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Grammar

Grammar

Tackling the Russian Complex Sentence: Coordinating and Subordinating Conjunctions

From Pushkin to Dostoevsky, Russian literary masters have navigated complex syntax with grace and precision. Yet for all language learners, the complex Russian sentence remains daunting. Mastery of subordinate clauses through conjunctions and relative pronouns may seem a tedious task. However, such mastery enables one to construct eloquent, nuanced sentences rather than simple, choppy phrasebook…

Grammar

Conquer Russian Present Tense: A Step-by-Step Verb Mastery

The present tense in Russian is the easiest tense. Yes, you have to remember the conjugation forms, but the usage is very basic. No perfective forms are used. Unlike English, Russian does not have a direct equivalent of continuous forms using verb forms like “-ing.” Instead, it relies on context and specific time adverbs to…

Grammar

Надо, Можно, Нельзя: Modal Predicatives Explained

Words like надо, можно and нельзя are called modal particles in Russian. They are a special type of word that expresses modality, which is the attitude of the speaker towards the possibility, necessity, or permissibility of an action or state of being. These words don’t change form to agree with a subject, as verbs do. Instead,…

Vocabulary

computer and internet
Vocabulary

A Comprehensive Guide to Tech Terms in Russian

In today’s world, technology is everywhere. That’s why understanding the basics of computer and internet terminology is becoming more important than ever. This article aims to break down the essential vocabulary related to computers and the internet in Russian, making it easier for you to navigate this tech-driven landscape. This guide will help you grasp…

Vocabulary

500 Core Russian Nouns to Accelerate Your Language Learning

Learning Russian words is always difficult. It’s best to start with small portions. But if you want to expand your vocabulary, this list will be helpful. Here, I have gathered 500 different Russian nouns. These include objects, phenomena, and various concepts. If you have a good command of Russian, make sure you are familiar with…

Vocabulary

15 Russian Verbs for Speaking with Example Sentences

There are many verbs in English that describe speaking. In this post, you will learn all of them. Well, If I don’t forget to mention some. Говори́ть to speak, to talk Я говорю по-английски. – I speak English. Они все говорят, что невиновны. – They all say they’re innocent. Я уже говорил со своим адвокатом. –…

vegetables in Russian
Vocabulary

Vegetables in Russian: Vocabulary List with Pronunciation

We already know how to talk about food in Russian. Now it’s time to learn the vegetables names to enhance your vocabulary. картофель [kartofyel’] – potato (informal картошка [kartoshka]) огурец [aguryets] – cucumber (pl. огурцы) томат, помидор – tomato (pl. томаты, помидоры) морковь [markof’] – carrot (informal морковка [markofka]) свёкла [svyokla] – beetroot перец [pyeryets]…

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Phrases

Phrases

Поздравляю! How to Congratulate in Russian

Congratulations – universal expressions of joy and appreciation on momentous occasions. But the specific words and customs around celebrating vary greatly between cultures. In Russia, congratulating someone demands nuance and sincerity. Russian culture deeply values traditions and protocols for honoring major life events. To properly congratulate your Russian friends, colleagues, and hosts, you must learn…

Phrases

The Art of Indecision: Expressing Uncertainty in the Russian Language

In this short article, I will explain to you how to express uncertainty with verbs and short phrases. Let’s skip the chitchat and get right to the point. When it comes to expressing uncertainty in Russian, there are a few handy tools that can come in quite handy. Let’s kick things off with the versatile verb…

Phrases

‘Head’ Used in Russian Idioms and Expressions

The following idioms and expressions use the noun голова (head.) Each phrase has a definition and one or two example sentences to help understanding of these common idiomatic expressions. потерять голову – to lose one’s head Человек может потерять голову от любви или горя. – A person can lose one’s head because of love or…

Difference Between

Difference Between

Lost in Translation: Why Просить and Спрашивать Are Not Interchangeable

The Russian verbs просить (to request) and спрашивать (to ask) present a common challenge for Russian language learners. At first glance, they may appear to mean the same thing – “to ask.” However, despite what some Russian-English dictionaries suggest, these verbs are not interchangeable. Просить and спрашивать have distinct meanings and uses that learners must…

Difference Between

Горячий vs Жаркий: Are You Using the Right Word for “Hot” in Russian?

Russian has lots of cool words, but sometimes figuring out which one to use can be tricky. This article is here to help! We’ll be looking at two words that both mean “hot” in English: горячий and жаркий. Even though they seem the same, there’s a slight difference. Let’s break it down so you can…

Difference Between

Spotting the Differences Between Говорить, Разговаривать, and Сказать

Russian has multiple verbs that can be translated as “to speak” or “to talk” in English. At first glance, words like говорить, разговаривать and сказать seem interchangeable. However, there are subtle but important differences in how each verb is used. In this post, we will compare these verbs and look at when to use each…

Difference Between

Clearing Up the Confusion Between Где and Куда

In Russian, the words “где” and “куда” are commonly used to express location and direction respectively. Though they both translate to “where” in English, there is an important distinction between their usages that Russian learners must understand. The use of these words varies based on whether the object is in motion or static. In this…