Russian grammar: expressions

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Here are some various ways to express different ideas in Russian, whose constructions are very different than those in English.

Contents 1 And 2 to Have, there is 3 Absence 4 Double Negative 5 Until 6 both...and... 7 either, or 8 each other 9 Different, Another 10 Similiarity 11 should, obligation 12 need 13 almost 14 again 15 while 16 just 17 however, whatever 18 already, still, yet 19 in order to, so that 20 My friend and I

And

Three Russian conjunctions can mean and in English: и , но , and а , but they are used differently.

И is a grammatical plus (+) sign:

Я пью кофе и читаю газету.

I am drinking coffee and reading the newspaper.

И also makes the same comment about two different subjects:

Я пью кофе, и она тоже пьёт кофе.

I am drinking coffee, and she is drinking coffee, too.

я is used to contrast information:

Я не дома, а в школе.

I'm not at home, but at school.

Мне нравится этот фильм. А вам? I like this film. And you?

A also is used to make different comments on two subjects:

to Have, there is

To express having something in one's possession, you use the preposition у . The object being possesed is Nominative (subject) and the possessor in the Genitive:

У меня есть деньги.

I have money. (at me money)

У тебя красивые глазки.

you have beautiful eyes.

Ключ у тебя или у Марка?

Do you have the key, or does Mark?

When the question is whether something exists, you use есть

У тебя есть деньги?

Do you have any money?

У тебя есть парень?

Do you have a boyfriend?

Есть is also used for "there is":

Есть пиво.

There is beer (present)

Absence

To say there "is not" something, you use нет with the Genitive:

Пива нет./ Нету пива. :)

There is no beer/ isn't any beer.

У меня нет денег.

I don't have any money.

Его нет./ Его нету. (нету is only used in conversation)

He's not here.

Double Negative

In russian, the double Negative is correct. You are negating both the verb and object.

Я никого не вижу.

I don't see anyone.

Мне ничего не хочется делать.

I don't feel like doing anything.

Мы ни о чём не говорим.

We aren't talking about anything.

Я не знаю здесь никого.

I don't know anyone here.

Я ещё никому не сказал об этом.

I still have not told anyone about this.

Я сам никогда не покупаю сигареты.

I never buy my own cigarettes.

Until

пока не is always followed by a perfective verb:

Подожди, пока я не закончу.

Wait until I have finished.

до тех пор is used with a previously specified moment in time, and is followed by a clause:

both...and...

you use the conjunction и after each item

Он понимает и по-русски, и по-немецки.

He understands both German and Russian.

either, or

"Either... or..." is expressed by или (or) before each item in question. There is no seperate word for "either."

Лучше поехать на автобусе или на такси?

Is it better to go by bus or by taxi?

Он или на работе, или дома.

He is either at work or at home.

each other

To express "each other" in Russian, you use друг друга .

А как вы встретили друг друга?

And how did you meet eachother?

The second word declines according to case, the preposition goes in-between the words:

Вы обычно ходите в школу вместе?

You go to school together often?

Помогите друг другу!

Help eachother!

Different, Another

There are three ways to express another or different : ещё один (another, one more), другой (another, different, not this one), and разный (different, various.)

Similiarity

To express similiarity between to things, you use the short-form adjective похож + the preposition на , with the second subject in the accusative:

Отец похож на тебя.

(Your) father looks like you/ is similiar to you.

Лиза похожа на свою сёстру.

Lisa is just like her sister.

Они похожи друг на друга.

They are similiar.

should, obligation

To express obligation, you use the short-form adjective должен followed always by an infinitive verb:

Ты должен подумать об этом.

You should think about this.

Они должны задать вопрос, если им нужен ответ.

They should ask a question if they need an answer.

need

to express need, Russian uses an indirect construction. That is, when you say "I need," in Russian, you say "to me..is needed." The object needed is the subject, and the one who needs it is in the dative:

Мне нужен ответ.

I need an answer.

Нам нужна помощь

We need help. (noun)

but

Нам нужно помочь вам.

We need to help you.

almost

again

while

just

however, whatever

already, still, yet

Russian fits these 3 words into 2, уже and ещё .

Whenever you can use still in English, use ещё :

Я всё ещё не понимаю.

I still do not understand/ I do not understand yet.

Whenever you can use already in English, use уже :

Ты уже идёшь домой?

Are you already going home?

А вы уже готовы? - Ещё нет!

Are you ready yet? - Not yet!

in order to, so that

My friend and I

unfinished