a basic modern russian grammar
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from
A Basic
Modern
Russian
Grammar
Eugenia Nekrasova
© A Basic Modern Russian Grammar, Eugenia Nekrasova,1997.
© Graphic Design, eBook publisher, Dmitry Pobedimsky, 2002.
ISBN 5-85550-119-1
Ron Maxim, Director,
Government Cargo Support Services, Maersk Sealand, Atlanta, GA, USA:
...Mrs.Nekrasova`s book is very creative...
Frederick Lyons, Resident Representative,
United Nations Development Programme in the Russian Federation
This book very definitely helped me improve my Russian fluency.
With good humour and strong didactic principles it leads through the
difficulties of the Russian Grammar.
Markku Lehto, Chief of Moscow Bureau
of the Finnish Broadcasting Company, Finland
The book is really very helpful. The explanations given in the
book are clear and inventive. The teaching materials have been very
well sorted.
To the Readers
This book is meant both for the learners and the teachers of Russian.
The name of the book speaks for itself: "A Basic Modern Russian Grammar".
The attention is focused on the facts of Modern Russian language which are
basic, of high frequency and in common use.
As most of the learners are not professional linguists the author tried to avoid
unnecessary linguistic terms.
The explanations, charts and presentation of grammar material enable the
learners of Russian understand some practical mechanisms of the language
in a certain logical order .
The teachers of Russian can use it in their practical work.
All the charts originally belong to the author.
The author expresses her deep gratitude to Mr D. Pobedimsky without whom
the book would not have succeeded and to Prof. T. Wade (UK) for his encouragement.
I wish you success,
Eugenia Nekrasova
Shortly about the Author
Eugenia Nekrasova, Moscow, Russia.
M.A. in Philology and Education, Moscow State University.
For many years she has been working as a full-time senior
teacher and lecturer for the USSR / Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Language Service, teaching
Russian, English and related subjects to foreign diplomats,
businessmen and journalists, including the staff of the United Nations Moscow
office, Sea Land CIS Logistics, Caterpillar Overseas, Ernst & Young, the State
Finnish Radio & TV Moscow office and many others.
Now she divides her time between teaching and writing books on language.
She has written five successful books on learning Modern Russian as a Second
Language and on learning English for people speaking Russian:
1. "A Basic Modern Russian Grammar" - 380 pages, "Gummerus", Helsinki,
Finland, 1998. Published in Finnish, translated from English. ISBN 951-20-5264-4
2. "Exercises in Basic Modern Russian Grammar" - 250 pages,
"Gummerus", Helsinki, Finland, 2000. Published in Finnish, translated from English. ISBN 951-20-5507-4
3. "Living & Working in the Former USSR" - 211 pages, colour illustrated,
succesfully practised course book of Modern Russian, best used for crashcourses. ISBN 5-85550-121-3
4. "Popular English Grammar" - 400 pages, "Slavyansky Dom Knigi" Publishers, Moscow, Russia,1999. First print - 25,000 copies. ISBN 5-93220-001-4
5. "English for Work and Travel" - 360 pages, "Slavyansky Dom Knigi" Publishers, Moscow, Russia, 2000, with D.Pobedimsky. First print - 15,000 copies.
ISBN 5-93220-052-9
The author would gladly accept any comments on the book
email: [email protected]
Part 1
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns
in the Singular
AGREEMENT BETWEEN WORDS IN RUSSIAN
There are 2 main types of relations between the words in a Russian
sentence: Agreement and Governing.
Agreement could be in Gender, Number and Person.
THE PRINCIPLE OF GENDER AGREEMENT
Agreement in Gender takes place:
between the long adjectives and the nouns,
between the adjectival pronouns and the nouns,
between the ordinal numerals and the nouns,
between the cardinal numeral «one» and nouns,
between the long participles and the nouns,
between the nouns/personal pronouns and the short participles
/short adjectives,
between the nouns/personal pronouns and the verbs in the Past
tense form.
Part 1 deals with the first five types of Gender Agreement.
Part 1 covers the problems of Gender Agreement between nouns and
words preceding them in units. I called the words preceeding nouns in
units - the characterizing words.
The characterizing words can be:
adjectives,
adjectival pronouns (possessive, demonstrative etc),
ordinal numerals,
long participles,
cardinal numeral «one».
You will learn:
how to establish the Gender of a noun and
how to make the Singular form Gender Agreement between nouns
and words characterizing them.
Part 1
page 1
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
HOW TO ESTABLISH THE GENDER OF A NOUN
All Russian nouns are attributed to one of the three genders:
Masculine (M), Feminine (F) or Neuter(N)
You will be glad to know that the gender of the majority of the Russian
nouns one can tell from the ending of the dictionary form (Nominative
Case).
The gender of nouns is mostly a formal thing.
Now you will learn how to determine the gender of a noun.
Nouns ending in consonants and -é are Masculine:
äîì - house
÷åëîâˆê - man
äðóã - friend
ã‹ðîä - city
ìóçˆé -museum
Êèò‚é - China
Nouns ending in -à, -ÿ, -üÿ, -èÿ are Feminine:
‹ëãà - Volga
ì‚ìà - mama, mommy
ìàø‰íà - car
ñòàòüµ - article
íˆäåëÿ - week
ôàì‰ëèÿ - surname
Ðîññèÿ - Russia
Nouns ending in -î, -å, -üå, -èå are Neuter:
ìˆñòî - seat
ì‹ðå - sea
êóïˆ - compartment
çä‚íèå - building
òåëåâ‰äåíèå - TV
çäîð‹âüå - health
But things are never that simple in languages:
irrespective of the Feminine -à, -ÿ ending
a small group of nouns denoting males
E.g.
has Masculine gender agreement
ìîé (Ì) + ï‚ïà
Notice!
(so called «Natural Masculines»):
h
ï‚ïà - father, dad
ìóæ÷‰íà - man
äˆäóøêà - grandfather
äµäÿ - uncle
The following nouns are Neuter:
h
âðˆìÿ - time
Notice!
‰ìÿ - name
èíòåðâüþ - interview
Part 1
ìåíþ - menu
æþð‰ - jury
òàêñ‰ - taxi
page 2
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
THE GENDER OF SOFT SIGN NOUNS
A very big group of nouns ending in -Ü (soft sign) could be either
Feminine or Masculine.
The Gender of these nouns could be found in the dictionaries.
h
Nouns denoting males («natural masculines») are Masculine: Notice!
ãîñòü - guest, âîä‰òåëü - driver, ó÷‰òåëü - teacher,
ïèñ‚òåëü - writer, öàðü - Tzar, êîð‹ëü - king,
âðàò‚ðü - goalkeeper etc.
Names of months ending in -ü are all Masculine:
ÿíâ‚ðü - January, ôåâð‚ëü - February, etc.
«Natural» feminines are all Feminine:
ìàòü - mother, äî÷ü - daughter etc.
Nouns ending in -çíü, -ñòü, -ñü are Feminine:
æèçíü - life
í‹âîñòü - news
ï‹äïèñü - signature etc.
The Gender of other soft sign nouns
has to be learned individually.
h
Notice!
REPLACING SINGULAR NOUNS BY PERSONAL PRONOUNS
A noun could be replaced by the following personal pronouns
depending on the established gender:
Masculine nouns by îí - he, it
Ãäå âàø äðóã? Âîò îí.
Ãäå âàø äîì? Âîò îí.
Feminine nouns by îí‚ - she, it
Ãäå â‚øà ìàø‰íà? Âîò îí‚.
Ãäå â‚øà ì‚ìà?
Âîò îí‚.
Neuter nouns by îí‹ - it
Ãäå â‚øå ìˆñòî? Âîò îí‹.
Ãäå ¬òî çä‚íèå? Âîò îí‹.
Part 1
N
page 3
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
HOW TO ESTABLISH THE GENDER OF PLACE NAMES
All the place names could be divided into 2 groups:
First group
The place names have the endings which formally fit the Russian system
of endings:
M. Êèò‚é, Òàéë‚íä, Âüåòí‚ì, Àì˜ð, Åíèñˆé - îí
F. Ðîññ‰ÿ, Ôèíëµíäèÿ, Àìˆðèêà, ‹ëãà - îí‚
N. Ïðèì‹ðüå - îí‹
Second group
There are many place names which do not fit the Russian system of
endings:
Áàê˜, Ñ‹÷è, Òáèë‰ñè, Õˆëüñèíêè, Ìèññ˜ðè, Òà‰òè, Ò‹êèî, Îíò‚ðèî
These words exist only in this unchangeable (indeclinable) form. Their
gender is established in a special way (through association with the
«generic» word).
FOREIGN INDECLINABLE NOUNS AND THEIR GENDER AGREEMENT
There is a group of nouns of foreign origin in Russian which do not decline.
E.g.
øîññˆ - highway
ìåòð‹ - subway
òàêñ‰ - taxi, cab
êàôˆ - cafe
êóïˆ - compartment
ð‚äèî - radio (set)
êèí‹ - movies, cinema
àòåëüˆ - studio,dress shop
áþð‹ - office
èíòåðâüþ - interview
ïàëüò‹ - overcoat etc.
All these words are Neuter and their Gender agreement and pronoun
replacement is Neuter.
E.g.
̉íñêîå øîññˆ - Minsk highway - oí‹
èíòåðˆñíîå èíòåðâüþ - interesting interview - îí‹
í‹âîå ïàëüò‹ - new overcoat - îí‹
but ãîðµ÷èé ê‹ôå - Masculine - hot coffee
h
Notice!
Part 1
page 4
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
THE GENDER AGREEMENT BETWEEN NOUNS
AND CHARACTERIZING WORDS IN THE SINGULAR
The adjectives and adjectival words are registered in the dictionaries in the
Masculine.
You can make other gender forms on your own if you follow the rules which will
be stipulated further.
The gender agreement between nouns and adjectives
The Masculine adjectival endings which a foreign learner may trace from the
dictionary are as follows:
-ûé like in í‹âûé - new, èçâˆñòíûé - famous
-îé like in áîëüø‹é - big, large, ïëîõ‹é - bad, äîðîã‹é expensive, dear
-èé like in ð˜ññêèé - Russian, àíãë‰éñêèé - English, õîð‹øèé good, ì‚ëåíüêèé - small, little, ïîñëˆäíèé - last
So, these adjectives can be attached to the nouns the gender of
which is marked or established as Masculine, for example:
Masculine adjective + Masculine noun
M.
M.
í‹âûé + äîì
M.
M.
áîëüø‹é + äîì
M.
M.
õîð‹øèé + äîì
Feminine adjective + Feminine noun
To make a Feminine adjective to attach it to a Feminine noun, you have to
replace Masculine endings by -àÿ ending.
ûé, îé, èé àÿ
E.g.
M.
F.
F.
íîâûé íîâàÿ ìàøèíà
new
new car
M.
áîëüøîé
large, big
Part 1
F.
F.
áîëüøàÿ ìàøèíà
big car
page 5
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
M.
F.
ïëîõîé
bad
M.
F.
ïëîõàÿ ìàøèíà
bad car
F.
äîðîãîé
expensive
M.
àíãëèéñêèé
English
F.
F.
F.
àíãëèéñêàÿ øêîëà
English school
M.
F.
F.
äîðîãàÿ ìàøèíà õîðîøèé õîðîøàÿ øêîëà
good, nice
good school
expensive car
F.
ðóññêèé
Russian
M.
M.
F.
ðóññêàÿ øêîëà
Russian school
ìàëåíüêèé
small, little
F.
F.
ìàëåíüêàÿ øêîëà
small school
The only exception to this rule presents a limited group of
adjectives ending in -íèé like
ïîñëåäíèé - last, ðàííèé - early, ïîçäíèé - late etc.
h
Notice!
-èé in -íèé is replaced by -ÿÿ
ïîñëåäí|èé ïîñëåäí|ÿÿ ñòðàíèöà - last page
ïîçäí|èé ïîçäí|ÿÿ îñåíü - late autumn
Neuter adjective + Neuter noun
To make the Neuter adjective to attach it to a Neuter noun, you have to
replace -ûé, -îé or -èé by -îå:
íîâûé íîâîå ïàëüòî - new overcoat
áîëüøîé áîëüøîå îêíî - large window
ïëîõîé ïëîõîå ðàñïèñàíèå - bad schedule
ðóññêèé ðóññêîå ñëîâî - Russian word
ôèíñêèé ôèíñêîå ðàäèî - Finnish radio
ìàëåíüêèé ìàëåíüêîå îêíî - small window
Exception
But -èé is replaced by -åå if a Masculine adjective ends in
-íèé, -æèé, -øèé, -÷èé, -ùèé.
E.g.
ïîñëåäí|èé
ñâåæ|èé
õîðîø|èé
ãîðÿ÷|èé
íàñòîÿù|èé
Part 1
N.
N.
ïîñëåäí|åå ïèñüìî - last letter
ñâåæ|åå ìÿñî - fresh meat
õîðîø|åå íàñòðîåíèå - good mood
ãîðÿ÷|åå ìîëîêî - hot milk
íàñòîÿù|åå âðåìÿ - present time
h
Notice!
page 6
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
THE GENDER AGREEMENT BETWEEN ADJECTIVES
AND NOUNS OF ADJECTIVAL ORIGIN
An adjectival noun has the form of an adjective but functions as a noun.
Most of the adjectival nouns result from the omission of a noun qualified
Notice!
by the adjective, for example:
M. ó÷¸íûé (÷åëîâåê) - scientist
F. âàííàÿ (êîìíàòà) - bathroom
M. ðóññêèé (÷åëîâåê) - Russian (nat.)
F. íàáåðåæíàÿ (óëèöà) - embankment
M. áåçðàáîòíûé (÷åëîâåê)-unemployed N. âòîðîå (áëþäî) - second course
N. ãîðÿ÷åå (áëþäî) - main course
F. ðóññêàÿ (æåíùèíà) - Russian (nat.)
N. ìîðîæåíîå - ice-cream
F. ñòîëîâàÿ (êîìíàòà) - dining-room
h
So, the adjectival nouns are qualified like normal nouns:
M.
M.
h
èçâåñòíûé + ó÷¸íûé - famous scientist
F.
F.
áîëüøàÿ + ñòîëîâàÿ - large dining-room
N.
Notice!
N.
âêóñíîå + ìîðîæåíîå - delicious ice-cream
The possessive pronouns used as characterizing words
Ýòî ìîé äîì. M
This is my house.
N
Ýòî ìî¸ ìåñòî.
This is my seat.
My
Ýòî ìîÿ ìàøèíà.
This is my car.
F
M
Ýòî íàøå ìåñòî.
This is our seat. N
Ýòî âàø äîì?
Is this your house? M
Ýòî íàø äîì.
This is our house.
Our
Ýòî íàøà ìàøèíà.
F This is our car.
Ýòî âàøà ìàøèíà?
Ýòî òâîé äîì?
Your Is this your car?
Is this your house?
N (from «âû») F
M
Ýòî âàøå ìåñòî?
Ýòî òâîÿ ìàøèíà?
Is this your seat?
Ýòî òâî¸ ìåñòî?
Your Is this your car?
Is this your seat? N (from «òû») F
Part 1
page 7
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Possessive pronouns åãî (his), å¸ (her), èõ (their) do not
change according to the gender principle, they exist only in one
unchangeable form:
åãî
(his)
èõ
(their)
åãî äîì - his house
åãî ìàøèíà - his car
åãî ìåñòî - his place
å¸
(her)
èõ äîì - their house
èõ ìàøèíà - their car
èõ ìåñòî - their place
h
Notice!
å¸ äîì - her house
å¸ ìàøèíà - her car
å¸ ìåñòî - her place
Summary
ìîé, íàø, âàø, òâîé, åãî, å¸, èõ
+ äîì
ìîÿ, íàøà, âàøà, òâîÿ, åãî, å¸, èõ + ìàøèíà
ìî¸, íàøå, âàøå, òâî¸, åãî, å¸, èõ + ìåñòî
The demonstrative and determinative pronouns
used as characterizing words
ýòîò - this, the... close to hand
Âîò ýòîò äîì.
M Here is this house.
Âîò ýòî ìåñòî.
Here is this place. N
ýòî... - this is, that is M.
Ýòî ìîé äîì.
This is my house.
F.
this
F
Âîò ýòà ìàøèíà.
Here is this car.
special case!
Ýòî ìîÿ ìàøèíà.
This is my car.
N.
Ýòî ìî¸ ìåñòî.
This is my seat.
Notice!
It is necessary to distinguish the characterizing ýòî, which changes
according to genders and ýòî used in the meaning of «this is, that is,
these are, those are». The latter is not a characterizing word, and it does
not change according to genders.
Part 1
page 8
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
òîò - that one, the one which was meant, distant object
M Âîò òîò äîì.
Here is that house.
Âîò òî ìåñòî. N
Here is that place.
that
F Âîò òà óëèöà.
Here is that street.
òàêîé - this kind, the same
Òàêîé äîì?
M This kind of house?
this
kind
N
Òàêîå ïèâî?
This kind of beer?
òàêîé
-
F
Òàêàÿ ìàøèíà?
This kind of car?
used in expressive sentences like:
M Ñåãîäíÿ òàêîé âåòåð!
It is so windy today!
N
Ñåãîäíÿ òàêîå ñîëíöå!
It is so sunny today!
F
Ñåãîäíÿ òàêàÿ æàðà!
It is so hot today!
òàêîé - what a..., combines with long adjectives:
Òàêîé ñèëüíûé âåòåð!
M
What a heavy wind!
Òàêîå æàðêîå ëåòî!
What a hot summer!
Part 1
N
F
Òàêàÿ ñèëüíàÿ ãðîçà!
What a heavy thunderstorm!
page 9
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Similar meaning could be rendered by
êàêîé - such a..., what a ...
Êàêîé ñèëüíûé âåòåð!
M What a heavy wind!
Êàêîå æàðêîå ëåòî!
What a hot summer! N
Êàêàÿ ñèëüíàÿ ãðîçà!
F What a heavy thunderstorm!
òàêîé æå - the same, the same kind as,
combines with long adjectives:
M
Òàêîé æå äîì.
The same kind of house.
Òàêàÿ æå ìàøèíà.
F The same kind of car.
Òàêîå æå ïèâî.
The same kind of beer. N
ñàìûé - the very, the most, most
Indicates precise location:
Ì. Ýòî ñàìûé öåíòð ãîðîäà. It`s the very centre of the city.
Combines with long adjectives to denote superlative meaning:
Ýòî ñàìûé áîëüøîé äîì. M
This is the biggest house.
Ýòî ñàìàÿ äîðîãàÿ ìàøèíà.
This is the most expensive car.
N
F
Ýòî ñàìîå óäîáíîå ìåñòî.
This is the most comfortable seat.
òîò ñàìûé - the same, the very, mentioned before
Âîò òîò ñàìûé äîì.
M
Âîò òî ñàìîå ìåñòî.
N
Part 1
Âîò òà ñàìàÿ ìàøèíà.
F
page 10
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
The Interrogative Pronouns used as characterizing words
The Interrogative Pronouns are used in questions:
êàêîé - what, which, what kind of, what is the number of..?
Êàêîé?
M
Êàêàÿ?
Êàêîå?
F
N
Êàêîé ó âàñ âàãîí?
What is your carriage number?
What is the class of your carriage?
Êàêîé îí ÷åëîâåê?
What kind of person is he?
Êàêîé ó âàñ òåëåôîí?
What is your telephone number?
What kind of telephone do you have?
Êàêàÿ çàâòðà áóäåò ïîãîäà? What is the weather like tomorrow?
Êàêàÿ ó âàñ êâàðòèðà?
What kind of apartment do you have?
What is the number of your apartment?
Êàêîå ó âàñ êóïå?
What is the number of your compartment?
What is the class of your compartment?
Êàêîå ó âàñ ìåñòî?
What is the number of your seat?
÷åé? - Whose..?
Who is the owner? To whom it belongs?
÷åé? ×åé ýòî äîì?
M Whose is this house?
N whose? F
÷ü¸?
×ü¸ ýòî êóïå?
Whose is this compartment?
Part 1
÷üÿ? ×üÿ ýòî ìàøèíà?
Whose is this car?
page 11
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Other characterizing words
âåñü - all, the whole
âåñü äåíü - the whole day
M
âñÿ ñòðàíà
all,
âñ¸ âðåìÿ - all the time N the whole F - the whole country
îäèí - one, a...
îäíî ìåñòî
- one seat, a place N
îäèí äîì
M - one house, a house
a...
one,
F
îäíà ìàøèíà
- one car, a car
ñàì - is an emphatic pronoun, it can characterize both nouns and
personal pronouns:
M îí ñàì - he himself
ñàìî - by itself N
...self
F îíà ñàìà - she herself
THE GENDER OF NOUNS DENOTING PROFESSIONS IN RUSSIAN
Names of professions ending in consonants and the soft sign are
exclusively masculine as originally they were male dominated.
Notice!
Îíà
E.g.: Îí
profession
âðà÷ - doctor
Ì.
h
Ì.
õîðîøèé âðà÷
Ì.
Ì.
õîðîøèé âðà÷
The characterizing words are always Masculine irrespective of sex:
Some other popular nouns denoting professions:
Äèêòîð - announcer, äèðåêòîð - director, ó÷èòåëü - teacher,
ïðåäñåäàòåëü - chairman, ïðîôåññîð - professor, ïîâàð - cook,
èíæåíåð - engineer, áóõãàëòåð - bookkeeper, òðåíåð - trainer,
ýêñêóðñîâîä - guide, ðåæèññ¸ð - film-director, ôîòîãðàô photographer, ðåäàêòîð - editor etc.
Part 1
page 12
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Part 2
The Plural of Nouns.
The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
SINGULAR - ONLY NOUNS
Not all the nouns have both Singular and Plural forms.
There are nouns which exist only in the Singular.
They include nouns which denote:
«collectives»:
h
Notice!
ïîñóäà - dishware, ìåáåëü - furniture, îáóâü - footware, îðóæèå weapons,
îäåæäà - clothes, êîñìåòèêà - cosmetics, etc.
human activities:
ïîëèòèêà - policy/politics, ïðîìûøëåííîñòü - industry, ýêîíîìèêà
- economy/economics, ìåäèöèíà - medicine, ñïîðò - sports,
òåëåâèäåíèå - television, ðàäèî - radio, etc.
substances; foods, cereals, fruits and vegetables:
çîëîòî - gold, íåôòü - oil, øåðñòü - wool, ìàñëî - oil, butter, ïèâî
- beer, ðèñ - rice, ìÿñî - meat, ìóêà - flour, âèíîãðàä - grapes,
èçþì - raisins, êàïóñòà - cabbage, ëóê - onion, øîêîëàä chocolate, etc.
feelings and sensations: ñ÷àñòüå - happiness, çàâèñòü - envy, etc.
FORMATION OF PLURAL NOUNS
The nouns of all Genders make Plural forms with the help of 2 groups
of endings: First Group
-û or -è ending: Big Group of Masculine& Feminine Nouns
Second Group
-à or -ÿ ending: Small Group of Masculine & Neuter Nouns
First Group: Masculine & Feminine Nouns
-û ending («hard line») after hard consonants
Singular
Plural
M. ÷åìîäàí
M. êîìïüþòåð
M. èíîñòðàíåö
÷åìîäàíû - suitcases
êîìïüþòåðû - computers
èíîñòðàíöû - foreigners etc.
-û ending instead of -à
F. ìàøèíà ìàøèíû - cars
F. êâàðòèðà êâàðòèðû - apartments
F. æåíùèíà æåíùèíû - women
etc.
Part 2
page 13
The Plural of Nouns. The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Singular
M.
M.
M.
M.
F.
M.
F.
F.
Plural
äåíü
ñëîâàðü
ðóáëü
ãîñòü
íî÷ü
ìóçåé
íåäåëÿ
ôîòîãðàôèÿ
äíè
ñëîâàðè
ðóáëè
ãîñòè
íî÷è
ìóçåè
íåäåëè
ôîòîãðàôèè -
days
dictionaries
roubles
guests
nights
museums
weeks
photos
ã, ê, õ,+ è
Singular
Special cases!
Plural
F. êíèãà êíèãè - books
M. ó÷åáíèê ó÷åáíèêè -textbooks
F. ñïè÷êà ñïè÷êè - matches
M. ñëóõ
ñëóõè - rumours
F.
etc.
M.
M.
M.
æ, ÷, ø, ù + è
Singular
Plural
ëûæè - skies
íîæ‰ - knives
âðà÷‰ - doctors
ïëàù‰ - raincoats
etc.
Second Group: Masculine and Neuter nouns
This group is much smaller than the -û, -è group but the nouns are
frequently used.
-‚ ending («hard line») after hard consonants in the Masculine nouns
Singular
ãîðîä
äîì
ëåñ
ïîåçä
âå÷åð
îñòðîâ
öâåò
áåðåã
ïàñïîðò
ñ÷¸ò
íîìåð
ìàñòåð
Part 2
ëûæà
íîæ
âðà÷
ïëàù
Plural
ãîðîä‚
äîì‚
ëåñ‚
ïîåçä‚
âå÷åð‚
îñòðîâ‚
öâåò‚
áåðåã‚
ïàñïîðò‚
ñ÷åò‚
íîìåð‚
ìàñòåð‚
- cities, towns
- houses
- forests, woods
- trains
- evenings
- islands
- colors
- banks, coasts
- passports
- bills, accounts
- numbers, hotel rooms
- craftsmen etc.
page 14
The Plural of Nouns. The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
-è ending («soft line») instead of -ü, -é and -ÿ
ending instead of -o in Neuter nouns («hard line»)
-‚
‹çåðî
ñë‹âî
ëèö‹
êðˆñëî
ÿéö‹
ïèñüì‹
îêí‹
ñòåêë‹
also âðˆìÿ
îç¸ðà - lakes
ñëîâ‚ - words
ë‰öà - faces
êðˆñëà - armchairs
ÿéöà - eggs
ï‰ñüìà - letters
‹êíà - windows
ñò¸êëà - window glasses etc.
âðåìåí‚ - times
‰ìÿ
èìåí‚ - names
-ÿ ending («soft line») instead of -å in Neuter nouns
ïîëå
ïîëÿ - fields
çäàíèå
çäàíèÿ - buildings
ïðåäëîæåíèå
ïðåäëîæåíèÿ - sentences, offers
SPECIAL CASES OF PLURAL NOUN FORMATION
Singular
äðóã
Plural
äåðåâî
áðàò
ñûí
ñòóë
ëèñò
äðóçüÿ - friends
äåðåâüÿ - trees
áðàòüÿ - brothers
ñûíîâüÿ - sons
ñòóëüÿ - chairs
ëèñòüÿ - leaves
Singular
ðåá¸íîê
÷åëîâåê
Part 2
Plural
Singular
Plural
ñîñåä ñîñåäè - neighbours
ãîñïîäèí ãîñïîäà - sirs,
ladies & gentlemen
õîçÿèí õîçÿåâà - owners
ÿáëîêî ÿáëîêè - apples
óõî
óøè - ears
äåòè - children
ëþäè - people
page 15
The Plural of Nouns. The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Singular
õðèñòèàíèí
Plural
õðèñòèàíå - Christians
ìóñóëüìàíå -Muslims
ðîññèÿíå - citizens of Russia
àíãëè÷àíå - English
äàò÷àíå - Danes
êðåñòüÿíå -peasants
ãðàæäàíå - citizens
àðìÿíå - Armenians
öûãàíå - Gypsies
etc.
ìóñóëüìàíèí
ðîññèÿíèí
àíãëè÷àíèí
äàò÷àíèí
êðåñòüÿíèí
ãðàæäàíèí
àðìÿíèí
öûãàí
êîò¸íîê
êîòÿòà - kittens
öûïë¸íîê
öûïëÿòà - chiñken
etc.
PLURAL-ONLY NOUNS
Some nouns do not have the Singular form. They exist only in the Plural
form (registered in the dictionaries in the Plural form). These words denote:
objects which consist of two parts:
î÷êè - glasses, íîæíèöû - scissors, âåñû - scales, êà÷åëè swings, âîðîòà - gate, áðþêè - trousers, äæèíñû - jeans, òðóñû
- pants, êîëãîòêè - tights etc.
collective actions:
êàíèêóëû - school or university vacation, ïåðåãîâîðû negotiations, âûáîðû - elections, ãàñòðîëè - tour (of artists),
ïîõîðîíû - funeral, ïðîâîäû - farewell party, ïðÿòêè - hide and
seak, ðîäû - childbirth etc.
also the following words:
äåíüãè - money, øàõìàòû - chess, ÷àñû - clock, watch, êóðàíòû
- chimes, òèòðû - subtitles, êóäðè - curls, ñàíêè - sledge, îïèëêè
- saw-dust, îáîè - wallpaper, äðîâà - firewood, ìåìóàðû memoirs, ñ÷¸òû - abacus, àïëîäèñìåíòû - applause etc.
Part 2
page 16
The Plural of Nouns. The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
äóõè - perfume, ùè - cabbage-soup, ìàêàðîíû - spaghetti,
êîíñåðâû - preserves, ñëèâêè - cream etc.
ñóòêè - 24 hours period, ñóìåðêè - dusk, çàìîðîçêè - early frost
Some place names
some mountains:
Êàðïàòû, Àëüïû, Ãèìàëàè, Àíäû etc.
some islands:
Êóðèëû, Ãàâàéè, Êàíàðû, Áåðìóäû, Ôàðåðû etc.
some countries:
Ôèëèïïèíû, Íèäåðëàíäû, Ñîåäèí¸ííûå Øòàòû Àìåðèêè
also
òðîïèêè - tropics, äæóíãëè - jungle
Ëóæíèêè, Ñîêîëüíèêè, and lot of other geographic names mainly
denoting villages and towns on the territory of the former Soviet Union.
PERSONAL PRONOUNS IN THE PLURAL
All the plural nouns can be replaced by the personal pronoun îíè
îíè
they
E.g. Ýòî ìîè äðóçüÿ.
Ýòî ìîè êíèãè.
These are my books.
Îíè íà ïîëêå.
They are on the shelf.
Part 2
These are my friends.
Îíè ñåé÷àñ æèâóò â Ëîíäîíå.
They live in London now.
page 17
The Plural of Nouns. The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN NOUNS AND CHARACTERIZING WORDS
IN THE PLURAL
The Plural of Adjectives
Characterizing words also have the Plural form. All three Singular forms
- Masculine, Feminine and Neuter fall into one Plural form:
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
Plural
ûé, îé group, for example:
Plural
Singular
M.
F.
N.
íîâûå äîìà - new houses
íîâûå ìàøèíû - new cars
íîâûå ñëîâà - new words
íîâûé äîì - new house
íîâàÿ ìàøèíà - new car
íîâîå ñëîâî - new word
Singular
M.
F.
N.
Plural
çîëîòîé áðàñëåò - golden bracelet
çîëîòàÿ ìåäàëü - gold medal
çîëîòîå êîëüöî - golden ring
çîëîòûå ìåäàëè
- gold medals
Summing - up table
M.
F.
N. Plural
-ûé - àÿ - îå - ûå
-îé - àÿ - îå - ûå
íèé group, for example:
ïîñëåäíèé óðîê - last lesson
F. ïîñëåäíÿÿ ñòðàíèöà - last page
N. ïîñëåäíåå ñëîâî - last word
M.
Plural
Summing - up table
M.
N.
Plural
-íèé -íÿÿ -íåå
-íèå
Part 2
F.
ïîñëåäíèå óðîêè - last lessons
ïîñëåäíèå ñòðàíèöû - last pages
ïîñëåäíèå ñëîâà - last words
page 18
The Plural of Nouns. The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
MIXED PLURAL ADJECTIVAL ENDINGS
A big group of commonly used adjectives has the following peculiarities in
the Plural formation:
The adjectives with stems ending in ã, ê, õ
have -èå Plural ending
(both spelt and pronounced), for example:
-ãèé, -êèé, -õèé,
-ãîé, -êîé, -õîé
group
strict
ñòðîãèé
ñòðîãàÿ
ñòðîãîå
M.
F.
N.
Plural
M.
ñòðîãèå
F.
N.
Russian
ðóññêèé
ðóññêàÿ
ðóññêîå
M.
F.
N.
M.
F.
N.
Plural
ðóññêèå
sity, urban
ãîðîäñêîé Plural
ãîðîäñêàÿ ãîðîäñêèå
ãîðîäñêîå
M.
F.
M.
F.
N.
expensive, dear
äîðîãîé Plural
äîðîãàÿ äîðîãèå
äîðîãîå
bad, poor
ïëîõîé Plural
ïëîõàÿ ïëîõèå
ïëîõîå
N.
quiet, calm
òèõèé Plural
òèõàÿ òèõèå
òèõîå
Summing - up table
M.
F.
N.
Pl.
ãèé - ãàÿ - ãîå - ãèå
êèé - êàÿ - êîå - êèå
õèé - õàÿ - õîå - õèå
Part 2
M.
F.
N.
Pl.
ãîé - ãàÿ - ãîå - ãèå
êîé - êàÿ - êîå - êèå
õîé - õàÿ - õîå - õèå
page 19
The Plural of Nouns. The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
The adjectives with stem in æ, ø, ÷, ù
have their Plural form spelt with -èå,
but pronounced -ûå, e.g.:
-æèé, -øèé, -÷èé,
-ùèé, -æîé, -øîé
group
M.
F.
N.
fresh
ñâåæèå
ñâåæàÿ
ñâåæåå
Plural
ñâåæèå
M.
F.
N.
M.
F.
N.
M.
F.
N.
good, nice
õîðîøèé
õîðîøàÿ
õîðîøåå
hot
ãîðÿ÷èé
ãîðÿ÷àÿ
ãîðÿ÷åå
Plural
M.
õîðîøèå
F.
N.
Plural
M.
ãîðÿ÷èå
F.
N.
big, large
áîëüøîé Plural
áîëüøàÿ áîëüøèå
áîëüøîå
alien
÷óæîé
÷óæàÿ
÷óæîå
Plural
÷óæèå
present, real, true, genuine
íàñòîÿùèé Plural
íàñòîÿùàÿ íàñòîÿùèå
íàñòîÿùåå
Summing - up table
M.
F.
N.
Pl.
æèé - æàÿ - æåå - æèå
æîé - æàÿ - æîå - æèå
øèé - øàÿ - øåå - øèå
M.
F.
N.
Pl.
øîé - øàÿ - øîå - øèå
÷èé - ÷àÿ - ÷åå - ÷èå
ùèé - ùàÿ - ùåå - ùèå
Memorize
Ñâåæèå ãîðÿ÷èå õîðîøèå áîëüøèå õðóñòÿùèå áóëî÷êè fresh hot good big crunchy buns
Part 2
page 20
The Plural of Nouns. The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
The Possessive pronouns in the Plural
my
M. ìîé
F. ìîÿ
N. ìî¸
Plural
ìîè
ìîè êëþ÷è
- my keys
our
M. íàø
F. íàøà
N. íàøå
your from «âû»
M. âàø
F. âàøà
N. âàøå
Plural
âàøè
âàøè êëþ÷è
- your keys
Plural
íàøè
íàøè êëþ÷è
- our keys
your from «òû»
M. òâîé
F. òâîÿ
N. òâî¸
Plural
òâîè
òâîè êëþ÷è
- your keys
But his - åãî, her - å¸, their - èõ have only one form for all Genders
and Numbers:
åãî êëþ÷è - his keys, å¸ êëþ÷è - her keys, èõ êëþ÷è - their keys
The Demonstrative pronouns in the Plural
M. ýòîò
F. ýòà
N. ýòî
M. òàêîé
F. òàêàÿ
N. òàêîå
Plural
Plural
òàêèå
M. òàêîé æå
F. òàêàÿ æå
N. òàêîå æå
Part 2
ýòè
ýòè êëþ÷è
- these keys
òàêèå êëþ÷è
- this kind of keys
M. òîò
F. òà
N. òî
M. êàêîé
F. êàêàÿ
N. êàêîå
Plural
òå
òå êëþ÷è
- those keys
Plural
êàêèå
Êàêèå èäèîòû!
- What kind of idiots
they are!
Plural
òàêèå æå
òàêèå æå êëþ÷è
- same kind of keys
page 21
The Plural of Nouns. The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
M. ñàìûé äîðîãîé
F. ñàìàÿ äîðîãàÿ
N. ñàìîå äîðîãîå
M. òîò ñàìûé
F. òà ñàìàÿ
N. òî ñàìîå
Plural
ñàìûå äîðîãèå ñàìûå äîðîãèå ìàãàçèíû
- most expensive shops
Plural
òå ñàìûå òå ñàìûå êëþ÷è - same kind of keys
The Interrogative Pronouns in the Plural
What kind of?
What?
Whose?
M. êàêîé?
F. êàêàÿ?
N. êàêîå?
M. ÷åé?
F. ÷üÿ?
N. ÷ü¸?
Plural
êàêèå? Êàêèå ó âàñ ïëàíû?
What are your plans?
Plural
÷üè? ×üè ýòî êëþ÷è?
Whose are these keys?
h
îäíè - only, alone, a pair of ...
M. îäèí
F. îäíà
N. îäíî
Notice!
Plural
îäíè
îäíè î÷êè - one pair of glasses
Òàì áûëè îäíè äåòè.
There were only children there. etc.
1
The Plural of Other Characterizing Words - all, the whole
M. âåñü
F. âñ¸
N. âñÿ
M. ñàì
F. ñàìà
N. ñàìî
Plural
âñå
âñå âåùè - all the things
âñå ëþäè - all the people
Plural
ñàìè ...selves
îíè ñàìè -they themselves
also ìíîãèå - many (people)
íåêîòîðûå - some (people)
Part 2
page 22
The Plural of Nouns. The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Part 3
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives
and Adjectival Words in the Singular
In this part you will learn the main case forms (declension types) of
nouns in the Singular
adjectives and adjectival characterizing words in the Singular
GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE CASE SYSTEM
THE CASE SYSTEM AS THE RESULT OF THE GOVERNING PROCESS
As mentioned in Part 1 there are two main types of relations between the
words in a Russian sentence: the Agreement and the Governing.
The Agreement in units was discussed in the first two Parts.
Part 3 of the Grammar Book deals with the Governing.
Words and units being put together to form a Russian sentence (to express
some idea) are practically never equal.
Some words (or simple constructions) govern other words causing changes
in their endings.
Various kinds of endings have been «pigeon-holed» or classified into the cases.
The «governors» are mainly as follows:
verbs with or without prepositions
prepositions
all quantitative words including cardinal numerals from 2
nouns in the qualifying combinations
negative constructions
impersonal constructions
The «subordinates» of the governing process are mainly as follows:
nouns
units (characterizing words + nouns)
personal pronouns
interrogative, indefinite and negative pronouns,
based on personal pronouns
numerals, both cardinal and ordinal
Part 3
page 23
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
There are 6 cases in Russian:
1. The Nominative
4. The Accusative
2. The Genitive
5. The Instrumental
3. The Dative
6.The Prepositional
The Singular case endings of nouns and units (which are
characterizing words + nouns), fall into two main groups:
First group
Masculine & Neuter
Second group
Feminine
The Plural case endings of nouns and units form one group :
N
M
Plural
F
Special attention has to be paid
to the mosaic-like Genitive Plural endings of nouns.
h
Notice!
Try to memorize the case endings
in combinations with prepositions
or verbs most typical for this case.
Part 3
page 24
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
THE DECLENSION OF MASCULINE NOUNS IN THE SINGULAR
All nouns are registered in the dictionaries in the Nominative case form.
Hard-ending Masculine nouns
All Masculine nouns, full first names and place names ending in a hard or
hissing consonant decline on the following pattern:
Nom.
Ýòî Èâàí.
Gen.
Ó Èâàíà åñòü ñîáàêà. Ivan has a dog.
Dat.
Íàäî ïîçâîíèòü Èâàíó. I have to call Ivan.
Acc. =Gen.
Instr.
Prep.
Type
Èâàí
óðîê
Ïåòåðáóðã
ß çíàþ Èâàíà. I know Ivan.
ß åäó ñ Èâàíîì. I go with Ivan.
Ìû ãîâîðèëè îá Èâàíå. We spoke about Ivan.
Mind that the case endings are attached to consonants
but replace vowels, é and ü (soft sign).
h
Notice!
Nom.
óðîê - lesson
Gen.
ïîñëå óðîêà - after the lesson
Dat.
Îí íå ãîòîâ ê óðîêó. He is not ready for the lesson.
Acc. =Nom.
Instr.
Prep.
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Îí ïðîïóñòèë óðîê. He missed (skipped) the lesson.
ïåðåä óðîêîì - before the lesson
íà óðîêå - at the lesson
Ýòî Ïåòåðáóðã.
Îí æèâ¸ò íåäàëåêî îò Ïåòåðáóðãà.
He lives not far from Petersburg.
Ìû ãóëÿëè ïî Ïåòåðáóðãó.
We walked about Petersburg.
Acc. =Nom.
Instr.
Prep.
Part 3
ß åäó â Ïåòåðáóðã. I am going to Petersburg.
Ýòî ðÿäîì ñ Ïåòåðáóðãîì. It is close to Petersburg.
Îí æèâ¸ò â Ïåòåðáóðãå. He lives in Petersburg.
page 25
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Soft-ending Masculine nouns
The ending vowel can vary depending on the stem consonant.
If a stem consonant is soft (ends in a soft sign) or ends in é,
then a Masculine noun declines on the following pattern:
Type
Íèêîëàé
ó÷èòåëü
Nom.
Ýòî Íèêîëàé.
Gen.
Áèëåòû ó Íèêîëàÿ. Nikolay has the tickets.
Dat.
Íàäî ïîçâîíèòü Íèêîëàþ. I have to call Nikolay.
Acc. = Gen.
ß çíàþ Íèêîëàÿ. I know Nikolay.
Instr.
ß åäó ñ Íèêîëàåì. I go with Nikolay.
Prep.
Ìû ãîâîðèëè î Íèêîëàå. We spoke about Nikolay.
Nom. Ýòî ó÷èòåëü.
Gen.
Êíèãà ó ó÷èòåëÿ.
The teacher has the book.
Dat.
Íàäî ïîçâîíèòü ó÷èòåëþ.
I have to call the teacher.
Acc.=Gen.
ß âèäåë ó÷èòåëÿ. I saw the teacher.
Instr.
ß åäó ñ ó÷èòåëåì. I go with the teacher.
Prep.
Ìû ãîâîðèëè îá ó÷èòåëå. We spoke about the teacher.
Part 3
page 26
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Nom.
õîêêåé
Gen.
Ñåãîäíÿ íåò õîêêåÿ. There is no hockey today.
Dat.
÷åìïèîíàò ìèðà ïî õîêêåþ - World hockey championship
Acc. = Nom.
Îí ëþáèò õîêêåé. - He is fond of hockey.
Îí çàíèìàåòñÿ õîêêååì. He goes in for hockey.
Îí ãîâîðèò òîëüêî î õîêêåå. He talks only of hockey.
Instr.
Prep.
Summing-up table of hard and soft Masculine case endings
«Hard»
Gen.
Dat.
Instr.
à
ó
îì
«Soft»
ÿ
þ
åì
Èâàíà/Íèêîëàÿ
Èâàíó/Íèêîëàþ
Èâàíîì/Íèêîëàåì
THE ACCUSATIVE OF MASCULINE NOUNS IN THE SINGULAR
The Accusative of Masculine nouns does not have any special ending.
Here Russians use the concept of Animacy and Inanimacy.
Animate nouns, which are nouns denoting human beings and
representatives of the animal world, take the form of the Genitive case.
E.g.
Ýòî Èâàí. - Nom.
ß âèäåë Èâàíà. - Acc.
Ýòî êðîêîäèë. - Nom.
ß âèäåë êðîêîäèëà. - Acc.
àÿ
Part 3
page 27
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Inanimate nouns take the form of the Nominative case, so the Accusative
of inanimate nouns does not differ from the dictionary form, for example:
Nom.
Acc.
óðîê
ß ïðîïóñòèë óðîê.
Summing-up table of Masculine nouns and names in the Accusative
Accusative of
Animates=Genitive
ß âèäåë Èâàíà.
ß âèäåë Íèêîëàÿ.
ß âèäåë êðîêîäèëà.
ß âèäåë ó÷èòåëÿ.
Accusative of
Animates=Genitive
ß ïðîïóñòèë óðîê.
ß ëþáëþ õîêêåé.
ß åäó â Ïåòåðáóðã.
ß ëþáëþ äîæäü.
Some special case endings of the Masculine nouns in the Singular
There is a group of Masculine nouns denoting a place
which take ˜/þ instead of e in the Prepositional Case.
Here are some of them:
h
Notice!
ïîë
íà ïîë˜ - on the floor
ãîä
â 1985 ãîä˜ - in 1985
ñàä
Ìû ñèäåëè â ñàä˜. We were sitting in the garden.
ïîðò
â ïîðò˜ - in the port
àýðîïîðò â àýðîïîðò˜ - at the airport
ëåñ
Ìû ãóëÿëè â ëåñ˜. We walked in the forest.
øêàô
Ïàïêè â øêàô˜. The files are in the bookcase.
ìîñò
Íà ìîñò˜ ïðîáêà. There is a traffic jam on the bridge.
Part 3
page 28
Êðûì Ðàíüøå ÿ æèë â Êðûì˜. I lived before in the Crimea.
Êîðîáêà ñòîèò â óãë˜. The box is in the corner.
óãîë
áåðåã Äîì ñòîÿë íà áåðåã˜. The house stood on the bank.
àä â àä˜ - in hell
ðàé â ðàþ - in paradise
Some Masculine nouns ending in ö, ÷, ù, ø and æ take -eì
ending instead of -oì when the ending is unstressed:
ìóæ ñ ì˜æåì
èíîñòðàíåö ñ èíîñòð‚íöåì
Some Masculine nouns ending in ü (soft sign) take -¸ì ending
in the Instrumental Case:
äåíü
ñëîâàðü
Ñ äí¸ì ðîæäåíèÿ! Happy birthday!
ñî ñëîâàð¸ì - with a dictionary
THE DECLENSION OF NEUTER NOUNS IN THE SINGULAR
The Neuter nouns have the same
case endings as the Masculine nouns
h
Notice!
Hard ending Neuter nouns
Neuter nouns ending in î decline like the Masculine noun óðîê,
for example:
Nom.
Gen.
Âîò ‹çåðî. Here is the lake.
Íàøà äà÷à íåäàëåêî îò îçåðà.
Our summer cottage is not far from the lake.
Ýòî äîðîãà ê ‹çåðó. This road goes to the lake.
Dat.
Acc. = Nom.
Instr.
Prep.
ß èäó íà ‹çåðî. I am going to the lake.
Íàøà äà÷à ðÿäîì ñ ‹çåðîì. Our summer cottage is close
to the lake.
Íàøà äà÷à íà ‹çåðå. Our summer cottage is on the lake.
Part 3
page 29
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Neuter nouns ending in -å decline like the soft Masculine noun
õîêêåé, for example:
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Âîò ìîðå. - Here is the sea.
Îí æèâ¸ò íåäàëåêî îò ìîðÿ.
He lives not far from the sea.
Ýòî äîðîãà ê ìîðþ.
This road goes to the sea.
Acc. = Nom.
Instr.
Prep.
ß ëþáëþ ìîðå. - I like sea.
Îí æèâ¸ò ðÿäîì ñ ìîðåì.
He lives close to the sea.
Íàøà äà÷à íà ìîðå.
Our summer cottage is on the sea.
Nom. = Acc. = Prep.
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Ýòî Ïîäìîñêîâüå. - This is the Moscow region
Âîò êàðòà Ïîäìîñêîâüÿ.
Here is the map of the Moscow region.
Îí ìíîãî åçäèò ïî Ïîäìîñêîâüþ.
He travels a lot about the Moscow region.
Acc. = Nom.
Instr.
Prep.
Îí õîðîøî çíàåò Ïîäìîñêîâüå.
He knows the Moscow region very well.
Ýòîò ðàéîí ãðàíè÷èò ñ Ïîäìîñêîâüåì.
This area borders the Moscow region.
Îí æèâ¸ò â Ïîäìîñêîâüå.
He lives in the Moscow region.
Nom. = Acc. = Prep.
Part 3
page 30
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Neuter nouns ending in -èå, like ðàñïèñàíèå decline like ìîðå,
except for the Prepositional, for example:
Nom.
ðàñïèñàíèå - schedule, timetable
Gen.
íåò ðàñïèñàíèÿ - no schedule
Dat.
ïî ðàñïèñàíèþ - on schedule
Acc. = Nom.
ß âèäåë ðàñïèñàíèå - I saw the schedule
Instr.
ïðîáëåìû ñ ðàñïèñàíèåì
- problems with the schedule
Prep.
h
Notice!
â ðàñïèñàíèè - in the schedule
Several Neuter nouns, like âðåìÿ - time, èìÿ - first name,
and some others, decline as follows:
Nom.
âðåìÿ - time
Gen.
Ó Èâàíà íåò âðåìåí|è.
h
Notice!
Ivan has no time.
Dat.
ïëàòèòü ïî âðåìåí|è to pay according to time
Acc. = Nom.
Îí òîëüêî ïîòåðÿë âðåìÿ.
He only lost time.
Instr.
Ó Èâàíà âñåãäà ïðîáëåìû ñî âðåìåí|åì.
Ivan is always short of time.
Prep.
Îí çàáûë î âðåìåí|è.
He forgot about time.
Part 3
page 31
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
THE DECLENSION OF FEMININE NOUNS IN THE SINGULAR
Main types of endings
Type
Ìîñêâà
Type
Type
Òàíÿ
Ðîññèÿ
Type Ìîñêâà
Type
ïëîùàäü
Type Òàíÿ
Gen. Âîò êàðòà Ìîñêâû.
Dat. Ìû ãóëÿëè ïî Ìîñêâå.
Acc. ß ïëîõî çíàþ Ìîñêâó.
Instr. Ìîé äðóã æèâ¸ò ïîä Ìîñêâîé.
Prep.ß æèâó â Ìîñêâå.
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
Ýòî Òàíÿ.
Ó Òàíè íîâàÿ ìàøèíà.
Íàäî ïîçâîíèòü Òàíå.
Âû çíàåòå Òàíþ?
ß åäó ñ Òàíåé.
Ìû ãîâîðèì î Òàíå.
Gen. Âîò êàðòà Ðîññèè.
Type Ðîññèÿ
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
Here is the map of Russia.
ß ìíîãî åçäèë ïî Ðîññèè.
I travelled a lot about Russia.
ß ïðèåõàë â Ðîññèþ ãîä íàçàä.
I came to Russia a year ago.
Ìû ïîäïèñàëè äîãîâîð ñ Ðîññèåé.
We signed a treaty with Russia.
ß ñåé÷àñ æèâó â Ðîññèè.
Now I live in Russia.
Type ïëîùàäü
Type
Ìîñêâà
Nom.
-à
Gen.
-û
D a t.
-å
Acc.
-ó
Instr.
-îé
P r ep.
-å
Part 3
Type
Ò àí ÿ
near the square
-ÿ,-üÿ Dat. ïî ïëîùàäè by the square
-è
-å
Type
Type
Ðîññèÿ ïëîùàäü
Gen. îêîëî ïëîùàäè -
Acc. Âû âèäèòå ïëîùàäü?
Do you see the square?
-þ Instr. çà ïëîùàäüþ behind the square
-åé/¸é
Prep. íà ïëîùàäè
-å
- in the square
Nom.
-ÿ
-ü
Gen.
-è
-è
D a t.
-è
-è
Acc.
-þ
-ü
Instr.
-åé
-üþ
P r ep.
-è
-è
page 32
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
There are 3 additional mixed types of Feminine noun case forms:
Mixed types of endings
Type
êíèãà
Type
Type
Type
êíèãà
óëèöà
Íàòàøà
-ãà,-êà,-õà
-öà
nouns
nouns
óëèöà
nouns
Follows Type Ìîñêâà,
but in the Genitive Case -è is used instead of -û:
êíèãà Äîì êíèãè,
Type
-øà,-æà,
-÷à,-ùà
-ãà -ãè
Follows Type Ìîñêâà,
but in the Instrumental Case -åé is used instead of -îé:
óëèöà çà óëèöåé
-öà -öåé
Type
Íàòàøà Follows Type Ìîñêâà, but has two irregularities:
in the Genitive Case -è is spelt instead of -û:
Íàòàøà ó Íàòàøè, -øà -øè
in the Instrumental Case -åé is used instead of -îé:
Íàòàøà ñ Íàòàøåé, -øà -øåé:
Type «Natural Masculines» follows similar types
of Feminine Nouns, for example:
ïàïà
Êîëÿ
Part 3
like
like
h
Notice!
Ìîñêâà, äåäóøêà like êíèãà
Òàíÿ, Ñåð¸æà like Íàòàøà
page 33
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Summing-up table of the Masculine
and Neuter noun declension in the Singular
Hard declension
Nom.
Gen.
-à
Dat.
-ó
È âà í
óðîê
Ïåòåðáóðã
îçåðî
È âà íà
óðîêà
Ïåòåðáóðãà
î�
s
e
r
F
n
a
i
s
s
u
R
a
i
s
s
u
R
from
A Basic
Modern
Russian
Grammar
Eugenia Nekrasova
© A Basic Modern Russian Grammar, Eugenia Nekrasova,1997.
© Graphic Design, eBook publisher, Dmitry Pobedimsky, 2002.
ISBN 5-85550-119-1
Ron Maxim, Director,
Government Cargo Support Services, Maersk Sealand, Atlanta, GA, USA:
...Mrs.Nekrasova`s book is very creative...
Frederick Lyons, Resident Representative,
United Nations Development Programme in the Russian Federation
This book very definitely helped me improve my Russian fluency.
With good humour and strong didactic principles it leads through the
difficulties of the Russian Grammar.
Markku Lehto, Chief of Moscow Bureau
of the Finnish Broadcasting Company, Finland
The book is really very helpful. The explanations given in the
book are clear and inventive. The teaching materials have been very
well sorted.
To the Readers
This book is meant both for the learners and the teachers of Russian.
The name of the book speaks for itself: "A Basic Modern Russian Grammar".
The attention is focused on the facts of Modern Russian language which are
basic, of high frequency and in common use.
As most of the learners are not professional linguists the author tried to avoid
unnecessary linguistic terms.
The explanations, charts and presentation of grammar material enable the
learners of Russian understand some practical mechanisms of the language
in a certain logical order .
The teachers of Russian can use it in their practical work.
All the charts originally belong to the author.
The author expresses her deep gratitude to Mr D. Pobedimsky without whom
the book would not have succeeded and to Prof. T. Wade (UK) for his encouragement.
I wish you success,
Eugenia Nekrasova
Shortly about the Author
Eugenia Nekrasova, Moscow, Russia.
M.A. in Philology and Education, Moscow State University.
For many years she has been working as a full-time senior
teacher and lecturer for the USSR / Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Language Service, teaching
Russian, English and related subjects to foreign diplomats,
businessmen and journalists, including the staff of the United Nations Moscow
office, Sea Land CIS Logistics, Caterpillar Overseas, Ernst & Young, the State
Finnish Radio & TV Moscow office and many others.
Now she divides her time between teaching and writing books on language.
She has written five successful books on learning Modern Russian as a Second
Language and on learning English for people speaking Russian:
1. "A Basic Modern Russian Grammar" - 380 pages, "Gummerus", Helsinki,
Finland, 1998. Published in Finnish, translated from English. ISBN 951-20-5264-4
2. "Exercises in Basic Modern Russian Grammar" - 250 pages,
"Gummerus", Helsinki, Finland, 2000. Published in Finnish, translated from English. ISBN 951-20-5507-4
3. "Living & Working in the Former USSR" - 211 pages, colour illustrated,
succesfully practised course book of Modern Russian, best used for crashcourses. ISBN 5-85550-121-3
4. "Popular English Grammar" - 400 pages, "Slavyansky Dom Knigi" Publishers, Moscow, Russia,1999. First print - 25,000 copies. ISBN 5-93220-001-4
5. "English for Work and Travel" - 360 pages, "Slavyansky Dom Knigi" Publishers, Moscow, Russia, 2000, with D.Pobedimsky. First print - 15,000 copies.
ISBN 5-93220-052-9
The author would gladly accept any comments on the book
email: [email protected]
Part 1
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns
in the Singular
AGREEMENT BETWEEN WORDS IN RUSSIAN
There are 2 main types of relations between the words in a Russian
sentence: Agreement and Governing.
Agreement could be in Gender, Number and Person.
THE PRINCIPLE OF GENDER AGREEMENT
Agreement in Gender takes place:
between the long adjectives and the nouns,
between the adjectival pronouns and the nouns,
between the ordinal numerals and the nouns,
between the cardinal numeral «one» and nouns,
between the long participles and the nouns,
between the nouns/personal pronouns and the short participles
/short adjectives,
between the nouns/personal pronouns and the verbs in the Past
tense form.
Part 1 deals with the first five types of Gender Agreement.
Part 1 covers the problems of Gender Agreement between nouns and
words preceding them in units. I called the words preceeding nouns in
units - the characterizing words.
The characterizing words can be:
adjectives,
adjectival pronouns (possessive, demonstrative etc),
ordinal numerals,
long participles,
cardinal numeral «one».
You will learn:
how to establish the Gender of a noun and
how to make the Singular form Gender Agreement between nouns
and words characterizing them.
Part 1
page 1
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
HOW TO ESTABLISH THE GENDER OF A NOUN
All Russian nouns are attributed to one of the three genders:
Masculine (M), Feminine (F) or Neuter(N)
You will be glad to know that the gender of the majority of the Russian
nouns one can tell from the ending of the dictionary form (Nominative
Case).
The gender of nouns is mostly a formal thing.
Now you will learn how to determine the gender of a noun.
Nouns ending in consonants and -é are Masculine:
äîì - house
÷åëîâˆê - man
äðóã - friend
ã‹ðîä - city
ìóçˆé -museum
Êèò‚é - China
Nouns ending in -à, -ÿ, -üÿ, -èÿ are Feminine:
‹ëãà - Volga
ì‚ìà - mama, mommy
ìàø‰íà - car
ñòàòüµ - article
íˆäåëÿ - week
ôàì‰ëèÿ - surname
Ðîññèÿ - Russia
Nouns ending in -î, -å, -üå, -èå are Neuter:
ìˆñòî - seat
ì‹ðå - sea
êóïˆ - compartment
çä‚íèå - building
òåëåâ‰äåíèå - TV
çäîð‹âüå - health
But things are never that simple in languages:
irrespective of the Feminine -à, -ÿ ending
a small group of nouns denoting males
E.g.
has Masculine gender agreement
ìîé (Ì) + ï‚ïà
Notice!
(so called «Natural Masculines»):
h
ï‚ïà - father, dad
ìóæ÷‰íà - man
äˆäóøêà - grandfather
äµäÿ - uncle
The following nouns are Neuter:
h
âðˆìÿ - time
Notice!
‰ìÿ - name
èíòåðâüþ - interview
Part 1
ìåíþ - menu
æþð‰ - jury
òàêñ‰ - taxi
page 2
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
THE GENDER OF SOFT SIGN NOUNS
A very big group of nouns ending in -Ü (soft sign) could be either
Feminine or Masculine.
The Gender of these nouns could be found in the dictionaries.
h
Nouns denoting males («natural masculines») are Masculine: Notice!
ãîñòü - guest, âîä‰òåëü - driver, ó÷‰òåëü - teacher,
ïèñ‚òåëü - writer, öàðü - Tzar, êîð‹ëü - king,
âðàò‚ðü - goalkeeper etc.
Names of months ending in -ü are all Masculine:
ÿíâ‚ðü - January, ôåâð‚ëü - February, etc.
«Natural» feminines are all Feminine:
ìàòü - mother, äî÷ü - daughter etc.
Nouns ending in -çíü, -ñòü, -ñü are Feminine:
æèçíü - life
í‹âîñòü - news
ï‹äïèñü - signature etc.
The Gender of other soft sign nouns
has to be learned individually.
h
Notice!
REPLACING SINGULAR NOUNS BY PERSONAL PRONOUNS
A noun could be replaced by the following personal pronouns
depending on the established gender:
Masculine nouns by îí - he, it
Ãäå âàø äðóã? Âîò îí.
Ãäå âàø äîì? Âîò îí.
Feminine nouns by îí‚ - she, it
Ãäå â‚øà ìàø‰íà? Âîò îí‚.
Ãäå â‚øà ì‚ìà?
Âîò îí‚.
Neuter nouns by îí‹ - it
Ãäå â‚øå ìˆñòî? Âîò îí‹.
Ãäå ¬òî çä‚íèå? Âîò îí‹.
Part 1
N
page 3
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
HOW TO ESTABLISH THE GENDER OF PLACE NAMES
All the place names could be divided into 2 groups:
First group
The place names have the endings which formally fit the Russian system
of endings:
M. Êèò‚é, Òàéë‚íä, Âüåòí‚ì, Àì˜ð, Åíèñˆé - îí
F. Ðîññ‰ÿ, Ôèíëµíäèÿ, Àìˆðèêà, ‹ëãà - îí‚
N. Ïðèì‹ðüå - îí‹
Second group
There are many place names which do not fit the Russian system of
endings:
Áàê˜, Ñ‹÷è, Òáèë‰ñè, Õˆëüñèíêè, Ìèññ˜ðè, Òà‰òè, Ò‹êèî, Îíò‚ðèî
These words exist only in this unchangeable (indeclinable) form. Their
gender is established in a special way (through association with the
«generic» word).
FOREIGN INDECLINABLE NOUNS AND THEIR GENDER AGREEMENT
There is a group of nouns of foreign origin in Russian which do not decline.
E.g.
øîññˆ - highway
ìåòð‹ - subway
òàêñ‰ - taxi, cab
êàôˆ - cafe
êóïˆ - compartment
ð‚äèî - radio (set)
êèí‹ - movies, cinema
àòåëüˆ - studio,dress shop
áþð‹ - office
èíòåðâüþ - interview
ïàëüò‹ - overcoat etc.
All these words are Neuter and their Gender agreement and pronoun
replacement is Neuter.
E.g.
̉íñêîå øîññˆ - Minsk highway - oí‹
èíòåðˆñíîå èíòåðâüþ - interesting interview - îí‹
í‹âîå ïàëüò‹ - new overcoat - îí‹
but ãîðµ÷èé ê‹ôå - Masculine - hot coffee
h
Notice!
Part 1
page 4
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
THE GENDER AGREEMENT BETWEEN NOUNS
AND CHARACTERIZING WORDS IN THE SINGULAR
The adjectives and adjectival words are registered in the dictionaries in the
Masculine.
You can make other gender forms on your own if you follow the rules which will
be stipulated further.
The gender agreement between nouns and adjectives
The Masculine adjectival endings which a foreign learner may trace from the
dictionary are as follows:
-ûé like in í‹âûé - new, èçâˆñòíûé - famous
-îé like in áîëüø‹é - big, large, ïëîõ‹é - bad, äîðîã‹é expensive, dear
-èé like in ð˜ññêèé - Russian, àíãë‰éñêèé - English, õîð‹øèé good, ì‚ëåíüêèé - small, little, ïîñëˆäíèé - last
So, these adjectives can be attached to the nouns the gender of
which is marked or established as Masculine, for example:
Masculine adjective + Masculine noun
M.
M.
í‹âûé + äîì
M.
M.
áîëüø‹é + äîì
M.
M.
õîð‹øèé + äîì
Feminine adjective + Feminine noun
To make a Feminine adjective to attach it to a Feminine noun, you have to
replace Masculine endings by -àÿ ending.
ûé, îé, èé àÿ
E.g.
M.
F.
F.
íîâûé íîâàÿ ìàøèíà
new
new car
M.
áîëüøîé
large, big
Part 1
F.
F.
áîëüøàÿ ìàøèíà
big car
page 5
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
M.
F.
ïëîõîé
bad
M.
F.
ïëîõàÿ ìàøèíà
bad car
F.
äîðîãîé
expensive
M.
àíãëèéñêèé
English
F.
F.
F.
àíãëèéñêàÿ øêîëà
English school
M.
F.
F.
äîðîãàÿ ìàøèíà õîðîøèé õîðîøàÿ øêîëà
good, nice
good school
expensive car
F.
ðóññêèé
Russian
M.
M.
F.
ðóññêàÿ øêîëà
Russian school
ìàëåíüêèé
small, little
F.
F.
ìàëåíüêàÿ øêîëà
small school
The only exception to this rule presents a limited group of
adjectives ending in -íèé like
ïîñëåäíèé - last, ðàííèé - early, ïîçäíèé - late etc.
h
Notice!
-èé in -íèé is replaced by -ÿÿ
ïîñëåäí|èé ïîñëåäí|ÿÿ ñòðàíèöà - last page
ïîçäí|èé ïîçäí|ÿÿ îñåíü - late autumn
Neuter adjective + Neuter noun
To make the Neuter adjective to attach it to a Neuter noun, you have to
replace -ûé, -îé or -èé by -îå:
íîâûé íîâîå ïàëüòî - new overcoat
áîëüøîé áîëüøîå îêíî - large window
ïëîõîé ïëîõîå ðàñïèñàíèå - bad schedule
ðóññêèé ðóññêîå ñëîâî - Russian word
ôèíñêèé ôèíñêîå ðàäèî - Finnish radio
ìàëåíüêèé ìàëåíüêîå îêíî - small window
Exception
But -èé is replaced by -åå if a Masculine adjective ends in
-íèé, -æèé, -øèé, -÷èé, -ùèé.
E.g.
ïîñëåäí|èé
ñâåæ|èé
õîðîø|èé
ãîðÿ÷|èé
íàñòîÿù|èé
Part 1
N.
N.
ïîñëåäí|åå ïèñüìî - last letter
ñâåæ|åå ìÿñî - fresh meat
õîðîø|åå íàñòðîåíèå - good mood
ãîðÿ÷|åå ìîëîêî - hot milk
íàñòîÿù|åå âðåìÿ - present time
h
Notice!
page 6
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
THE GENDER AGREEMENT BETWEEN ADJECTIVES
AND NOUNS OF ADJECTIVAL ORIGIN
An adjectival noun has the form of an adjective but functions as a noun.
Most of the adjectival nouns result from the omission of a noun qualified
Notice!
by the adjective, for example:
M. ó÷¸íûé (÷åëîâåê) - scientist
F. âàííàÿ (êîìíàòà) - bathroom
M. ðóññêèé (÷åëîâåê) - Russian (nat.)
F. íàáåðåæíàÿ (óëèöà) - embankment
M. áåçðàáîòíûé (÷åëîâåê)-unemployed N. âòîðîå (áëþäî) - second course
N. ãîðÿ÷åå (áëþäî) - main course
F. ðóññêàÿ (æåíùèíà) - Russian (nat.)
N. ìîðîæåíîå - ice-cream
F. ñòîëîâàÿ (êîìíàòà) - dining-room
h
So, the adjectival nouns are qualified like normal nouns:
M.
M.
h
èçâåñòíûé + ó÷¸íûé - famous scientist
F.
F.
áîëüøàÿ + ñòîëîâàÿ - large dining-room
N.
Notice!
N.
âêóñíîå + ìîðîæåíîå - delicious ice-cream
The possessive pronouns used as characterizing words
Ýòî ìîé äîì. M
This is my house.
N
Ýòî ìî¸ ìåñòî.
This is my seat.
My
Ýòî ìîÿ ìàøèíà.
This is my car.
F
M
Ýòî íàøå ìåñòî.
This is our seat. N
Ýòî âàø äîì?
Is this your house? M
Ýòî íàø äîì.
This is our house.
Our
Ýòî íàøà ìàøèíà.
F This is our car.
Ýòî âàøà ìàøèíà?
Ýòî òâîé äîì?
Your Is this your car?
Is this your house?
N (from «âû») F
M
Ýòî âàøå ìåñòî?
Ýòî òâîÿ ìàøèíà?
Is this your seat?
Ýòî òâî¸ ìåñòî?
Your Is this your car?
Is this your seat? N (from «òû») F
Part 1
page 7
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Possessive pronouns åãî (his), å¸ (her), èõ (their) do not
change according to the gender principle, they exist only in one
unchangeable form:
åãî
(his)
èõ
(their)
åãî äîì - his house
åãî ìàøèíà - his car
åãî ìåñòî - his place
å¸
(her)
èõ äîì - their house
èõ ìàøèíà - their car
èõ ìåñòî - their place
h
Notice!
å¸ äîì - her house
å¸ ìàøèíà - her car
å¸ ìåñòî - her place
Summary
ìîé, íàø, âàø, òâîé, åãî, å¸, èõ
+ äîì
ìîÿ, íàøà, âàøà, òâîÿ, åãî, å¸, èõ + ìàøèíà
ìî¸, íàøå, âàøå, òâî¸, åãî, å¸, èõ + ìåñòî
The demonstrative and determinative pronouns
used as characterizing words
ýòîò - this, the... close to hand
Âîò ýòîò äîì.
M Here is this house.
Âîò ýòî ìåñòî.
Here is this place. N
ýòî... - this is, that is M.
Ýòî ìîé äîì.
This is my house.
F.
this
F
Âîò ýòà ìàøèíà.
Here is this car.
special case!
Ýòî ìîÿ ìàøèíà.
This is my car.
N.
Ýòî ìî¸ ìåñòî.
This is my seat.
Notice!
It is necessary to distinguish the characterizing ýòî, which changes
according to genders and ýòî used in the meaning of «this is, that is,
these are, those are». The latter is not a characterizing word, and it does
not change according to genders.
Part 1
page 8
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
òîò - that one, the one which was meant, distant object
M Âîò òîò äîì.
Here is that house.
Âîò òî ìåñòî. N
Here is that place.
that
F Âîò òà óëèöà.
Here is that street.
òàêîé - this kind, the same
Òàêîé äîì?
M This kind of house?
this
kind
N
Òàêîå ïèâî?
This kind of beer?
òàêîé
-
F
Òàêàÿ ìàøèíà?
This kind of car?
used in expressive sentences like:
M Ñåãîäíÿ òàêîé âåòåð!
It is so windy today!
N
Ñåãîäíÿ òàêîå ñîëíöå!
It is so sunny today!
F
Ñåãîäíÿ òàêàÿ æàðà!
It is so hot today!
òàêîé - what a..., combines with long adjectives:
Òàêîé ñèëüíûé âåòåð!
M
What a heavy wind!
Òàêîå æàðêîå ëåòî!
What a hot summer!
Part 1
N
F
Òàêàÿ ñèëüíàÿ ãðîçà!
What a heavy thunderstorm!
page 9
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Similar meaning could be rendered by
êàêîé - such a..., what a ...
Êàêîé ñèëüíûé âåòåð!
M What a heavy wind!
Êàêîå æàðêîå ëåòî!
What a hot summer! N
Êàêàÿ ñèëüíàÿ ãðîçà!
F What a heavy thunderstorm!
òàêîé æå - the same, the same kind as,
combines with long adjectives:
M
Òàêîé æå äîì.
The same kind of house.
Òàêàÿ æå ìàøèíà.
F The same kind of car.
Òàêîå æå ïèâî.
The same kind of beer. N
ñàìûé - the very, the most, most
Indicates precise location:
Ì. Ýòî ñàìûé öåíòð ãîðîäà. It`s the very centre of the city.
Combines with long adjectives to denote superlative meaning:
Ýòî ñàìûé áîëüøîé äîì. M
This is the biggest house.
Ýòî ñàìàÿ äîðîãàÿ ìàøèíà.
This is the most expensive car.
N
F
Ýòî ñàìîå óäîáíîå ìåñòî.
This is the most comfortable seat.
òîò ñàìûé - the same, the very, mentioned before
Âîò òîò ñàìûé äîì.
M
Âîò òî ñàìîå ìåñòî.
N
Part 1
Âîò òà ñàìàÿ ìàøèíà.
F
page 10
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
The Interrogative Pronouns used as characterizing words
The Interrogative Pronouns are used in questions:
êàêîé - what, which, what kind of, what is the number of..?
Êàêîé?
M
Êàêàÿ?
Êàêîå?
F
N
Êàêîé ó âàñ âàãîí?
What is your carriage number?
What is the class of your carriage?
Êàêîé îí ÷åëîâåê?
What kind of person is he?
Êàêîé ó âàñ òåëåôîí?
What is your telephone number?
What kind of telephone do you have?
Êàêàÿ çàâòðà áóäåò ïîãîäà? What is the weather like tomorrow?
Êàêàÿ ó âàñ êâàðòèðà?
What kind of apartment do you have?
What is the number of your apartment?
Êàêîå ó âàñ êóïå?
What is the number of your compartment?
What is the class of your compartment?
Êàêîå ó âàñ ìåñòî?
What is the number of your seat?
÷åé? - Whose..?
Who is the owner? To whom it belongs?
÷åé? ×åé ýòî äîì?
M Whose is this house?
N whose? F
÷ü¸?
×ü¸ ýòî êóïå?
Whose is this compartment?
Part 1
÷üÿ? ×üÿ ýòî ìàøèíà?
Whose is this car?
page 11
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Other characterizing words
âåñü - all, the whole
âåñü äåíü - the whole day
M
âñÿ ñòðàíà
all,
âñ¸ âðåìÿ - all the time N the whole F - the whole country
îäèí - one, a...
îäíî ìåñòî
- one seat, a place N
îäèí äîì
M - one house, a house
a...
one,
F
îäíà ìàøèíà
- one car, a car
ñàì - is an emphatic pronoun, it can characterize both nouns and
personal pronouns:
M îí ñàì - he himself
ñàìî - by itself N
...self
F îíà ñàìà - she herself
THE GENDER OF NOUNS DENOTING PROFESSIONS IN RUSSIAN
Names of professions ending in consonants and the soft sign are
exclusively masculine as originally they were male dominated.
Notice!
Îíà
E.g.: Îí
profession
âðà÷ - doctor
Ì.
h
Ì.
õîðîøèé âðà÷
Ì.
Ì.
õîðîøèé âðà÷
The characterizing words are always Masculine irrespective of sex:
Some other popular nouns denoting professions:
Äèêòîð - announcer, äèðåêòîð - director, ó÷èòåëü - teacher,
ïðåäñåäàòåëü - chairman, ïðîôåññîð - professor, ïîâàð - cook,
èíæåíåð - engineer, áóõãàëòåð - bookkeeper, òðåíåð - trainer,
ýêñêóðñîâîä - guide, ðåæèññ¸ð - film-director, ôîòîãðàô photographer, ðåäàêòîð - editor etc.
Part 1
page 12
The Gender Agreement of Russian Nouns in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Part 2
The Plural of Nouns.
The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
SINGULAR - ONLY NOUNS
Not all the nouns have both Singular and Plural forms.
There are nouns which exist only in the Singular.
They include nouns which denote:
«collectives»:
h
Notice!
ïîñóäà - dishware, ìåáåëü - furniture, îáóâü - footware, îðóæèå weapons,
îäåæäà - clothes, êîñìåòèêà - cosmetics, etc.
human activities:
ïîëèòèêà - policy/politics, ïðîìûøëåííîñòü - industry, ýêîíîìèêà
- economy/economics, ìåäèöèíà - medicine, ñïîðò - sports,
òåëåâèäåíèå - television, ðàäèî - radio, etc.
substances; foods, cereals, fruits and vegetables:
çîëîòî - gold, íåôòü - oil, øåðñòü - wool, ìàñëî - oil, butter, ïèâî
- beer, ðèñ - rice, ìÿñî - meat, ìóêà - flour, âèíîãðàä - grapes,
èçþì - raisins, êàïóñòà - cabbage, ëóê - onion, øîêîëàä chocolate, etc.
feelings and sensations: ñ÷àñòüå - happiness, çàâèñòü - envy, etc.
FORMATION OF PLURAL NOUNS
The nouns of all Genders make Plural forms with the help of 2 groups
of endings: First Group
-û or -è ending: Big Group of Masculine& Feminine Nouns
Second Group
-à or -ÿ ending: Small Group of Masculine & Neuter Nouns
First Group: Masculine & Feminine Nouns
-û ending («hard line») after hard consonants
Singular
Plural
M. ÷åìîäàí
M. êîìïüþòåð
M. èíîñòðàíåö
÷åìîäàíû - suitcases
êîìïüþòåðû - computers
èíîñòðàíöû - foreigners etc.
-û ending instead of -à
F. ìàøèíà ìàøèíû - cars
F. êâàðòèðà êâàðòèðû - apartments
F. æåíùèíà æåíùèíû - women
etc.
Part 2
page 13
The Plural of Nouns. The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Singular
M.
M.
M.
M.
F.
M.
F.
F.
Plural
äåíü
ñëîâàðü
ðóáëü
ãîñòü
íî÷ü
ìóçåé
íåäåëÿ
ôîòîãðàôèÿ
äíè
ñëîâàðè
ðóáëè
ãîñòè
íî÷è
ìóçåè
íåäåëè
ôîòîãðàôèè -
days
dictionaries
roubles
guests
nights
museums
weeks
photos
ã, ê, õ,+ è
Singular
Special cases!
Plural
F. êíèãà êíèãè - books
M. ó÷åáíèê ó÷åáíèêè -textbooks
F. ñïè÷êà ñïè÷êè - matches
M. ñëóõ
ñëóõè - rumours
F.
etc.
M.
M.
M.
æ, ÷, ø, ù + è
Singular
Plural
ëûæè - skies
íîæ‰ - knives
âðà÷‰ - doctors
ïëàù‰ - raincoats
etc.
Second Group: Masculine and Neuter nouns
This group is much smaller than the -û, -è group but the nouns are
frequently used.
-‚ ending («hard line») after hard consonants in the Masculine nouns
Singular
ãîðîä
äîì
ëåñ
ïîåçä
âå÷åð
îñòðîâ
öâåò
áåðåã
ïàñïîðò
ñ÷¸ò
íîìåð
ìàñòåð
Part 2
ëûæà
íîæ
âðà÷
ïëàù
Plural
ãîðîä‚
äîì‚
ëåñ‚
ïîåçä‚
âå÷åð‚
îñòðîâ‚
öâåò‚
áåðåã‚
ïàñïîðò‚
ñ÷åò‚
íîìåð‚
ìàñòåð‚
- cities, towns
- houses
- forests, woods
- trains
- evenings
- islands
- colors
- banks, coasts
- passports
- bills, accounts
- numbers, hotel rooms
- craftsmen etc.
page 14
The Plural of Nouns. The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
-è ending («soft line») instead of -ü, -é and -ÿ
ending instead of -o in Neuter nouns («hard line»)
-‚
‹çåðî
ñë‹âî
ëèö‹
êðˆñëî
ÿéö‹
ïèñüì‹
îêí‹
ñòåêë‹
also âðˆìÿ
îç¸ðà - lakes
ñëîâ‚ - words
ë‰öà - faces
êðˆñëà - armchairs
ÿéöà - eggs
ï‰ñüìà - letters
‹êíà - windows
ñò¸êëà - window glasses etc.
âðåìåí‚ - times
‰ìÿ
èìåí‚ - names
-ÿ ending («soft line») instead of -å in Neuter nouns
ïîëå
ïîëÿ - fields
çäàíèå
çäàíèÿ - buildings
ïðåäëîæåíèå
ïðåäëîæåíèÿ - sentences, offers
SPECIAL CASES OF PLURAL NOUN FORMATION
Singular
äðóã
Plural
äåðåâî
áðàò
ñûí
ñòóë
ëèñò
äðóçüÿ - friends
äåðåâüÿ - trees
áðàòüÿ - brothers
ñûíîâüÿ - sons
ñòóëüÿ - chairs
ëèñòüÿ - leaves
Singular
ðåá¸íîê
÷åëîâåê
Part 2
Plural
Singular
Plural
ñîñåä ñîñåäè - neighbours
ãîñïîäèí ãîñïîäà - sirs,
ladies & gentlemen
õîçÿèí õîçÿåâà - owners
ÿáëîêî ÿáëîêè - apples
óõî
óøè - ears
äåòè - children
ëþäè - people
page 15
The Plural of Nouns. The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Singular
õðèñòèàíèí
Plural
õðèñòèàíå - Christians
ìóñóëüìàíå -Muslims
ðîññèÿíå - citizens of Russia
àíãëè÷àíå - English
äàò÷àíå - Danes
êðåñòüÿíå -peasants
ãðàæäàíå - citizens
àðìÿíå - Armenians
öûãàíå - Gypsies
etc.
ìóñóëüìàíèí
ðîññèÿíèí
àíãëè÷àíèí
äàò÷àíèí
êðåñòüÿíèí
ãðàæäàíèí
àðìÿíèí
öûãàí
êîò¸íîê
êîòÿòà - kittens
öûïë¸íîê
öûïëÿòà - chiñken
etc.
PLURAL-ONLY NOUNS
Some nouns do not have the Singular form. They exist only in the Plural
form (registered in the dictionaries in the Plural form). These words denote:
objects which consist of two parts:
î÷êè - glasses, íîæíèöû - scissors, âåñû - scales, êà÷åëè swings, âîðîòà - gate, áðþêè - trousers, äæèíñû - jeans, òðóñû
- pants, êîëãîòêè - tights etc.
collective actions:
êàíèêóëû - school or university vacation, ïåðåãîâîðû negotiations, âûáîðû - elections, ãàñòðîëè - tour (of artists),
ïîõîðîíû - funeral, ïðîâîäû - farewell party, ïðÿòêè - hide and
seak, ðîäû - childbirth etc.
also the following words:
äåíüãè - money, øàõìàòû - chess, ÷àñû - clock, watch, êóðàíòû
- chimes, òèòðû - subtitles, êóäðè - curls, ñàíêè - sledge, îïèëêè
- saw-dust, îáîè - wallpaper, äðîâà - firewood, ìåìóàðû memoirs, ñ÷¸òû - abacus, àïëîäèñìåíòû - applause etc.
Part 2
page 16
The Plural of Nouns. The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
äóõè - perfume, ùè - cabbage-soup, ìàêàðîíû - spaghetti,
êîíñåðâû - preserves, ñëèâêè - cream etc.
ñóòêè - 24 hours period, ñóìåðêè - dusk, çàìîðîçêè - early frost
Some place names
some mountains:
Êàðïàòû, Àëüïû, Ãèìàëàè, Àíäû etc.
some islands:
Êóðèëû, Ãàâàéè, Êàíàðû, Áåðìóäû, Ôàðåðû etc.
some countries:
Ôèëèïïèíû, Íèäåðëàíäû, Ñîåäèí¸ííûå Øòàòû Àìåðèêè
also
òðîïèêè - tropics, äæóíãëè - jungle
Ëóæíèêè, Ñîêîëüíèêè, and lot of other geographic names mainly
denoting villages and towns on the territory of the former Soviet Union.
PERSONAL PRONOUNS IN THE PLURAL
All the plural nouns can be replaced by the personal pronoun îíè
îíè
they
E.g. Ýòî ìîè äðóçüÿ.
Ýòî ìîè êíèãè.
These are my books.
Îíè íà ïîëêå.
They are on the shelf.
Part 2
These are my friends.
Îíè ñåé÷àñ æèâóò â Ëîíäîíå.
They live in London now.
page 17
The Plural of Nouns. The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN NOUNS AND CHARACTERIZING WORDS
IN THE PLURAL
The Plural of Adjectives
Characterizing words also have the Plural form. All three Singular forms
- Masculine, Feminine and Neuter fall into one Plural form:
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
Plural
ûé, îé group, for example:
Plural
Singular
M.
F.
N.
íîâûå äîìà - new houses
íîâûå ìàøèíû - new cars
íîâûå ñëîâà - new words
íîâûé äîì - new house
íîâàÿ ìàøèíà - new car
íîâîå ñëîâî - new word
Singular
M.
F.
N.
Plural
çîëîòîé áðàñëåò - golden bracelet
çîëîòàÿ ìåäàëü - gold medal
çîëîòîå êîëüöî - golden ring
çîëîòûå ìåäàëè
- gold medals
Summing - up table
M.
F.
N. Plural
-ûé - àÿ - îå - ûå
-îé - àÿ - îå - ûå
íèé group, for example:
ïîñëåäíèé óðîê - last lesson
F. ïîñëåäíÿÿ ñòðàíèöà - last page
N. ïîñëåäíåå ñëîâî - last word
M.
Plural
Summing - up table
M.
N.
Plural
-íèé -íÿÿ -íåå
-íèå
Part 2
F.
ïîñëåäíèå óðîêè - last lessons
ïîñëåäíèå ñòðàíèöû - last pages
ïîñëåäíèå ñëîâà - last words
page 18
The Plural of Nouns. The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
MIXED PLURAL ADJECTIVAL ENDINGS
A big group of commonly used adjectives has the following peculiarities in
the Plural formation:
The adjectives with stems ending in ã, ê, õ
have -èå Plural ending
(both spelt and pronounced), for example:
-ãèé, -êèé, -õèé,
-ãîé, -êîé, -õîé
group
strict
ñòðîãèé
ñòðîãàÿ
ñòðîãîå
M.
F.
N.
Plural
M.
ñòðîãèå
F.
N.
Russian
ðóññêèé
ðóññêàÿ
ðóññêîå
M.
F.
N.
M.
F.
N.
Plural
ðóññêèå
sity, urban
ãîðîäñêîé Plural
ãîðîäñêàÿ ãîðîäñêèå
ãîðîäñêîå
M.
F.
M.
F.
N.
expensive, dear
äîðîãîé Plural
äîðîãàÿ äîðîãèå
äîðîãîå
bad, poor
ïëîõîé Plural
ïëîõàÿ ïëîõèå
ïëîõîå
N.
quiet, calm
òèõèé Plural
òèõàÿ òèõèå
òèõîå
Summing - up table
M.
F.
N.
Pl.
ãèé - ãàÿ - ãîå - ãèå
êèé - êàÿ - êîå - êèå
õèé - õàÿ - õîå - õèå
Part 2
M.
F.
N.
Pl.
ãîé - ãàÿ - ãîå - ãèå
êîé - êàÿ - êîå - êèå
õîé - õàÿ - õîå - õèå
page 19
The Plural of Nouns. The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
The adjectives with stem in æ, ø, ÷, ù
have their Plural form spelt with -èå,
but pronounced -ûå, e.g.:
-æèé, -øèé, -÷èé,
-ùèé, -æîé, -øîé
group
M.
F.
N.
fresh
ñâåæèå
ñâåæàÿ
ñâåæåå
Plural
ñâåæèå
M.
F.
N.
M.
F.
N.
M.
F.
N.
good, nice
õîðîøèé
õîðîøàÿ
õîðîøåå
hot
ãîðÿ÷èé
ãîðÿ÷àÿ
ãîðÿ÷åå
Plural
M.
õîðîøèå
F.
N.
Plural
M.
ãîðÿ÷èå
F.
N.
big, large
áîëüøîé Plural
áîëüøàÿ áîëüøèå
áîëüøîå
alien
÷óæîé
÷óæàÿ
÷óæîå
Plural
÷óæèå
present, real, true, genuine
íàñòîÿùèé Plural
íàñòîÿùàÿ íàñòîÿùèå
íàñòîÿùåå
Summing - up table
M.
F.
N.
Pl.
æèé - æàÿ - æåå - æèå
æîé - æàÿ - æîå - æèå
øèé - øàÿ - øåå - øèå
M.
F.
N.
Pl.
øîé - øàÿ - øîå - øèå
÷èé - ÷àÿ - ÷åå - ÷èå
ùèé - ùàÿ - ùåå - ùèå
Memorize
Ñâåæèå ãîðÿ÷èå õîðîøèå áîëüøèå õðóñòÿùèå áóëî÷êè fresh hot good big crunchy buns
Part 2
page 20
The Plural of Nouns. The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
The Possessive pronouns in the Plural
my
M. ìîé
F. ìîÿ
N. ìî¸
Plural
ìîè
ìîè êëþ÷è
- my keys
our
M. íàø
F. íàøà
N. íàøå
your from «âû»
M. âàø
F. âàøà
N. âàøå
Plural
âàøè
âàøè êëþ÷è
- your keys
Plural
íàøè
íàøè êëþ÷è
- our keys
your from «òû»
M. òâîé
F. òâîÿ
N. òâî¸
Plural
òâîè
òâîè êëþ÷è
- your keys
But his - åãî, her - å¸, their - èõ have only one form for all Genders
and Numbers:
åãî êëþ÷è - his keys, å¸ êëþ÷è - her keys, èõ êëþ÷è - their keys
The Demonstrative pronouns in the Plural
M. ýòîò
F. ýòà
N. ýòî
M. òàêîé
F. òàêàÿ
N. òàêîå
Plural
Plural
òàêèå
M. òàêîé æå
F. òàêàÿ æå
N. òàêîå æå
Part 2
ýòè
ýòè êëþ÷è
- these keys
òàêèå êëþ÷è
- this kind of keys
M. òîò
F. òà
N. òî
M. êàêîé
F. êàêàÿ
N. êàêîå
Plural
òå
òå êëþ÷è
- those keys
Plural
êàêèå
Êàêèå èäèîòû!
- What kind of idiots
they are!
Plural
òàêèå æå
òàêèå æå êëþ÷è
- same kind of keys
page 21
The Plural of Nouns. The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
M. ñàìûé äîðîãîé
F. ñàìàÿ äîðîãàÿ
N. ñàìîå äîðîãîå
M. òîò ñàìûé
F. òà ñàìàÿ
N. òî ñàìîå
Plural
ñàìûå äîðîãèå ñàìûå äîðîãèå ìàãàçèíû
- most expensive shops
Plural
òå ñàìûå òå ñàìûå êëþ÷è - same kind of keys
The Interrogative Pronouns in the Plural
What kind of?
What?
Whose?
M. êàêîé?
F. êàêàÿ?
N. êàêîå?
M. ÷åé?
F. ÷üÿ?
N. ÷ü¸?
Plural
êàêèå? Êàêèå ó âàñ ïëàíû?
What are your plans?
Plural
÷üè? ×üè ýòî êëþ÷è?
Whose are these keys?
h
îäíè - only, alone, a pair of ...
M. îäèí
F. îäíà
N. îäíî
Notice!
Plural
îäíè
îäíè î÷êè - one pair of glasses
Òàì áûëè îäíè äåòè.
There were only children there. etc.
1
The Plural of Other Characterizing Words - all, the whole
M. âåñü
F. âñ¸
N. âñÿ
M. ñàì
F. ñàìà
N. ñàìî
Plural
âñå
âñå âåùè - all the things
âñå ëþäè - all the people
Plural
ñàìè ...selves
îíè ñàìè -they themselves
also ìíîãèå - many (people)
íåêîòîðûå - some (people)
Part 2
page 22
The Plural of Nouns. The Number Agreement of Russian Nouns.
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Part 3
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives
and Adjectival Words in the Singular
In this part you will learn the main case forms (declension types) of
nouns in the Singular
adjectives and adjectival characterizing words in the Singular
GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE CASE SYSTEM
THE CASE SYSTEM AS THE RESULT OF THE GOVERNING PROCESS
As mentioned in Part 1 there are two main types of relations between the
words in a Russian sentence: the Agreement and the Governing.
The Agreement in units was discussed in the first two Parts.
Part 3 of the Grammar Book deals with the Governing.
Words and units being put together to form a Russian sentence (to express
some idea) are practically never equal.
Some words (or simple constructions) govern other words causing changes
in their endings.
Various kinds of endings have been «pigeon-holed» or classified into the cases.
The «governors» are mainly as follows:
verbs with or without prepositions
prepositions
all quantitative words including cardinal numerals from 2
nouns in the qualifying combinations
negative constructions
impersonal constructions
The «subordinates» of the governing process are mainly as follows:
nouns
units (characterizing words + nouns)
personal pronouns
interrogative, indefinite and negative pronouns,
based on personal pronouns
numerals, both cardinal and ordinal
Part 3
page 23
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
There are 6 cases in Russian:
1. The Nominative
4. The Accusative
2. The Genitive
5. The Instrumental
3. The Dative
6.The Prepositional
The Singular case endings of nouns and units (which are
characterizing words + nouns), fall into two main groups:
First group
Masculine & Neuter
Second group
Feminine
The Plural case endings of nouns and units form one group :
N
M
Plural
F
Special attention has to be paid
to the mosaic-like Genitive Plural endings of nouns.
h
Notice!
Try to memorize the case endings
in combinations with prepositions
or verbs most typical for this case.
Part 3
page 24
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
THE DECLENSION OF MASCULINE NOUNS IN THE SINGULAR
All nouns are registered in the dictionaries in the Nominative case form.
Hard-ending Masculine nouns
All Masculine nouns, full first names and place names ending in a hard or
hissing consonant decline on the following pattern:
Nom.
Ýòî Èâàí.
Gen.
Ó Èâàíà åñòü ñîáàêà. Ivan has a dog.
Dat.
Íàäî ïîçâîíèòü Èâàíó. I have to call Ivan.
Acc. =Gen.
Instr.
Prep.
Type
Èâàí
óðîê
Ïåòåðáóðã
ß çíàþ Èâàíà. I know Ivan.
ß åäó ñ Èâàíîì. I go with Ivan.
Ìû ãîâîðèëè îá Èâàíå. We spoke about Ivan.
Mind that the case endings are attached to consonants
but replace vowels, é and ü (soft sign).
h
Notice!
Nom.
óðîê - lesson
Gen.
ïîñëå óðîêà - after the lesson
Dat.
Îí íå ãîòîâ ê óðîêó. He is not ready for the lesson.
Acc. =Nom.
Instr.
Prep.
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Îí ïðîïóñòèë óðîê. He missed (skipped) the lesson.
ïåðåä óðîêîì - before the lesson
íà óðîêå - at the lesson
Ýòî Ïåòåðáóðã.
Îí æèâ¸ò íåäàëåêî îò Ïåòåðáóðãà.
He lives not far from Petersburg.
Ìû ãóëÿëè ïî Ïåòåðáóðãó.
We walked about Petersburg.
Acc. =Nom.
Instr.
Prep.
Part 3
ß åäó â Ïåòåðáóðã. I am going to Petersburg.
Ýòî ðÿäîì ñ Ïåòåðáóðãîì. It is close to Petersburg.
Îí æèâ¸ò â Ïåòåðáóðãå. He lives in Petersburg.
page 25
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Soft-ending Masculine nouns
The ending vowel can vary depending on the stem consonant.
If a stem consonant is soft (ends in a soft sign) or ends in é,
then a Masculine noun declines on the following pattern:
Type
Íèêîëàé
ó÷èòåëü
Nom.
Ýòî Íèêîëàé.
Gen.
Áèëåòû ó Íèêîëàÿ. Nikolay has the tickets.
Dat.
Íàäî ïîçâîíèòü Íèêîëàþ. I have to call Nikolay.
Acc. = Gen.
ß çíàþ Íèêîëàÿ. I know Nikolay.
Instr.
ß åäó ñ Íèêîëàåì. I go with Nikolay.
Prep.
Ìû ãîâîðèëè î Íèêîëàå. We spoke about Nikolay.
Nom. Ýòî ó÷èòåëü.
Gen.
Êíèãà ó ó÷èòåëÿ.
The teacher has the book.
Dat.
Íàäî ïîçâîíèòü ó÷èòåëþ.
I have to call the teacher.
Acc.=Gen.
ß âèäåë ó÷èòåëÿ. I saw the teacher.
Instr.
ß åäó ñ ó÷èòåëåì. I go with the teacher.
Prep.
Ìû ãîâîðèëè îá ó÷èòåëå. We spoke about the teacher.
Part 3
page 26
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Nom.
õîêêåé
Gen.
Ñåãîäíÿ íåò õîêêåÿ. There is no hockey today.
Dat.
÷åìïèîíàò ìèðà ïî õîêêåþ - World hockey championship
Acc. = Nom.
Îí ëþáèò õîêêåé. - He is fond of hockey.
Îí çàíèìàåòñÿ õîêêååì. He goes in for hockey.
Îí ãîâîðèò òîëüêî î õîêêåå. He talks only of hockey.
Instr.
Prep.
Summing-up table of hard and soft Masculine case endings
«Hard»
Gen.
Dat.
Instr.
à
ó
îì
«Soft»
ÿ
þ
åì
Èâàíà/Íèêîëàÿ
Èâàíó/Íèêîëàþ
Èâàíîì/Íèêîëàåì
THE ACCUSATIVE OF MASCULINE NOUNS IN THE SINGULAR
The Accusative of Masculine nouns does not have any special ending.
Here Russians use the concept of Animacy and Inanimacy.
Animate nouns, which are nouns denoting human beings and
representatives of the animal world, take the form of the Genitive case.
E.g.
Ýòî Èâàí. - Nom.
ß âèäåë Èâàíà. - Acc.
Ýòî êðîêîäèë. - Nom.
ß âèäåë êðîêîäèëà. - Acc.
àÿ
Part 3
page 27
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Inanimate nouns take the form of the Nominative case, so the Accusative
of inanimate nouns does not differ from the dictionary form, for example:
Nom.
Acc.
óðîê
ß ïðîïóñòèë óðîê.
Summing-up table of Masculine nouns and names in the Accusative
Accusative of
Animates=Genitive
ß âèäåë Èâàíà.
ß âèäåë Íèêîëàÿ.
ß âèäåë êðîêîäèëà.
ß âèäåë ó÷èòåëÿ.
Accusative of
Animates=Genitive
ß ïðîïóñòèë óðîê.
ß ëþáëþ õîêêåé.
ß åäó â Ïåòåðáóðã.
ß ëþáëþ äîæäü.
Some special case endings of the Masculine nouns in the Singular
There is a group of Masculine nouns denoting a place
which take ˜/þ instead of e in the Prepositional Case.
Here are some of them:
h
Notice!
ïîë
íà ïîë˜ - on the floor
ãîä
â 1985 ãîä˜ - in 1985
ñàä
Ìû ñèäåëè â ñàä˜. We were sitting in the garden.
ïîðò
â ïîðò˜ - in the port
àýðîïîðò â àýðîïîðò˜ - at the airport
ëåñ
Ìû ãóëÿëè â ëåñ˜. We walked in the forest.
øêàô
Ïàïêè â øêàô˜. The files are in the bookcase.
ìîñò
Íà ìîñò˜ ïðîáêà. There is a traffic jam on the bridge.
Part 3
page 28
Êðûì Ðàíüøå ÿ æèë â Êðûì˜. I lived before in the Crimea.
Êîðîáêà ñòîèò â óãë˜. The box is in the corner.
óãîë
áåðåã Äîì ñòîÿë íà áåðåã˜. The house stood on the bank.
àä â àä˜ - in hell
ðàé â ðàþ - in paradise
Some Masculine nouns ending in ö, ÷, ù, ø and æ take -eì
ending instead of -oì when the ending is unstressed:
ìóæ ñ ì˜æåì
èíîñòðàíåö ñ èíîñòð‚íöåì
Some Masculine nouns ending in ü (soft sign) take -¸ì ending
in the Instrumental Case:
äåíü
ñëîâàðü
Ñ äí¸ì ðîæäåíèÿ! Happy birthday!
ñî ñëîâàð¸ì - with a dictionary
THE DECLENSION OF NEUTER NOUNS IN THE SINGULAR
The Neuter nouns have the same
case endings as the Masculine nouns
h
Notice!
Hard ending Neuter nouns
Neuter nouns ending in î decline like the Masculine noun óðîê,
for example:
Nom.
Gen.
Âîò ‹çåðî. Here is the lake.
Íàøà äà÷à íåäàëåêî îò îçåðà.
Our summer cottage is not far from the lake.
Ýòî äîðîãà ê ‹çåðó. This road goes to the lake.
Dat.
Acc. = Nom.
Instr.
Prep.
ß èäó íà ‹çåðî. I am going to the lake.
Íàøà äà÷à ðÿäîì ñ ‹çåðîì. Our summer cottage is close
to the lake.
Íàøà äà÷à íà ‹çåðå. Our summer cottage is on the lake.
Part 3
page 29
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Neuter nouns ending in -å decline like the soft Masculine noun
õîêêåé, for example:
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Âîò ìîðå. - Here is the sea.
Îí æèâ¸ò íåäàëåêî îò ìîðÿ.
He lives not far from the sea.
Ýòî äîðîãà ê ìîðþ.
This road goes to the sea.
Acc. = Nom.
Instr.
Prep.
ß ëþáëþ ìîðå. - I like sea.
Îí æèâ¸ò ðÿäîì ñ ìîðåì.
He lives close to the sea.
Íàøà äà÷à íà ìîðå.
Our summer cottage is on the sea.
Nom. = Acc. = Prep.
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Ýòî Ïîäìîñêîâüå. - This is the Moscow region
Âîò êàðòà Ïîäìîñêîâüÿ.
Here is the map of the Moscow region.
Îí ìíîãî åçäèò ïî Ïîäìîñêîâüþ.
He travels a lot about the Moscow region.
Acc. = Nom.
Instr.
Prep.
Îí õîðîøî çíàåò Ïîäìîñêîâüå.
He knows the Moscow region very well.
Ýòîò ðàéîí ãðàíè÷èò ñ Ïîäìîñêîâüåì.
This area borders the Moscow region.
Îí æèâ¸ò â Ïîäìîñêîâüå.
He lives in the Moscow region.
Nom. = Acc. = Prep.
Part 3
page 30
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Neuter nouns ending in -èå, like ðàñïèñàíèå decline like ìîðå,
except for the Prepositional, for example:
Nom.
ðàñïèñàíèå - schedule, timetable
Gen.
íåò ðàñïèñàíèÿ - no schedule
Dat.
ïî ðàñïèñàíèþ - on schedule
Acc. = Nom.
ß âèäåë ðàñïèñàíèå - I saw the schedule
Instr.
ïðîáëåìû ñ ðàñïèñàíèåì
- problems with the schedule
Prep.
h
Notice!
â ðàñïèñàíèè - in the schedule
Several Neuter nouns, like âðåìÿ - time, èìÿ - first name,
and some others, decline as follows:
Nom.
âðåìÿ - time
Gen.
Ó Èâàíà íåò âðåìåí|è.
h
Notice!
Ivan has no time.
Dat.
ïëàòèòü ïî âðåìåí|è to pay according to time
Acc. = Nom.
Îí òîëüêî ïîòåðÿë âðåìÿ.
He only lost time.
Instr.
Ó Èâàíà âñåãäà ïðîáëåìû ñî âðåìåí|åì.
Ivan is always short of time.
Prep.
Îí çàáûë î âðåìåí|è.
He forgot about time.
Part 3
page 31
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
THE DECLENSION OF FEMININE NOUNS IN THE SINGULAR
Main types of endings
Type
Ìîñêâà
Type
Type
Òàíÿ
Ðîññèÿ
Type Ìîñêâà
Type
ïëîùàäü
Type Òàíÿ
Gen. Âîò êàðòà Ìîñêâû.
Dat. Ìû ãóëÿëè ïî Ìîñêâå.
Acc. ß ïëîõî çíàþ Ìîñêâó.
Instr. Ìîé äðóã æèâ¸ò ïîä Ìîñêâîé.
Prep.ß æèâó â Ìîñêâå.
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
Ýòî Òàíÿ.
Ó Òàíè íîâàÿ ìàøèíà.
Íàäî ïîçâîíèòü Òàíå.
Âû çíàåòå Òàíþ?
ß åäó ñ Òàíåé.
Ìû ãîâîðèì î Òàíå.
Gen. Âîò êàðòà Ðîññèè.
Type Ðîññèÿ
Dat.
Acc.
Instr.
Prep.
Here is the map of Russia.
ß ìíîãî åçäèë ïî Ðîññèè.
I travelled a lot about Russia.
ß ïðèåõàë â Ðîññèþ ãîä íàçàä.
I came to Russia a year ago.
Ìû ïîäïèñàëè äîãîâîð ñ Ðîññèåé.
We signed a treaty with Russia.
ß ñåé÷àñ æèâó â Ðîññèè.
Now I live in Russia.
Type ïëîùàäü
Type
Ìîñêâà
Nom.
-à
Gen.
-û
D a t.
-å
Acc.
-ó
Instr.
-îé
P r ep.
-å
Part 3
Type
Ò àí ÿ
near the square
-ÿ,-üÿ Dat. ïî ïëîùàäè by the square
-è
-å
Type
Type
Ðîññèÿ ïëîùàäü
Gen. îêîëî ïëîùàäè -
Acc. Âû âèäèòå ïëîùàäü?
Do you see the square?
-þ Instr. çà ïëîùàäüþ behind the square
-åé/¸é
Prep. íà ïëîùàäè
-å
- in the square
Nom.
-ÿ
-ü
Gen.
-è
-è
D a t.
-è
-è
Acc.
-þ
-ü
Instr.
-åé
-üþ
P r ep.
-è
-è
page 32
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
There are 3 additional mixed types of Feminine noun case forms:
Mixed types of endings
Type
êíèãà
Type
Type
Type
êíèãà
óëèöà
Íàòàøà
-ãà,-êà,-õà
-öà
nouns
nouns
óëèöà
nouns
Follows Type Ìîñêâà,
but in the Genitive Case -è is used instead of -û:
êíèãà Äîì êíèãè,
Type
-øà,-æà,
-÷à,-ùà
-ãà -ãè
Follows Type Ìîñêâà,
but in the Instrumental Case -åé is used instead of -îé:
óëèöà çà óëèöåé
-öà -öåé
Type
Íàòàøà Follows Type Ìîñêâà, but has two irregularities:
in the Genitive Case -è is spelt instead of -û:
Íàòàøà ó Íàòàøè, -øà -øè
in the Instrumental Case -åé is used instead of -îé:
Íàòàøà ñ Íàòàøåé, -øà -øåé:
Type «Natural Masculines» follows similar types
of Feminine Nouns, for example:
ïàïà
Êîëÿ
Part 3
like
like
h
Notice!
Ìîñêâà, äåäóøêà like êíèãà
Òàíÿ, Ñåð¸æà like Íàòàøà
page 33
The Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Adjectival words in the Singular
Eugenia Nekrasova
A Basic Modern Russian Grammar
Summing-up table of the Masculine
and Neuter noun declension in the Singular
Hard declension
Nom.
Gen.
-à
Dat.
-ó
È âà í
óðîê
Ïåòåðáóðã
îçåðî
È âà íà
óðîêà
Ïåòåðáóðãà
î�