CHAPTER 6

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CHAPTER SIX - mECTAR IHABA
I CAN`T HEAR YOU VERY WELL! - BAC HHOXO CHBmHO!
In Chapter Six you will learn how to do the following:
1. to use the telephone
2. to say how old you are
3. to express likes and dislikes (using the verb npann1tcn)
4. to shop for clothes
You will learn the following points of grammar:
1. expressing possession (to have`)
2. the numerals 1,000 +
3. impersonal expressions and the dative case (pronouns and singular nouns)
4. the accusative of adjectives
Activity One - Hepnoe sa(anne
Writing The Russian for a female telephone operator is, as you already know,
1ee]onnc1xa. See how many Russian words you can make in 5 minutes using these
letters. (The letters 1 and e may each appear twice in words.)
Activity Two - B1opoe sa(anne
Reading The words and phrases below are all associated with telephoning. By using
the knowledge of Russian which you have already acquired and a process of deduction, see
if you can identify their meaning from the jumbled-up list of equivalent English terms. (You
will find the answers in the vocabulary section.)
no1a1nnnin 1ee]on, 1ee]onnona1i, 1ee]onn:ann, 1ee]onna c1annn,
ionon1i no 1ee]ony, 1ee]onna 6yxa, an1oxo6ninin ano1ee]on,
1ee]onnin a:iono, xo6ninnx.
to speak on the telephone, portable phone, telephone installation, telephone conversation,
mobile, carphone, telephone booth, to telephone, telephone exchange
Until recently, using the telephone in Russia posed quite a problem and
required both patience and perseverance. It was often difficult to get
through and reception could be very poor. Most long-distance and
international calls on public phones had to be booked in advance at the
central telegraph office (nen1ainin 1eeia]) or a head post-
office (non1ax1). However, the situation has changed for the better in
the last few years. About half the population now has a mobile phone
(xo6ninin 1ee]on or co1onon 1ee]on), and in big cities it is
possible to phone virtually anywhere from a public phone ( 1ee]on-
an1oxa1 or 1axco]on), using coins ( xone1i), a phone card
(1axco]onna nac1nxona xa1onxa) or even a credit card
(xen1na xa1onxa).
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Activity Three - Tpe1te sa(anne
Listening/Reading/Speaking Read and listen to the following text about booking
an international phone call and then take it in turns to play the parts of the speakers.
Tync1(xa) - 3anc1nyn1e. Mono :axa:a1i a:iono c me]]nox*'
Cyamnn - Mono, xonenno. Cxan1e, noaync1a, n xaxon c1ane
naxon1c me]]n'
Tync1(xa) - me]]n naxon1c n Benxo6n1annn, 1o ec1i n Aninn.
Cyamnn - Cennac 6ye1e ionon1i'
Tync1(xa) - ,a, cennac.
Cyamnn - Hoxe a6onen1a, noaync1a.
Tync1(xa) - Hoxe a6onen1a' ne nonnxan.
Cyamnn - Kaxon noxe ni na6nae1e'
Tync1(xa) - A-a-a, cennac non1no. na6nan 269-18-75 (nec1n mec1iec1
en1i - nocexnana1i - cexiec1 n1i).
Cyamnn - A ni ne :nae1e xo iooa'
Tync1(xa) - 3nan. Ko - 0114 (noi - c1o ne1inana1i).
Cyamnn - 3nann1 044-114-269-18-75 (noi coox ne1ie - c1o
ne1inana1i - nec1n mec1iec1 en1i - nocexnana1i -
cexiec1 n1i). Koio ni ni:inae1e'
Tync1(xa) - Lio ]axnn - Aaxc, a nx Knc1o]e.
Cyamnn - Ha cxoixo xnny1'
Tync1(xa) - Ha n1i xnny1, noaync1a.
Cyamnn - H1i xnny1. 51o 115 (c1o n1nana1i) y6en.
Tync1(xa) - Ha1n1i nax'
Cyamnn - ,a, xne.
Tync1(xa) - Hoaync1a. (Hands over the monev)
Cyamnn - Bo1 nama cana. Iyxa noxe n1i. 2n1e, noaync1a, y
1ee]ona.
Tync1(xa) - Cnacn6o.
Cyamnn - ,o cnnann!
* with Sheffield` - you will learn this construction in Chapter 7.
Activity Four - He1np1oe sa(anne
Speaking Pairwork. Using the above dialogue as your model, make up two similar
conversations in a telegraph office, taking the names and telephone numbers of friends or
relatives. (Or if you cannot recall a suitable number, invent friends in, say, Brighton |01273]
and Aberdeen |01224].) Reverse the roles after the first dialogue.
Remember: in Scotland = n Bo1annn, in Wales = n V5ice, in (Northern) Ireland n (Cenenon)
Hannn, in America = n Axenxe, in Canada n Kanae. If a number has five digits, you should split
it up into two elements of three and two (e.g. 45897 458 97) and if it has six digits you should refer to three two-
figure numbers (e.g. 918462 91 84 62).
xono(') one can, can one? nonnxa1i (I) to understand na 5 xnny1 for 5 minutes
:axa:a1i to book na6na1i (I) to dial 115 y6en 115 roubles
a:iono conversation non1no understood na1n1i nax' do I pay you?
c1ana country xo iooa town code xne (dative) (to) me
naxon1c is situated noi = nyi zero, nill cana change
Benxo6n1ann Great Britain :nann1 that`s to say 6yxa booth
1o ec1i i.e. ni:ina1i (I) to call n1e wait
6ye1e ionon1i? will you speak? na cxoixo for how many y 1ee]ona (here:) by the
noxe a6onen1a subscriber `s no. xnny1? minutes? telephone
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Activity Five - Hn1oe sa(anne
Reading/Speaking Read the following statements about prices and write them out in
figures on the products below. Then interview your partner about the prices. (Your question
will, of course, be Cxoixo c1on1 ...' each time.)
1. Bnno c1on1 nec1n coox y6en.
2. To1 c1on1 c1o nenana1i y6en.
3. Ci c1on1 ennoc1o cexi y6en.
4. Mco c1on1 nocexiec1 n1i y6en.
5. Hnno c1on1 nana1i n1i y6en.
6. Xe6 c1on1 mec1i y6en n1iec1 xoneex.
Cardinal numbers (1,000 +)
Below are the numbers from1,000 onwards. (You have already learnt the numbers 1 to 100 in
Chapter Two and 200 to 1,000 in Chapter Eive.) After 10,000 you will recognize the recurring
patterns and forming larger numbers should pose few serious problems.
1, 000 ( ona ) 1ic na 20, 000 nana1i
2, 000 n e 100, 000 c 1 o 1icn
3, 000 1 n 1ic nn 200, 000 ne c 1n
4, 000 ne 1ie 1, 000, 000 ( onn) xnnon*
5, 000 n1i 2, 000, 000 n a
6, 000 mec1i 3, 000, 000 1 n xnnona*
7, 000 c e xi 1icn 4, 000, 000 ne 1ie
8, 000 noc e xi 5, 000, 000 n1i
9, 000 e n1i 20, 000, 000 e c 1i xnnonon
10, 000 e c 1i 100, 000, 000 c 1 o
* The forms xnnon and xnnona equally apply in numbers such as 21,000,000 and 22,000,000.
Activity Six - mec1oe sa(anne
Listening/Writing Listen twice to the following numbers and jot them down in
figures. When you have checked your answers write the numbers out in full in Russian. To
help you, the first one is done for you.
1. 7896 Cexi 1icn nocexico1 ennoc1o mec1i___________________________
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Activity Seven - Ce(tuoe sa(anne
Speaking/Writing Eirst, read out the following telephone numbers in Russian. Then
write them out in full, paying particular attention to spelling. (Remember that seven-digit
numbers split up into three elements of three, two and two |e.g. 579-85-91], that six-digit
numbers split up into three equal elements of two |e.g. 88-17-11] and that five-digit numbers
split up into two elements of three and two |e.g. 338-29].)
1. 998345 4. 728018 7. 9015534 10. 2948670
2. 356729 5. 42217 8. 304066 11. 665941
3. 1076354 6. 601844 9. 85623 12. 5171282
Activity Eight - Boctuoe sa(anne
Listening Listen twice to the following telephone numbers in Russian and write them
down in the spaces provided below. To help you, the first one is done for you.
1. 1845932 4. 7. 10.
2. 5. 8. 11.
3. 6. 9. 12.
Activity Nine - enn1oe sa(anne
Listening/Reading/Speaking Read and listen to the transcript of the following
telephone call and then take it in turns to play the parts of the speakers.
Hnna - Ao!
C1enan - Honocn1e Ha1amy, noaync1a.
Hnna - Bac noxo cimno. Ionon1e ioxne.
C1enan - Ha1amy, noaync1a.
Hnna - Bi, nanenoe, omn6nci noxeox. Kaxon noxe ni
na6nae1e'
C1enan - 79-64-23 (cexiec1 en1i - mec1iec1 ne1ie - nana1i
1n).
Hnna - 51o 79-64-32 (cexiec1 en1i - mec1iec1 ne1ie -
1nna1i na).
C1enan - H:nnnn1e, noaync1a.
Hnna - Hnneio. ,o cnnann.
C1enan - ,o cnnann.
Honocn1e Ha1amy - Accusative case
Remember that the direct object of the verb (i.e. Ha1ama) goes into the Accusative case.
ao! (used on phone) hello! ioxne louder
nonocn1e (imperative) ask for, call naneno(e) probably
nac noxo cimno I can`t hear you ni omn6nci noxeox you`ve got the wrong number
(very) well n:nnnn1e sorry, excuse me
ionon1e (imperative) speak nnneio (here:) it doesn`t matter
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Activity Ten - ecn1oe sa(anne
Listening/Reading/Speaking Read and listen to the transcript of the following
telephone call and then take it in turns to play the parts of the speakers.
C1enan - Ao'
Oiia - nac cyman.
C1enan - 51o Ha1ama'
Oiia - He1, +1o ne Ha1ama.
C1enan - A Ha1amy xono'
Oiia - Ona :eci ye ne nne1. Ho:nonn1e no noxey 15-74-89.
C1enan - Xoomo. 15-74-89. Cnacn6o 6oimoe.
Oiia - Hoaync1a. ,o cnnann.
Activity Eleven - O(nnna(na1oe sa(anne
Listening/Reading/Speaking Listen to the telephone conversation and fill in the gaps
in the partial transcription below. When you are sure that you know all the missing words,
read through the conversation in pairs.
Ha1ama - Ao! Cyman.
C1enan - _______________. 51o 1i, Ha1ama'
Ha1ama - ,a, y 1ee]ona.
C1enan - 51o _______________ C1enan. Hoxnnmi xen'
Ha1ama - Konenno noxnn.
C1enan - cnona n ________________. V 1e6 ec1i cno6onoe nex'
Ha1ama - ,a, ec1i.
C1enan - ,anan nc1e1nxc.
Ha1ama - ,anan. A xoia'
C1enan - ee:___________ y nxoa n Xax Xnc1a Cnacn1e. Ti :naemi,
ie naxon1c Xax Xnc1a Cnacn1e'
Ha1ama - He1, ne_____________.
C1enan - 51o concex nonoe :anne. Tax, ie anime naxonc o1xi1in
6accenn Mocxna.
Ha1ama - ,a, cennac noxnn. ,o _______________!
C1enan - Hoxa!
RUSSIAN TELEPHONE ETIQUETTE
There are many more standard telephone expressions in Russian than in English. When making a call Russians
usually say Ao! (sometimes pronounced Ae!), which may be followed by the name of the town (e.g. Ao!
Mocxna'). The most frequent response is either Ao! or nac cyman, Cyman nac or simply
Cyman (literally: I hear you`). Russians rarely give their names when they pick up the receiver, although if
they expect the call to be for them personally they sometimes reply V 1ee]ona (literally: On/By the phone`).
If they wish to identify themselves they may, of course, use the phrase 51o ionon1 ... (literally: this is ...
speaking`). When the quality of the line is poor, you will often hear Russians remark Bac (or Te6) noxo
cimno or nac (1e6) noxo cimy (I can`t hear you very well).
( nac) cyman yes, speaking cnona again ie naxo- where is ...
xono (nono- can I speak y 1e6 (ec1i) ...' do you have? n1c ...' (situated)?
cn1i) (+ acc) ' to ...? cno6onoe nex spare time concex nonin brand new
ye ne no longer anan nc1e1nxc let`s meet anime previously
no:nonn1e no call (number) xoia (') when (?) naxonc (m) was
noxey ..., ring ... nee: nac in an hour situated
y 1ee]ona speaking y nxoa n ( acc) by the o1xi1in open(-air)
51o ionon1 ... ... speaking entrance to 6accenn swimming-
noxnnmi xen' remember me? Xax Xnc1a Cathedral of pool
noxnn (1e6) I remember you Cnacn1e Christ the o nc1enn till we next
Saviour meet
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XPAM XPHCTA CHACHTL
Activity Twelve - nena(na1oe sa(anne
Listening Listen to the following recordings of Russians stating their age and fill in the
details below. The first one is done for you.
1. Anna Pavlovna 46 6. Viktor Luzhkov
2. Galya 7. Nelya Sergeevna
3. Boris Ivanovich 8. Pyotr
4. Yuri Popov 9. Katya
5. Svetlana 10. Pavel Oblomov
Activity Thirteen - Tnnana1oe :aanne
Reading Look at the picture of the Kuligin family and identify the names and ages of
the family members, using the description below.
noe e1en two children ona a:neena she is divorced e6enox child
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CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE SAVIOUR
In 1931 Stalin decided to destroy one of the most
powerful symbols of Russian Orthodoxy, the
imposing 19th century Cathedral of Christ the
Saviour, situated in the heart of Moscow. In its
place Khrushchev ordered the construction of a
huge open-air heated swimming pool, named
Moskva. In a seemingly extravagant act of
reconciliation with the past, the mayor of
Moscow, Luzhkov, resolved to rebuild the
cathedral on its original site.
51o Kyninni. Bo1 eymxa, Hnan Hanonnn, n 6a6ymxa, Man He1onna.
Lxy nocexiec1 cexi e1, a en nocexiec1 mec1i e1. 51o nx cin, Baenn
Hnanonnn. Lxy mec1iec1 e1. Lio eny :ony1 Lxa1enna. Ln n1iec1 mec1i
e1. V nnx noe e1en, Panca n Hioi. Hx 1nna1i e1 n nana1i en1i
e1. Panca a:neena, n y nee onn e6enox, He1. Lxy n1i e1.


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HOW OLD ARE YOU? CKOIKO TLIL (BAM) LT'
When Russians talk about age they say to me ... years`, to you ... years` etc., which is expressed by use
of the Dative case. You have already met most of the Dative forms of the personal pronouns: to me =
xne, to you = 1e6e or nax (see above), to him = exy, to her en, to them = nx.
Activity Fourteen - He1mpna(na1oe sa(anne
Writing Work out the Russian for the English phrases on the left-hand side by
matching up the ages on the right with the appropriate personal pronouns in the middle. (The
only unfamiliar form is done for you.)
He is eighteen years old Mne nana1i n1i e1
She is eleven years old Te6e en1i e1
You (formal/plural) are thirty-six years old Lxy ennoc1o cexi e1
We are twenty-five years old Ln nocexnana1i e1
They are seventy years old Hax onnnana1i e1
I am ninety-seven years old Bax cexiec1 e1
You (informal) are nine years old Hx 1nna1i mec1i e1
OHH IO
BA/TPH/HETLPE IOA
HRTB > BAHATB HET
The most common form of the word for years` is ue1, as you already know; e.g. Cxoixo 1e6e e1'
(How old are you?) - Mne onnnana1i e1. (I am eleven years old.). However, for reasons which
will become clear later in the course, after the number one you must use the word ro(; e.g. exy onn
io (he is one year old), en nana1i onn io (she is twenty-one years old). After two, three and
four you must use the form ro(a; e.g. exy 1n ioa (he is three years old), en 1nna1i ne1ie
ioa (she is thirty-four years old), nax c1o na ioa (you are a hundred and two years old).
Activity Fifteen - Hn1na(na1oe sa(anne
Speaking Establishing the ages of other students in the class. Every student in the
class should ask every other student his or her age Cxoixo 1e6e e1' or Cxoixo
nax e1' if you wish to be more formal. The student being questioned can either tell the
truth or make up an alternative age. The questioner then has to decide whether the age
suggested is nannino (correct) or nenannino (incorrect). If the questioner guesses
correctly the interviewee will respond 1i nan(a) or, more formally, ni nani (you`re
right), but if he/she gets it wrong, the response will be 1i ne nan(a) or ni ne nani.
If the questioner is right he/she gets a mark, if not, the interviewee gets the mark. However ,
the interviewee will get no marks if the questioner spots a mistake in his/her use of the forms
io, ioa and e1. The winner is the student who emerges with the largest overall number
of marks.
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Activity Sixteen - mec1na(na1oe sa(anne
Speaking Role-play
1. You are on holiday in Moscow and you have fallen ill. You have gone to the
nonxnnnxa (the equivalent of your local medical centre or GP`s surgery) and the re-
ceptionist asks to take down your details. Reverse the roles when you have completed the
scene.
Your role Your partner`s role - the receptionist
Say hello. Respond appropriately. Ask the patient for
his/her name.
State your first name and your surname. Ask the patient what nationality he/she is.
Give your nationality. Ask him/her where he/she is living in Moscow.
Say that you are living in the Hotel Rossiya. Ask him/her how old he/she is.
State your age. Tell the patient to take a seat. ( Can1eci)
Thank the receptionist.
2. You have been asked by the local police to find out some basic information about a
(non English-speaking) Russian tourist who has got lost from his/her party. Reverse the roles
when you have completed the scene.
Your role Russian tourist
Say hello and introduce yourself. Respond appropriately.
Ask the tourist his/her name. Give a suitable Russian name.
Ask him/her where he/she is living. Say in a hostel (o6men1ne) in Enfield.
Ask for his/her age. State your age.
Ask him/her if he/she has a passport. Reply that your passport is in the bus.
Ask if he/she knows London well. Say no.
Tell him/her not to worry. (He 6ecnoxon1eci)
and offer him/her a seat. Express your gratitude.
Activity Seventeen - Ceuna(na1oe sa(anne
Writing Write a short description of your family in Russian, giving their names, ages,
where they live and other relevant information (e.g. their nationality, their interests/hobbies,
their jobs and their place of work).
You may find the phrases below helpful. (Do not worry about the endings and other unfamiliar forms -
they will all be explained at a later stage.)
nany/o1na :ony1 ... (my) father/dad is called ... eio :ony1 ... he is called ...
xaxy/xa1i :ony1 ... (my) mum/mother is called ... ee :ony1 ... she is called ...
xonx on1een :ony1 ... my parents are called ... nx :ony1 ... they are called ...
y xen onn 6a1, y xen I have one brother, 6a1a/xonx my brother/s
na/1n/ne1ie 6a1a two/three/four brothers 6a1ien :ony1 ... is/are called ...
y xen ona cec1a, I have one sister, cec1y/xonx cec1e my sister/s
y xen ne/1n/ne1ie two/three/four sisters :ony1 ... is/are called ...
cec1i
eymxy :ony1 ... (my) grandfather is called ... 6a6ymxy :ony1 ... (my) grandmother is called...
y xen noe/1oe/ I have two/three/
ne1neo e1en four children
cina :ony1 ... (my) son is called ... oni :ony1 ... (my) daughter is called ...
xonx e1en :ony1 ... my children are called ...
nane ... io/ioa/e1 dad is ... years old xaxe ... io/ioa/e1 mum is ... years old
can1eci, noaync1a please take a seat ne 6ecnoxon1eci (imperative) do not worry


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Activity Eighteen - Boceuna(na1oe sa(anne
Listening/Writing As you will have noticed in the exercise above, not only do the
personal pronouns change in the Dative case, but nouns also change their forms. There are
four basic endings: y, -m, -e, -n:
(m) Hnan ~ Hnany, Bacnnn ~ Bacnnn, ynn1ei ~ ynn1en
(f) Anna ~ Anne, 1e1 ~ 1e1e, Man ~ Mann
Listen to the statements about the following people and fill in their ages in the gaps below.
The first one is done for you. When you have completed the listening task, write out the
nominative form of the people mentioned.
1. Cne1ane Hnanonne _____ e1.
2. Ioncy Hnxoaennny _____ e1.
3. C1yen1y _____ e1.
4. C1yen1xe _____ e1.
5. Ia6ymxe _____ e1.
6. Anen Cnoony _____ e1.
7. nxne He1onne _____ e1.
8. Henoana1en _____ e1.
9. Haee Bacnienne _____ e1.
10. Bn1ann ,xn1nennny _____ e1.
Activity Nineteen - enn1na(na1oe sa(anne
Reading The Dative case is also used in a wide range of impersonal expressions,
such as Hnany cxynno - Ivan is bored` (literally: To Ivan it is boring`). (Eor a more
comprehensive list of impersonal expressions, see the Grammar section.)
Bnx1oy xoomo. 3nnane cxynno. deoy neceo.
,enymxe xoono. Hx 1eno. Mainnxy noxo.
Lxy nann1c ioi]. Ln nann1c 1ennnc. He nan1c xon]e1i.
cxynno bored xoono cold (dative) nann1c (+ nom. singular) ... like(s) ( obfect),
neceo happy 1eno warm (dative) nan1c (+ nom. plural) (subfect) please(s) ...
enymxa girl xainnx boy
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Activity Twenty - na(na1oe sa(anne
Listening Listen to the recording in which members of the Petrov family talk about
which drinks they like and dislike and complete the table below. Some of the items are
already filled in. (All the drinks are given in alphabetical order at the foot of the page,
together with other essential vocabulary.)
Name Likes a lot Quite likes Dislikes
Ivan Coffee
Mariya Beer
Yuri Tea
Igor
Alya
Yekaterina
Note: 1oe - also (used when the obfect is the same but the subfect is different); (a) 1axe - also, likewise (broader
usage - can be used when the subfect is the same). See Chapter Thirteen, p. 241.
Activity Twenty-One - na(na1t nepnoe sa(anne
Speaking Now agree upon the choice of six drinks with your partner, but do not tell
each other your order of preference. You should ensure that there is one drink which you like
a great deal, another four which you like to varying degrees (to be listed in declining order of
preference) and a sixth which you positively dislike. Your objective is to try to establish in
the least number of goes possible each other`s order of preference, by asking the ques-
tion Te6e nann1c ...' or Bax nann1c ...', if you wish to be more formal. If you
very much like the drink mentioned you should reply ,a, xne 6oime nceio nann1c
... or ,a, xne oneni nann1c ... and if you strongly dislike the drink mentioned you
reply He1, xne concex ne nann1c ... . Otherwise, you reply in every case ,a,
xne nann1c ..., no xne 6oime nann1c ... and you name the drink which is
next highest on your list. This activity can, of course, be repeated with other subjects such as
different football teams.
Activity Twenty-Two - na(na1t n1opoe sa(anne
Speaking/Writing Answer the following questions in writing, then use the questions
as the basis for interviewing your partner about his/her likes and dislikes.
1. Te6e (Bax) 6oime nann1c nan nn xo]e'
2. Te6e (Bax) nann1c non1nxa'
3. Te6e (Bax) 6oime nann1c ieoia]n nn nc1on'
4. Te6e (Bax) nann1c xaccnnecxa xy:ixa'
5. Te6e (Bax) 6oime nann1c non-xy:ixa nn a:'
6. Te6e (Bax) nann1c ]y16o'
7. Te6e (Bax) nann1c Vnix mexcnn'
8. Kaxon ioo 1e6e (nax) 6oime nceio nann1c'
nnno wine xne 6oime nceio nann1c ... I like ... most of all
xoxa-xoa coca-cola xne 6oime nann1c ... I prefer ... (literally: I like ... more)
xonix cognac xne concex ne nann1c ... I do not like ... at all
nxona lemonade nan tea
nnno beer
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Activity Twenty-Three - na(na1t 1pe1te sa(anne
Reading Logic exercise. Eive schoolchildren (Natasha, Boris, Lyena, Ivan and
Marina) were asked to place Russian, Maths, History, Latin and English in declining order of
preference. They all agreed that thay had one subject which they liked a great deal, one
which they strongly disliked and three which they liked to varying degrees. However ,
remarkably, none of them placed any of the subjects in exactly the same position as any of
the others. Below are the details of their preferences.
Now, by putting the appropriate subjects in the correct squares below, see if you can work
out the order of preference of each of the children. (No.1 represents the children` s favourite
subject, while No.5 is the subject which they liked least of all.)
Remember: strong dislike is expressed by the phrase ... concex ne nann1c ..., while
strong liking is expressed either by ... 6oime nceio nann1c ... or by ... oneni
nann1c ... Note that since none of the children placed a single subject in the same
position as any of the others you should have different subjects in each column, both horizontally
and vertically.
yccxnn :ix Russian (language) a1nncxnn :ix Latin n ... n both ... and
xa1exa1nxa mathematics aninncxnn :ix English nex than
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Ha1ame nann1c aninncxnn :ix, no 6oime nann1c xa1exa1nxa.
Ioncy nann1c nc1on, no 6oime nann1c aninncxnn :ix. ene
nann1c a1nncxnn :ix n oneni nann1c xa1exa1nxa. Hnany concex
ne nann1c xa1exa1nxa, no exy nann1c a1nncxnn :ix. Hnany
1axe oneni nann1c nc1on. Manne nann1c n nc1on, n
xa1exa1nxa, no en concex ne nann1c yccxnn :ix. Ioncy 6oime
nann1c aninncxnn :ix, nex Ha1ame. Ha1ame 6oime nann1c
aninncxnn :ix, nex Hnany. ene concex ne nann1c aninncxnn
:ix. Hnany 6oime nann1c yccxnn :ix, nex a1nncxnn :ix n
6oime nann1c a1nncxnn :ix, nex aninncxnn :ix. ene 6oime
nann1c yccxnn :ix, nex nc1on. Ha1ame 1oe 6oime nann1c
yccxnn :ix, nex nc1on. Manne 6oime nann1c nc1on, nex
xa1exa1nxa, n en nann1c xa1exa1nxa 6oime, nex a1nncxnn :ix.
ene 6oime nann1c a1nncxnn :ix, nex Hnany. Ioncy 6oime
nceio nann1c yccxnn :ix.
Ha1ama Hnan Ionc Manna ena
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Activity Twenty-Four - na(na1t ue1np1oe sa(anne
Listening/Reading/Speaking Read and listen to the following text about shopping
for clothes and then take it in turn to play the parts of the speakers.
Hoanen - 3anc1nyn1e! ex xoiy nax noxoni'
Hoxyna1ei - Hoxan1e, noaync1a, xexonyn manxy.
Hoanen - Hoaync1a.
Hoxyna1ei - Cxoixo ona c1on1'
Hoanen - 580 (n1ico1 nocexiec1) y6en. Hnxei1e.
Hoxyna1ei - Ona xne nenxa. A xenime y nac ec1i'
Hoanen - He1, y nac 1oixo 6oimne a:xei.
Hoxyna1ei - A nenie xoanie nena1xn y nac ec1i'
Hoanen - Bo1, noaync1a. Hocxo1n1e.
Hoxyna1ei - Onn xne xai. Ioimne no a:xey ec1i y nac'
Hoanen - Lc1i. Hnxei1e.
Hoxyna1ei - 51o xaxon a:xe'
Hoanen - Ceixon*.
Hoxyna1ei - Xoomo, onn xne xax a:. Cxoixo onn c1o1'
Hoanen - 320 (1nc1a nana1i) y6en.
Hoxyna1ei - ,an1e, noaync1a, ne nai.
Hoanen - 51o 640 (mec1ico1 coox) y6en
Hoxyna1ei - Cnacn6o. ,o cnnann!
* Ceixon (Seventh) Size 7. Russian sometimes uses ordinal numbers where English uses cardinal numbers.
Activity Twenty-Five - na(na1t nn1oe sa(anne
Speaking You are in a Russian shoe shop and you have seen a pair of black shoes
which you really like. You play the part of the customer and your partner the role of shop
assistant. Reverse roles when you have completed the scene.
Customer Sales assistant
Say hello. Say hello and ask how you may help.
Ask the assistant to show you the black leather Ask the customer what size he/she is.
shoes (1y]n) and say how much you like them.
Say that you are size 37. Say that you only have size 38 and ask the
customer to try them on.
Say that they are big on you. Tell the customer that you have some very
nice shoes in brown (oneni xacnnie
xonnnenie 1y]n), size 37.
Say thank you and ask how much they cost. Say that they cost 980 roubles.
Tell the assistant that you will take them. Say thank you and goodbye.
noanen (noanmnna) shop assistant xoanin leather
noxyna1ei(nnna) customer, shopper nena1xn (sing. nena1xa) gloves
nex xoiy nax noxoni' (how) can I help you? nocxo1n1e (imperative) have a look
noxan1e (imperative) show (me) on(-o, -a, -n) xne it`s (they are) small
xexonon fur xa (-o, -a , -i) on me
manxa hat 6oimnn (-a, -ee, -ne) bigger size (literally:
nnxei1e (imperative) try (it/them) on no a:xey according to si:e)
on(-o, -a, -n) xne it`s (they are) big ec1i y nac' = y nac ec1i' do you have?
nenx (-o, -a, -n) on me on (-o, -a, -n) xne it is (they are) just
xenime smaller, less xax a: right on me
1oixo only, just an1e ne nai I`ll have two pairs
6oimon a:xe large size xonnnenin brown
nenin black 1y]n (sing. 1y]) shoes
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GRAMMAR
EXPRESSING POSSESSION (TO HAVE`)
You have now met the majority of the forms used for expressing possession. As you will have noticed,
there is no verb to have` in Russian. Instead, Russians say y xen (ec1i) ... in my possession (is)
...` (etc.). The full forms are as follows:
y xen (ec1i) I have
y 1e6 ( e c 1i) (informal) you have
(pronounced y ne@o) y neio ( e c 1i) (m & n) he/it has
y nee ( e c 1i) she/it has
y nac ( e c 1i) we have
y nac ( e c 1i) (formal/plural) you have
y nnx ( e c 1i) they have
Use of the word ec1i to denote existence
1) V xoio ec1i xn' V xen ec1i. 2) V xoio :x4'* V xen.
Who has a ball? I do. Who has the ball? I have.
In the first example, the question aims to establish the existence of the ball. In the second example, the
existence is not in doubt - the question seeks merely to identify the location of the ball.
Omission of ec1i with adjectives
The word ec1i is therefore usually omitted in statements where the noun is qualified by an adjective,
since in such cases we tend to be more concerned with the quality of an object than with its existence.
1) V xen ec1i xn. 2) V xen auszn xn.
I have a ball. I have a new ball.
Use of ec1i with adjectives to provide supplementary information
The word ec1i is, however, used with adjectives when their function is merely to provide supplemen-
tary information about an object, (in cases where the existence of the object is already established). By
extension, therefore, ec1i is used when the adjective is seen more or less as an integral part of the
noun.
1) V xen ec1i 0..zn :x4. 2) V xen ec1i :.aan.azn :x4.
I have got a white ball. I have got a tennis ball.
In the first example, the adjective white` merely serves to give us a clearer idea of what the ball looks
like. In the second example, tennis ball` is virtually a single entity.
Use of ec1i in questions
Hence, ec1i is commonly used in questions (even when the noun is qualified by an adjective), since
questions frequently seek to establish the existence, rather than the quality, of an object.
1) V 1e6 J? nonin xn' ,a, J?. 2) V 1e6 auszn xn' ,a, auszn.
Do you have a new ball? Yes, I do. Do you have the new ball? Yes, the new one.
S U M M A R Y O F U S E S
Use ec1i for: Do not use ec1i for:
1) Existence 1) Quality (adjectives)
2) Existence & supplementary information 2) Location
* All italicized words are stressed. We are indebted to Robert L. Baker, who provides a useful summary
of the main points listed here in Russian for Everybody, Sixth Edition, pp. 165 - 166.
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THE DATIVE CASE
SINGULAR ENDINGS OF NOUNS
There are four basic endings for nouns in the Dative case, which are illustrated below by the use of the
preposition x (towards`, to |someone`s place]`) The endings are -y, -m (masculine & neuter) and -e, -n
(feminine).
MASCULINE
nan (doctor) x] nany (|to] the doctor|`s] )
1axnan (tram) x] 1axnan (|towards] the tram)
nenoana1ei (lecturer) x] nenoana1en (|to] the lecturer)
NEUTER
oxno (window) x] oxny (|to] the window)
xoe (sea) x] xon (|towards] the sea)
:anne (building) x] :annn (|towards] the building)
EEMININE
xecec1a (nurse) x] xecec1e (|to] the nurse)
Tan (Tanya) x] Tane (|to] Tanya|`s])
Anin (England) x] Aninn (|towards] England)
nomai (square) x] noman (|towards] the square)
Note: masculine nouns ending in -a or -n (e.g. nana or Ko) are treated the same as feminine
nouns.
Pronouns
Nominative Dative Dative (with prepositions)
x1o( ') xoxy( ') (to/for |etc.] whom?) x/no] xoxy( ')
n1o( ') nexy( ') (to/for |etc.] what?) x/no] nexy( ')
xne (to/for |etc.] me) xo/no] xne
1i 1e 6e (to/for |etc.] you) x/no] 1e 6e
on e xy (to/for |etc.] him) x/no] nexy
ona e n (to/for |etc.] her) x/no] nen
xi nax (to/for |etc.] us) x/no] nax
ni n a x (to/for |etc.] you) x/no] n a x
onn nx (to/for |etc.] them) x/no] nnx
Activity Twenty-Six - ,nana1i mec1oe :aanne
Writing Translate the following phrases into Russian.
1. I am going to the doctor `s.
2. He is going towards the building.
3. We are going to Ivan`s place.
4. She is going towards the park.
5. They are going to Anna Petrovna`s.
6. Are you |1i] going to Boris Petrov`s?
7. I am going to (see) the nurse.
8. Are you |ni] going to Natalya Ivanovna`s?
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MAIN USES OF THE DATIVE CASE
1. Impersonal constructions
Sensations and feelings
xne (etc.) ... xoomo, noxo, ynme, xye, neceo, iyc1no, nn1eecno, cxynno, 1eno, axo,
ymno, xoono, yo6no, c1amno, 1omno
I feel/am (etc.) ... fine, poorly, better, worse, happy, sad, interested, bored, warm, hot, suffocated, cold,
comfortable, terrified, sick
Age
xne (etc.) onn io (nana1i onn io, 1nna1i onn io)
na/1n/ne1ie ioa (nana1i na/1n/ne1ie ioa)
n1i ~ nana1i e1 (nana1i n1i/mec1i/cexi/nocexi/en1i e1)
Note: the form io is used only when the number actually ends in onn (e.g. 21, 31, 41, 81, 101) and the form
ioa is used only when the number actually ends in na/1n/ne1ie (e.g. 22, 32, 43, 73, 104). Hence, I am
eleven` = xne onnnana1i e1 and I am twelve` xne nenana1i e1
Likes and dislikes
xne (etc.) (ne) nann1c ... ( singular subfect - Nominative case) I (do not) like ...
xne (etc.) (ne) nan1c ... ( plural subfect - Nominative case) I (do not) like ...
xne (etc.) 6oime nceio nann1c ... / nan1c ... I like ... most of all
xne (etc.) 6oime nann1c ... / nan1c ... , nex ... I like ... more than ...
xne (etc.) concex ne nann1c ... / nan1c ... I do not like ... at all
Expressions containing verbs
xne (etc.) ne nen1c (, n1o ...) I do not believe it; I cannot believe that ...
xne (etc.) xae1c, n1o ... it seems to me that ...
xne (etc.) nec1on1 ( infinitive) ... I have to ..., I am to ... (i.e. the necessitv awaits me)
xne (etc.) nnxon1c ( infinitive) ... I must ..., I have to ...
xne (etc.) ceye1 ( infinitive) ... I ought to ...
xne (etc.) xone1c ( infinitive) ... I want to ...
Set phrases
xne (etc.) ai, n1o ... I`m sorry that...
xne (etc.) nao ( infinitive) ... I must ..., I have to ...
xne (etc.) nyno ( infinitive) ... I must ..., I have to ...
xne (etc.) nyen ( m. sing. noun - nom.) I need ...
xne (etc.) nyno ( n. sing. noun - nom.) I need ...
xne (etc.) nyna ( f. sing. noun - nom.) I need ...
xne (etc.) nyni ( pl. noun - nom.) I need ...
xne (etc.) noa ( infinitive) ... it is time for me to ...
xne (etc.) nce anno I don`t mind (literally: its all the same to me)
Idiomatic usage (relating to clothes)
on (-o -a,) xne (etc.) ne1 it suits me
onn xne (etc.) ny1 they suit me
on (-a, -o, -n) xne (etc.) nenx (-a, -o, -n ) it is (they are) big on me
on (-a, -o, -n) xne (etc.) xa (-a, -o, -i) it is (they are) small on me
on (-a, -o, -n) xne (etc.) xax a: it is (they are) just right on me
on (-a, -o) xne (etc.) noone1 it will suit me (i.e. meet my requirements)
onn xne (etc.) noony1 they will suit me (i.e. meet my requirements)
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2. To express the indirect object (to` or for`)
The Dative case is used to express to` or for` (with living objects), after verbs such as to give`, to say/
speak`, to write`, to show`, to buy` etc. In these examples the Dative form is known as the Indirect
object.
an1e xne (etc.), noaync1a, ynxy please give the pen to me; please give me the pen
ona xne (etc.) nceia ionon1 ne1 she always says 'no to me; she always tells me 'no
on nnme1 xne (etc.) no-yccxn he writes to me in Russian
noxan1e xne (etc.), noaync1a, xn please show the ball to me; please show me the ball
on xne (etc.) nac1o noxynae1 o:i he often buys roses for me; he often buys me roses
There are many other verbs (which you will meet in later chapters) that also take the Dative case. These
include: nen1i (to believe), :nonn1i (to ring), noxoia1i (to help), no:no1i (to permit, allow),
a:ema1i (to allow), accxa:ina1i (to relate, narrate, tell) and cone1ona1i (to advise).
3. After the prepositions x, no and nonpexn
The prepositions x (to |someone`s place], towards), no (along, according to, by etc.) and, less com-
monly, nonexn (in spite of) are also followed by the Dative case. Several examples of x are given in
the section on singular endings and you have also met no in several set phrases.
ny x nany I am going to the doctor `s
on ne1 xo xne he is coming to my place
xi nex (no nananennn) x naxy we are going towards the park
onn ny1 x 6a6ymxe they are going to grandmother `s
x1o on/a no no]eccnn' what is his/her job? (lit.: who is he/she bv profession?)
x1o on/a no nannonainoc1n' what is his/her nationality (lit.: who is he/she bv
nationalitv?)
on (-a, -o, -n) no a:xey it is (they are) the right size (lit.: it is/thev are according
to si:e)
no:nonn1e no noxey ... ring (number) ..., call (number) ...
+x:axen no ]n:nxe an exam in physics
no ano/1eenn:oy on the radio/television
nn1e no ynne go along the street
no xoexy xnennn in my opinion
nonexn cone1y in spite of advice, despite the advice
Activity Twenty-Seven - na(na1t ce(tuoe sa(anne
Writing Write out the Russian for the following ages, paying particular attention to
the Dative case and the forms ro(, ro(a and ue1.
1. Ivan is 67 years (old)
2. She is 35 years (old)
3. Petya is 2 years (old)
4. I am 44 years (old)
5. Marina Pavlovna is 28 years (old)
6. Eyodor Petrovich Karamzin is 31 years (old)
7. He is 53 years (old)
8. They are 12 years (old)
9. Sergei Alexandrovich is 59 years (old)
10. Grandmother is 91 years (old)
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THE ACCUSATIVE OF AD1ECTIVES
You have already been introduced to the Accusative case of nouns in Chapter Eour and you learnt about the
Nominative forms of adjectives in the previous chapter.
In this chapter you have come across several adjectives in the Accusative case. Masculine and neuter
Accusative adjective endings are usually the same as in the nominative case, but the feminine forms -an and
-nn change to -ym and -mm, respectively.
MASCULINE (no change)
Bo1 xpacnmn n cnnnn nnax. Here is the red and (dark) blue jacket.
Maxa xne noxynae1 xpacnmn n cnnnn nnax. Mum is buying me the red and (dark) blue jacket.
Bo1 rouyon iac1yx. Here is the (light) blue tie.
noxynan exy rouyon iac1yx. I am buying him the (light) blue tie.
NEUTER (no change)
Bo1 seunoe n cnnee nai1o. Here is the green and (dark) blue coat.
Hana xne noxynae1 seunoe n cnnee nai1o. Dad is buying me the green and (dark) blue coat.
Bo1 au1oe na1ie. Here is the yellow dress.
en noxynan au1oe na1ie. I am buying her the yellow dress.
FEMININE (-an changes to -ym; -nn changes to -mm)
Bo1 upnan manxa. Here is the black hat.
1e6e noxynan upnym manxy. I am buying you the black hat.
Bo1 cnnnn n6xa. Here is the (dark) blue skirt.
Ti xne noxynaemi cnnmm n6xy' Are you buying me the (dark) blue skirt?
PLURAL (no change)
Bo1 xopnunenme 1y]n. Here are the brown shoes.
Mon 6a1 xne noxynae1 xopnunenme 1y]n. My brother is buying me the brown shoes.
Bo1 cepme nena1xn. Here are the grey gloves.
noxynan cec1e cepme nena1xn. I am buying my sister the grey gloves.
Activity Twenty-Eight - na(na1t noctuoe sa(anne
Writing Write out the Russian for the following, paying particular attention to the adjective
endings.
1. Mum is buying me a black jacket.
2. I am buying her a (light) blue coat.
3. He is buying me a red dress.
4. I am buying mum grey shoes.
5. Dad is buying me a green hat.
6. I am buying you a red tie.
7. My brother is buying me the yellow gloves.
8. My sister is buying me a new brown coat.
9. I am buying him a (dark) blue jacket.
10. Are you buying me a (dark) blue skirt?
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