{"id":1906,"date":"2017-12-09T18:30:21","date_gmt":"2017-12-09T18:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/?page_id=1906"},"modified":"2025-10-22T19:21:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T19:21:22","slug":"%d1%83%d1%80%d0%be%d0%ba-1","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/chapter-3\/%d1%83%d1%80%d0%be%d0%ba-1\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0423\u0440\u043e\u043a 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

Grammar: \u0413\u0420\u0410\u041c\u041c\u0410\u0301\u0422\u0418\u041a\u0410<\/h3>\n

Introduction to the Russian Verb<\/h3>\n
\n

The Present Tense: 1st and 2nd conjugations<\/h4>\n

In dictionaries, Russian verbs are represented by their infinitives.* Unlike English infinitives, which are recognized by the preceding particle \u201cto\u201d \u2013 \u201cto know,\u201d \u201cto speak,\u201d etc., Russian infinitives are not accompanied by any particle, but have specific endings instead, usually \u201c-\u0422\u042c\u201d: \u0437\u043d\u0430\u0422\u042c<\/strong> (to know), \u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438\u0301\u0422\u042c<\/strong> (to speak, to talk), \u0434\u0443\u0301\u043c\u0430\u0422\u042c<\/strong> (to think), \u0441\u0442\u043e\u044f\u0301\u0422\u042c<\/strong> (to stand), \u043b\u0435\u0436\u0430\u0301\u0422\u042c<\/strong> (to lie down), \u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e\u0301\u0442\u0430\u0422\u042c<\/strong> (to work), etc.
\nIn the Present tense, Russian verbs are conjugated, i.e. they change according to person \u2013 \u044f, \u0442\u044b, \u043e\u043d, \u043c\u044b, \u0432\u044b, \u043e\u043d\u0438.<\/strong>
\nThere are two types of conjugation: 1. The first, with E<\/strong> (sometimes \u0401<\/strong>) in most of its endings and \u0423\/\u042e<\/strong> in the third person plural ending. 2. The second, with \u0418<\/strong> in most of its endings and A\/\u042f<\/strong> in the third person plural ending. Other than that, the two conjugations\u2019 endings are pretty much the same. Look at the chart and compare:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/th>\n<\/th>\nCONJUGATION I<\/th>\nCONJUGATION II<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/th>\n<\/th>\n\u0437\u043d-\u0410\u0301\u0422\u042c<\/strong><\/th>\n\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440-\u0418\u0301\u0422\u042c<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
1st pers., sing.<\/td>\n\u044f<\/td>\n\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0301-\u044e<\/span><\/td>\n\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440-\u044e\u0301<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd pers., sing.<\/td>\n\u0442\u044b<\/td>\n\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0301-\u0435<\/span>–\u0448\u044c<\/span><\/td>\n\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440-\u0438<\/span>–\u0448\u044c<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd pers., sing.<\/td>\n\n

\u043e\u043d<\/p>\n

\u043e\u043d\u0430<\/p>\n

\u043e\u043d\u043e<\/td>\n

\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0301-\u0435<\/span>–\u0442<\/span><\/td>\n\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440-\u0438\u0301<\/span>–\u0442<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1st pers., pl.<\/td>\n\u043c\u044b<\/td>\n\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0301-\u0435<\/span>–\u043c<\/span><\/td>\n\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440-\u0438\u0301<\/span>–\u043c<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd pers., pl.<\/td>\n\u0432\u044b<\/td>\n\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0301-\u0435<\/span>–\u0442\u0435<\/span><\/td>\n\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440-\u0438\u0301<\/span>–\u0442\u0435<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd pers., pl.<\/td>\n\u043e\u043d\u0438<\/td>\n\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0301-\u044e<\/span>–\u0442<\/span><\/td>\n\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440-\u044f\u0301<\/span>–\u0442<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

These two verbs are classic representatives of their conjugations. Compare the endings and you will see that they are basically the same in both conjugations, except for the \u201cE\u201d vs. \u201c\u0418\u201d vowels in four of six persons, and \u201c\u042e\u201d vs. \u201c\u042f\u201d in third person plural.
\nDictionaries provide you with the infinitive and indicate to which of the two conjugations the verb belongs.<\/p>\n

* The infinitive is a basic, dictionary form of a verb which is devoid of indications of person, number, tense or mood.
\n 
\n <\/p>\n

How to conjugate verbs<\/h4>\n

To conjugate a verb, you need to make two steps:
\nStep 1: drop the infinitive ending<\/strong> (\u2013 T\u042c, – \u0418\u0422\u042c), which bares the stem.
\nStep 2: add personal endings to the bared stem.
\nThe basic endings of the two conjugations are as follows:<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/th>\nConjugation I<\/th>\nConjugation II<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nsingular<\/td>\nplural<\/td>\nsingular<\/td>\nplural<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1st Person<\/td>\n\u0423\/\u042e*<\/td>\n\u0415\u041c<\/td>\n\u0423\/\u042e*<\/td>\n-\u0418\u041c<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd Person<\/td>\n\u0415\u0428\u042c<\/td>\n\u0415\u0422\u0415<\/td>\n\u0418\u0428\u042c<\/td>\n\u0418\u0422\u0415<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd Person<\/td>\n\u0415\u0422<\/td>\n\u042e\u0422\/\u0423\u0422*<\/td>\n\u0418\u0422<\/td>\n\u042f\u0422\/\u0410\u0422*<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

* Here again, there are soft and hard variants (soft \u201c\u042e\u201d usually after a vowel, hard \u201c\u0423\u201d after a
\nconsonant)
\n 
\nAlthough dictionaries always provide you with information about the type of conjugation, the following tips can be useful:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. There are more verbs of the first conjugation in Russian. The majority of verbs whose infinitives end in \u2013 \u0410\u0422\u042c or \u2013\u042f\u0422\u042c, and all the verbs with the infinitive ending in \u2013\u0422\u0418 (we will deal with them later) belong to the 1st conjugation.<\/p>\n

2. If the infinitive ends in \u2013\u0418\u0422\u042c, there is a high probability that it is the 2nd conjugation.<\/p>\n

3. If you see any personal form of a verb (except the first person singular), in most of the cases you can define to which type of conjugation the verb belongs: \u201cE\/\u0401\u201d<\/strong> is the dominant vowel in most endings of the 1st<\/strong> conjugation, whereas the dominant vowel of the 2nd<\/strong> conjugation is \u201c\u0418.\u201d<\/strong> 3rd person plural vowels are also indicative: \u201c\u042e\/\u0423\u201d of the 1st conjugation and \u042f\/A of the 2nd. Thus, if you come across such forms as \u201c\u0442\u044b \u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e\u0301\u0442\u0430\u0415\u0448\u044c\u201d<\/strong> (you work) or \u201c\u043e\u043d\u0438\u0301 \u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e\u0301\u0442\u0430\u042e\u0442,\u201d<\/strong> (they work) you should know that it is a first conjugation verb (infinitive: \u201c\u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c\u201d). If you see, for example, \u201c\u043e\u043d \u043f\u043e\u0301\u043c\u043d\u0418\u0442\u201d<\/strong> (he remembers) or \u201c\u043e\u043d\u0438 \u043f\u043e\u0301\u043c\u043d\u042f\u0442\u201d<\/strong> (they remember) you can come to the conclusion that the verb \u201c\u043f\u043e\u0301\u043c\u043d\u0438\u0442\u044c\u201d (to remember) belongs to the second conjugation.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

When the endings are not stressed you often can\u2019t hear the difference between the two conjugations: \u201c\u0415\u201d and \u201c\u0418\u201d in an unstressed position sound very much the same. But if you want to be a good speller, always verify the conjugation of the verb.<\/p>\n

Here is a piece of good news: there is only one present tense aspect of verbs in Russian.<\/strong> All the existing forms of present tense in English \u2013 \u201cI work,\u201d \u201cI am working,\u201d \u201cI have worked,\u201d \u201cI have been working\u201d \u2013 can be expressed by one form in Russian: \u201c\u042f \u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e\u0301\u0442\u0430\u044e.\u201d The context or situation will specify the meaning.<\/p>\n

Caution: Never translate English auxiliary verbs into Russian:<\/strong> I am working \u2013 \u042f \u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e\u0301\u0442\u0430\u044e; Do you work? \u2013 \u0422\u044b \u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e\u0301\u0442\u0430\u0435\u0448\u044c?; She has been working \u2013 \u041e\u043d\u0430\u0301 \u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e\u0301\u0442\u0430\u0435\u0442, etc.<\/p>\n

Once you mastered the endings, you can conjugate most Russian verbs in the present tense.
\n 
\n <\/p>\n

Reading Practice – p.113<\/h3>\n

Read and translate the following dialogues. Study new words.<\/h4>\n
\n

I. \u041a\u0442\u043e \u0442\u044b?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n\n
\n\u0410\u0301\u043d\u043d\u0430:<\/strong>\u0412\u0438\u0301\u043a\u0442\u043e\u0440, \u0442\u044b \u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438\u0301\u0448\u044c \u043f\u043e-\u0440\u0443\u0301\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438, \u043a\u0430\u043a \u0440\u0443\u0301\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439, \u0430 \u0432\u0441\u0435 \u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u044f\u0301\u0442, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0442\u044b \u0430\u043c\u0435\u0440\u0438\u043a\u0430\u0301\u043d\u0435\u0446.
\n\u0412\u0438\u0301\u043a\u0442\u043e\u0440:<\/strong>\u041c\u043e\u0439 \u043f\u0430\u0301\u043f\u0430 \u0440\u0443\u0301\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439, \u043c\u043e\u044f\u0301 \u043c\u0430\u0301\u043c\u0430 \u0430\u043c\u0435\u0440\u0438\u043a\u0430\u0301\u043d\u043a\u0430, \u043a\u0430\u043a \u0442\u044b \u0434\u0443\u0301\u043c\u0430\u0435\u0448\u044c, \u0410\u043d\u043d\u0430, \u043a\u0442\u043e \u044f \u2013 \u0430\u043c\u0435\u0440\u0438\u043a\u0430\u0301\u043d\u0435\u0446 \u0438\u0301\u043b\u0438 \u0440\u0443\u0301\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439?
\n\u0410\u0301\u043d\u043d\u0430:<\/strong>\u041e\u0439, \u043d\u0435 \u0437\u043d\u0430\u0301\u044e.<\/p>\n
\n

New words – \u041d\u043e\u0301\u0432\u044b\u0435 \u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0301.<\/h3>\n

\n\u0432\u0441\u0435 – all, everybody; note that the Russian word agrees with the 3rd person plural form
\n of verbs: \u0432\u0441\u0435 \u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u044f\u0301\u0442; \u0432\u0441\u0435 \u0434\u0443\u0301\u043c\u0430\u044e\u0442; \u0432\u0441\u0435 \u0437\u043d\u0430\u0301\u044e\u0442,<\/strong> etc.<\/span>
\n\u043a\u0430\u043a \u2013 like, as, how; “what” in <strong?\u201c\u041a\u0430\u043a \u0442\u044b \u0434\u0443\u0301\u043c\u0430\u0435\u0448\u044c\u2026\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 What (lit. how) do you think\u2026<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

Note: \u043f\u043e-\u0440\u0443\u0301\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438<\/strong> is a kind of an adverb used with such verbs as \u201c\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438\u0301\u0442\u044c,\u201d (to read)
\n \u201c\u043f\u043e\u043d\u0438\u043c\u0430\u0301\u0442\u044c,\u201d (to understand) \u201c\u0447\u0438\u0442\u0430\u0301\u0442\u044c,\u201d (to read), etc.\u2018\u043f\u043e-\u0440\u0443\u0301\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438,\u2019 i.e. in Russian;
\nCaution:<\/strong> Don\u2019t confuse it with the adjective \u201c\u0440\u0443\u0301\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439<\/strong>\u201d- (m.) like in \u201c\u0440\u0443\u0301\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u044f\u0437\u044b\u0301\u043a\u201d
\n and the noun \u201c\u0440\u0443\u0301\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439<\/strong>\u201d(m.) like in \u201c\u0418\u0432\u0430\u0301\u043d \u0440\u0443\u0301\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439.\u201d (Ivan is Russian)\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

II. \u0420\u0430\u0437\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0301\u0440 \u043f\u043e \u0442\u0435\u043b\u0435\u0444\u043e\u0301\u043d\u0443 \u2013 Telephone conversation<\/h5>\n\n\n\n\n
\n– \u041a\u0430\u0301\u0442\u044f, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0442\u044b \u0441\u0435\u0439\u0447\u0430\u0301\u0441 \u0434\u0435\u0301\u043b\u0430\u0435\u0448\u044c?
\n– \u041d\u0438\u0447\u0435\u0433\u043e\u0301.
\n– \u041a\u0430\u0301\u043a \u043d\u0438\u0447\u0435\u0433\u043e\u0301? \u0423 \u0442\u0435\u0431\u044f\u0301 \u0437\u0430\u0301\u0432\u0442\u0440\u0430 \u044d\u043a\u0437\u0430\u0301\u043c\u0435\u043d!
\n– \u0410 \u044f \u0432\u0441\u0451 \u0437\u043d\u0430\u0301\u044e. \u042f \u043e\u0442\u043b\u0438\u0301\u0447\u043d\u043e \u0447\u0438\u0442\u0430\u0301\u044e \u0438 \u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u044e\u0301 \u043f\u043e-\u0430\u043d\u0433\u043b\u0438\u0301\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0438. \u0422\u044b \u0436\u0435 \u0437\u043d\u0430\u0301\u0435\u0448\u044c, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043c\u043e\u0439
\n \u043f\u0430\u0301\u043f\u0430 \u0430\u043c\u0435\u0440\u0438\u043a\u0430\u0301\u043d\u0435\u0446, \u0438 \u043c\u044b \u0434\u043e\u0301\u043c\u0430 \u0447\u0430\u0301\u0441\u0442\u043e \u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438\u0301\u043c \u043f\u043e-\u0430\u043d\u0433\u043b\u0438\u0301\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0438. \u0410 \u043c\u043e\u044f\u0301 \u0443\u0447\u0438\u0301\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0430
\n \u0440\u0443\u0301\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f. \u042f \u0434\u0443\u0301\u043c\u0430\u044e, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u044f \u0437\u043d\u0430\u0301\u044e \u0430\u043d\u0433\u043b\u0438\u0301\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u043b\u0443\u0301\u0447\u0448\u0435, \u0447\u0435\u043c \u043e\u043d\u0430\u0301.
\n– \u041a\u0430\u0301\u0442\u044f, \u0442\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430\u0301 \u0441\u043a\u0430\u0436\u0438\u0301, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0442\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0301\u0435 \u00ab\u0438\u043d\u0444\u0438\u043d\u0438\u0442\u0438\u0301\u0432\u00bb?
\n– \u0427\u0442\u043e \u0442\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0301\u0435 \u00ab\u0438\u043d\u0444\u0438\u043d\u0438\u0442\u0438\u0301\u0432\u00bb? \u041e\u0439, \u044d\u0301\u0442\u043e \u044f \u043d\u0435 \u0437\u043d\u0430\u0301\u044e. <\/p>\n
\n

New words – \u041d\u043e\u0301\u0432\u044b\u0435 \u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0301.<\/h3>\n

\n\u0440\u0430\u0437\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0301\u0440\u2013 conversation; (\u0440\u0430\u0437\u0433\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0301\u0440\u0438\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c (I)<\/strong> \u2013 to talk, to converse, to speak)<\/span>
\n\u041a\u0430\u0301\u043a \u043d\u0438\u0447\u0435\u0433\u043e\u0301?– How can it be\/ How come\/what do you mean\u201dnothing?\u201d<\/span>
\n\u044d\u043a\u0437\u0430\u0301\u043c\u0435\u043d\u2013 final exam. The Russian word is not used for tests during semester.<\/span>
\n\u0436\u0435– emphatic particle; here: \u201cYou do know; you surely know..\u201d<\/span>
\n\u0447\u0430\u0301\u0441\u0442\u043e– often<\/span>
\n\u043b\u0443\u0301\u0447\u0448\u0435\u2013 better (comparative form of \u201c\u0445\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u043e\u0301\u201d); \u043b\u0443\u0301\u0447\u0448\u0435, \u0447\u0435\u043c<\/strong> \u2013 better than<\/span>
\n\u0442\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430\u0301\u2013 then<\/span>
\n\u0441\u043a\u0430\u0436\u0438\u0301\u2013 tell (me) – imperative<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 
\n <\/p>\n

Survival Kit<\/h3>\n

Asking to give you something<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
\n\u0414\u0430\u0301\u0439\/\u0442\u0435 \u043c\u043d\u0435, \u043f\u043e\u0436\u0430\u0301\u043b\u0443\u0439\u0441\u0442\u0430, \u043a\u0430\u0440\u0430\u043d\u0434\u0430\u0301\u0448. – Give me a pencil please.<\/span>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n