they (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 con-
sonant 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
 Unit 2: We are studying Russian 33

1221 язы́к – языки́ and тури́стка – тypи́стки. This is because of the

2 spelling rule.
3 Nouns ending in -ь also have their plural in -и: но́вость – но́вости.
4
5 Indeclinable nouns
6
7 Some nouns, usually of foreign origin, never change their endings, even
8 for the plural, and are indicated by the word ʻindeclinableʼ in the
9 dictionary, e.g. pа́диo – ʻradioʼ; метро́ – ʻmetroʼ; кино́ – ʻcinemaʼ.
10
1221 Упражне́ние 3 – Exercise 3 (CD1; 18)
12 Answer the questions using the words in brackets and replacing the
13 nouns with personal pronouns.
14
15 For example:
16 Где Пи́тер Грин? (Москва́) Он в Москве́.
17 1 Где студе́нтка? (университе́т)
18 2 Где тури́ст? (гости́ница)
19 3 Где гости́ница? (центр)
20
4 Где но́вости? (газе́та)
21
22 5 Где студе́нты? (самолёт)
23 6 Где фи́рма? (Ло́ндон)
24 7 Где университе́т? (Ки́ев)
25 8 Где ра́дио? (метро́)
26
27
28
Present tense of verbs
29 Russian verbs follow two main patterns. These are known as the 1st
30 and 2nd conjugations.
31
32 n 1st conjugation (I)
33 Many 1st conjugation verbs have an infinitive ending in -ать, e.g.
34 рабо́тать ʻto workʼ. To form the present tense remove the -ть and
35 add the following endings:
36
я рабо́та-ю мы рабо́та-ем
37
38 ты рабо́та-ешь вы рабо́та-ете
3922 он/она́/оно́ рабо́та-ет они́ рабо́та-ют