Learn Russian Quickly
Learn Russian Quickly
David N. Callender
For those who want to acquire a quick knowledge of Russian without the detailed
grammar, this book should be ideal: it may encourage you to take to the language in a
more serious way and may even inspire you to go to Russia.
10
How to use this book
The grammar is concisely explained with examples which you are advised to learn by
heart. It will be to your advantage to thoroughly master the grammar, repeating it back
to yourself before doing the exercises. There is a full vocabulary provided, should you
forget the word you want. When you check your exercises, be careful in the initial stages
to be very particular about your Russian handwriting. The Flashbacks must be treated
sensibly: go back over the grammar very thoroughly before tackling them and don’t look
up in the vocabulary.
Practise in talking is much encouraged. Don’t be shy of saying something Russian; have
a try. It does not matter if you make mistakes in the beginning. If you can persuade a
friend to do this course with you, it will help your conversation enormously: another way
of improving your spoken Russian is to use a tape recorder. If you cannot follow these
two methods, then speak aloud to yourself. Check your progress as you go along by
filling in the Score Sheet. In the spaces for Private Collections add words and phrases—
the latter being invaluable.
Learn about Moscow and Russia in general in the short sections provided. It is all very
well knowing a language but you should discover the country too.
11
I The Alphabet
The Printed Alphabet
The Russians have 33 letters in their alphabet. You have only got to learn about 16 new
letters, as the rest look English and often sound the same.
ii. When 0 and A come immediately before the stress they are pronounced ah
обед
ahbYED
iii. If there are two Os or As before the stressed vowel the first one is pronounced like a
short English V (unless it starts the word, then see ii) and the A or 0 immediately
before the stress is pronounced as ‘ah’
говорить образование
gevahREET ahbrezahvAHNeeyeh
iv. Coming unstressed at the end of the word A and О агг pronounced as a short ‘ah’
ясно
YAHsnah
14
Try words with more difficult letters like ч Ш
ch shah
ш Ц Ы
shch ts oo-ee
You can master it very quickly. Practise each letter five or six times on a scrap of paper,
or a notebook preferably, copying very carefully the original. Do not worry too much
about capitals. Merely refer to them.
ч
4
3 л м Ху
r г Я н, іи ILL
2)
f О о
4 €
««
IT И,
4
5
€ 9 и
л
Ж Ж С с А
3
и
Jit т э
ю
* 3
H, V
w / Ю
LL
Ф г
SL SL
16
Watch how you join up certain letters. Practise it several times yourself.
Examples
рп Лъо ВЫ
uM, ИМ jWL
Examples
SCsCj, ЯД ШлЛаЛЫШ, шлмни
Я русский студент
Я живу в Москве
Si Л JUJ<X>iGUAO
и работаю в университете.
17
Write correctly in Russian the following useful expressions
ПО jbyGOGUL
18
The Article and Nouns
3 The Article
This does not exist in Russian, so дом means A house and the house.
4 Nouns
19
Masculines end in a consonant дом house
dom
Я баня bath
BANyah
E море sea
MORyeh
If you want to know more about Russian nouns get hold of a big grammar. They are
full of eccentricities and there are more types!
20
Words to learn: around the house
F N
M
лампа lamp
LAMpah
комната room
KOMnahtah
кровать bed
kraVAHT
21
Phrases to learn
здравствуйте hello
zDRAVstvooyeteh
добрый день good day, good afternoon
DOBreh dyen
добрый вечер good evening
DOBreh WETcher
нет no
nyet
22
Exercise
23
Personal Pronouns
Present tense of verbs in АТЬ
Negatives and questions
она she
ahNAH
оно it
ahNAW
знать to know
znaht
cut off the ть of the infinitive and add the following endings:
ты зна-ЕШЬ
ZNAHyesh
ОН 8H&-ET
zNAHyet
мы зна-ЕМ
zNAHyem
26
вы зна-ЕТЕ
zNAHyeteh
они зна- ЮТ
ZNAHyOOt
Negatives
27
Questions: Direct and Indirect
Direct: to ask a question insert the word ли (lee) between the verb and the pronoun.
Exercise
2 points each; maximum 20. Write in Russian script. Answers in script are in the back.
1. We are making. 6. Isn’t he having breakfast?
2. We never have breakfast. 7. Don’t you (sing.) visit?
3. What is he doing? 8. The wall and the chair.
4. The house and (и) the room. 9. Where is the house? It is there.
29
4 Word Order. Accusative and Genitive of
Nouns and Pronouns. Prepositions requiring
the genitive
Word order
Russian word order is much like English, but adverbs usually precede the verbs.
This will call for sticking power on your behalf, so be certain of these tables before
going on. As a flying start:
Masculines and Neuters do not change in the Accusative.
30
NOMINATIVE ACCUSATIVE GENITIVE
Masculines
ending in conson. дом дом add А дома
DAWmah
Feminines
ending in А комната add У комнату add Ы комнаты
KOMnatoo KOMnatooee
Neuters
ending in 0 кресло кресло add А кресла
KREslah
книга кнйгИ
рука рукИ
i. The Genitive is used for the Accusative of Masculine nouns which are animate,
я знаю солдатА I know the soldier (солдат)
я посещаю другА I am visiting a friend (друг)
32
11 Pronouns
Easy to learn as the genitive and accusative are the same.
NOMINATIVE ACC./GEN.
I я те меня
menVAH
he он him егб
yehvAW
we мы us нас
nas
34
If they are used with a preposition those pronouns beginning with E or И add an H.
её her для неё for her
dlyah nyehYAW
Exercise
Write in Russian script, i point each.
1. He is visiting the house. 6. The wall of the house.
2. The door of the room. 7. At her house.
3. Without her. 8. She knows his friend.
4. Where is the room? I do not know. 9. The window of the bedroom.
5. The key of the door. 10. Good night.
(Max. 10)
35
Words to learn: Useful Words
36
Flash Back
This is your first quite hard one. Take a quick look through the work done so far, then
write it in Russian script taking two points each.
37
5 Present tense of verbs in ить and ять. The
Past tense of all verbs
13 More Verbs
помнить to remember
POMneet
38
To form these verbs take away the ить or the ять and add:
я говор- К) я употребля-Ю
yah gevahr-YOO yah oopotrebLYAH-yoo
ты говор-ЙШЬ ты употребля-ЕШЬ
тооее gevahr-EESH тооее oopotrebLYAH-yesh
он говор-ЙТ он употребля-ЕТ
on gevahr-EET on oopotrebLYAH-yet
мы говор-ЙМ мы употребля-ЕМ
мооее gevahr-EEM мооее oopotrebLYAH-yem
вы говор-ЙТЕ вы употребля-ЕТЕ
vooee gevahr-EETeh vooee oopotrebLYAH-yete
они говор-ЙТ они употребля-ЮТ
ahNEE gevahr-YAHT ahNEE oopotrebLYAH-yoot
14 The Past Tense
To form the past tense of most verbs knock off the ТБ of the infinitive and add:
Singular Plural
Masc. л
Fem. ла ли
Neut. ло
41
6 The Verb ‘to have*
15 To have
‘I have a book’ in Russian is literally ‘with me book’, and you must use the preposition У
plus genitive of the pronoun, or noun of course, and the word in the nominative.
42
The Past Tense is easy as you simply add in был, был4, былб, были:
Note the agreement of the past tense of ‘to be’ with ‘book’ and ‘house’.
In questions add in есть and ли:
In Negatives don’t forget that you must have a genitive after a negative. Notice how the
negative differs in the past tense.
In the last example the translation is literally ‘with us there was not of room’.
44
Words to learn: Around the town
ресторан restaurant
restahRAHN
Phrases to learn
If you go to Moscow (Москва) it might help you to know the Russian names of some
MaskvAH
of the places you may wish to visit.
Exercise 1
Practice in talking
Что вы находите в доме/в городе? What do you find in the house / in the town?
shtaw vooee naHAwdeeteh v DAWMyeh / v GORodyeh
Masculines
ending in a consonant дом add У дому
DAwmoo
Feminines
ending in А комната add E комнате
KOMnatyeh
add E бане
„ „ Я
BANyeh
Neuters
ending in 0 кресло add У креслу
KRESloO
to me мне to US нам
mnyeh nam
to you тебё to you вам
tebYEH vam
to him ем£ to them им
уеЬмоо eem
to her ей
yeh
to it ем^
уеЬмоо
50
18 Information about prepositions
You must put the dative after К meaning to/in the direction of a place, or person.
1. her 6. station
2. armchair 7. university
3. street 8. bath
4. him 9. place
5. table 10. town
(Max. 10)
51
0 The instrumental and prepositional cases of Nouns
and Pronouns. Prepositions requiring these cases
19 The Instrumental case
It means by or with a person or thing. Neuter soft endings add EM.
Neuter and masculine hard endings add OM The feminines need careful attention.
Masculines
ending in a consonant ДОМ add ОМ домом
DAwmom
Feminines
ending in A комната add ОЙ комнатой
KOMnatoy
>> >> я баня add ЕЙ баней
BANyeh
»» » ь дверь add Ю дверью
DVYERyOO
Neuters
ending in 0 кресло add ОМ креслом
KRESlom
„ „ E море add ЕМ морем
MORyem
Information about prepositions
C with
ss
за дверью behind the door
Beware! When with means ‘together with’, put in the little word
9» her ей
yeh
n it им
eem
Don t forget that if you use these with prepositions you must put an H before those
starting with an E or И.
54
Check up on the instrumental (one point each).
The prepositional
This is your last case and an easy one too. You use it after words like
на on В in/at
nah V
To form this case you add e to all nouns except Feminines ending in ь which take an и
56
Case flash back
1. room 6. pencil
2. street 7. flat
3. book 8. train
4. pen 9. university
5. roof 10. sea
(Max. 20)
57
Some irregular verbs
There are a lot of irregular verbs in Russian and you must start in on them now and
learn them painlessly.
хотеть to wish ИДТЙ to go ON FOOT ехать to go (not on foot)
hahtYET eeTEE YEkhaht
Present tense Past tense Present Past Present Past
я хочу хотел иду шёл еду ехал
yah Ьасноо hahtYEL eeDoo shol YEHdoO YEkhal
ты хочешь хотел идёшь шёл едешь ехал
tooee HAWchesh hahtYEL eedYOSH shol YEHdesh YEkhal
он хочет хотел идёт шёл едет ехал
on HAWchet hahtYEL eedYOT shol YEHdet YEkhal
она хочет хотела идёт шла едет ехала
ahNAH HAWchet hahtYELah eedYOT shlah YEHdet YEkhalah
оно хочет хотело идёт шло едет ехало
ahNAW HAWchet hahtYELaw eedYOT shlaw YEHdet YEkhalaw
58
Present tense Past tense Present Past Present Past
59
Exercise 1
1. I want. 6. We were going (on foot).
2. They go (on foot). 7. I go (not on foot).
3. They were going (not on foot). 8. She was wanting.
4. He wishes. 9. Do you (sing) want?
5. Is he going (on foot)? 10. Who (кто) is going? (not on foot)
(Max. 10)
Exercise 2
1. Where is he going to? 6. They were with his friend.
2. He is going into the town (use ехать). 7. I saw the Metro in Moscow.
3. She wants to have breakfast. 8. He saw a soldier (beware animate
object) behind the door.
4. They were going into the shop. 9. What is your name please?
5. Give me (дайте мне) a pencil 10. Speak slowly. I do not understand.
please (пожалуйста).
(Max. 20)
60
Private collection
10 Adjectives. The nominative, accusative and
genitive cases
Adjectives. You will have to stay case minded a little longer
In the nominative neuter, all add OE. If the final consonant is ч, ш, щ and the masculine
does not end in ой (большой) they add EE as do those in НИЙ.
Make certain you master this and the words below before going on.
Masculine Feminine Neuter Meaning
старый старая старое old
STARee STARayah STARoyeh
лёгкий лёгкая лёгкое easy
LYAwkee LYAwkayah LYAwkoyeh
62
Masculine Feminine Neuter Meaning
больной больная больное ill
balNOY balNAYah balNOYeh
сйний СЙНЯЯ сйнее blue
SEEnee SEEnayah SEEneyeh
хороший хорошая хорошее good
haRAWshee haRAWshayah haRAWsheyeh
64
Words to learn
65
Phrases to learn
66
I
1. A white house. 6. I know his rich friend.
2. A blue door. 7. The street of the old town.
3. The last train. 8. A big chair.
4. I was here today. 9. Cold tea (чай masc.).
5. He is reading an expensive book. 10. He has a black book.
(Two points each: max. 20)
(Мах. іо)
67
I I Dative, Instrumental and Prepositional of
Adjectives. Similarities between Russian
and English words
All cases add ой in the feminine, старОЯ. But those adjectives ending in ний and those
whose last consonant is in, щ, ж, ч take ЕЙ: синий, сйней; хороший хорошей.
The Dative Masculine and Neuter add ОМУ старый старому
after ний, and in, щ, ж, ч add ЕМУ синий сйнему
The Instrumental Masculine and Neuter add ЫМ богатый богатым
after ний, and к, x, r, in, щ, ж, ч add ИМ маленький маленьким
The Prepositional Masculine and Neuter add OM старый старом
after ний, and щ, ш, ж, ч add EM сйний сйнем
I
1. In a small house. 6. To the (use к) bad restaurant.
2. I was with an English friend. 7. Under a red door.
3. To a young soldier. 8. In a cold station.
4. By a black train. 9. With (use c) a rich doctor.
5. Behind the Red Square. 10. To an old friend.
(Two points each: max. 20)
II
1. Don’t worry. 6. Behind them.
2. She wants to work. 7. Hasn’t he got an old table?
3. He was going into a shop. 8. They want to dine.
4. They were in the station. 9. In the old town.
5. Under the window. 10. You never have breakfast.
(Two points each: max. 20)
69
Practice in talking
Be really ambitious in your answers. Include adjectives etc.
71
12 The plurals of nouns and adjectives
30 Nominative, accusative and genitive plurals of nouns
Notice the change of stress which sometimes occurs—it would be virtually impossible
to give an easy rule—so learn it at once till it becomes second nature.
Feminines
ending in A add Ы комнаты drop the А комнат
KOMnatooee KOMnaht
>> и ^ add И бани change to Ь бань
BAHnee bahn
it и Ь add И двери add ЕЙ дверей
DVYERee dvyeREH
72
Nominative! Accusative Genitive
Neuters
ending in 0 add А места drop the 0 мест
misTAH myest
>> >> E add Я моря add ЕЙ морей
marYAH marYEH
This table will work for most of the nouns but there are exceptions, and the plurals of
words such as town, friend, comrade, doctor, chair, knife, house, book are given on
pages 75-76, so learn them when you get there.
Exercise
73
31 The dative, instrumental and prepositional plurals of nouns
Masculines
ending in consonant add AM клубам add ами add ax
Feminines
ending in A add AM комнатам add ами add ax
1» >> ®
add ЯМ баням add ями add ях
>1 M Ь add ЯМ дверям add ямй add ях
Neuters
ending in 0 add AM местам add ами add ax
>i E» add ЯМ морям add ями add ях
These tables are really quite easy. If you are not feeling very academic don’t worry.
Keep referring to them and you will get it right.
74
Exercise
After r, x, к, the nominative plural is И. The other cases follow the table on page 72.
книга кнйги books
The following are very irregular and must be learnt. The dative, instrumental and
prepositional cases all end in ям, ями, ях.
76
Words to learn: Eating
78
За ваше здоровье. Here’s to you/your good health.
zah VASHeh zdaROVyeh
Дайте мне счёт, пожалуйста. Give me the bill please.
Dieeteh mneh schYOT, pajAHLooeestah
Мне хочется есть/пить, I am hungry /1 am thirsty.
mnyeh HAWchetsyah yest/peet
Private collection
79
Practice in talking
I
1. red wine 6. vegetables
2. caviar 7. a plate
3. bacon 8. mustard
4. beetroot soup 9. an egg
5. cheese 10. glasses
(One point each: max. 10)
II
1. What would you like? 6. Bread and butter.
2. Your good health. 7. What a pity!
3. Give me the bill, please. 8. What nonsense.
4. Yes, I am thirsty. 9. Milk and fish.
5. The houses in Moscow. 10. From time to time.
(Two points each: max. 20)
81
Flash back
Spend about ten minutes going through points of grammar that you feel uncertain about.
82
13 What do you know of Russia?
Adjectives
Note. To keep you from relying on the imitated pronounciation too much it will be
omitted from now on and you will have to work out new words yourself.
іпиіиишлшшшіі
and the enormous rivers, the Lena and the Yenisei. To the south lies China (Китай).
In the north of western Russia is the port of Archangel (Архангельск) on the White
Sea (Белое Mope), which is frozen up for six months of the year. A little further south
on the border is the city of Leningrad (Ленинград). Formerly called St Petersburg,
this city was the capital, but after the Revolution its name was changed. It is the second
largest city of the U.S.S.R. and won the title of a ‘hero city’ during the 1939-45 war.
In the south bordering on the Black Sea is the Crimea (Крым) and the port of Odessa
(Одесса). This is a holiday resort area.
Moscow is the capital of the whole country, but Kiev (Киев) to the south is the
capital of the Ukraine, a large grain producing area. To the west of the Black Sea is the
Caucasus (Кавказ) stretching to the Caspian Sea. It is a mountainous area rich in oil.
There are many other large towns and rivers in Russia and if you are interested get
a bigger map and work out the names with a dictionary.
Exercise
86
I4 The future of TO BE and the ASPECTS
Я буду мы будем
ты будешь вы будете
он будет они будут
Exercise
1. I shall remember. 6. You will speak.
2. We shall. 7. They will not use.
3. He will not dine. 8. He will not have breakfast.
4. Where will she work? 9. How are you?
5. They will. 10. Good morning.
(One point each: max. 10)
87
35 The aspects of the Russian verbs
The Russians have two forms or aspects, imperfective and perfective, to each of
their verbs.
The imperfective has three tenses (present, future and past) and is used when an
action is unfinished or repetitive.
I am working, I was working, I have been working (action not necessarily complete),
I shall work every day (repetitive).
The perfective has two tenses (future and past) and is used when an action is finished
or will happen only once.
He has smoked a cigar. I shall have breakfast at nine o’clock.
я работаю I am working.
я буду работать I shall work
я работал I was working
88
Forming the Perfective
i. The infinitive. This is formed by adding a prefix like no or вы (but there are many
others) to the ordinary or what will now be called imperfective infinitive. With some
verbs the very look of the verb will change, and they must be learnt in pairs.
2. The future. With most verbs this is like the present tense but the prefix is tacked on
at the beginning. With irregular verbs it may be very different.
89
3- The Past is formed from the perfective infinitive according to the rule on page 40.
In the case of some irregular verbs the prefix is added to the imperfective past.
Perfective Infin. Perfective Past
погулять погулял
выкурить выкурил
90
A few irregular verbs
Exercise
1. I shall always take a walk in the morning.
2. He has just (только что) shut the window.
3. What will he do in Moscow?
4. They have bought a book.
5. He will work for an hour (час) tomorrow.
6. They were going for a walk.
7. We shall always dine at eight o’clock (в восемь часбв).
8. Has she opened the window?
9. What has he done?
10. She was smoking.
(Two points each: max. 20)
92
£ Forms of address. Information about
irregular verbs
37 Forms of address
(a) Ты = you. You only use this form when you know someone really
well.
(b) Вы = you. This is the polite form for addressing someone whom
you don’t know well.
(c) Товарищ = comrade. This form is used in Russia as the equivalent of Mister.
Товарищ Хрущёв Comrade Kruschev
The conjugation of the present tense and the future perfective. The first person singular
must be learnt. After that the second person singular is your guide.
If the 2nd sing, is ешь the other persons are ет, ем, ете, ют, or after ж, ш, щ, ч, -ут.
Я пишУ, ты пйшЕШЬ, он пйшЕТ, мы пйшЕМ, вы пйшЕТЕ, они пйшУТ
If the 2nd sing, is ишь the other persons are ит, им, ите, ят, or after ж, ш, щ, ч, -ат.
Я стоЮ, ты стоЙШЬ, он стоИТ, мы стоИМ, вы стоИТЕ, они стоЯТ
If the 2nd sing, is ёшь the other persons are ёт, ём, ёте, ут/ют.
In this type of verb the ist person singular is a guide for the third person plural.
Я живУ, ты живЁШЬ, он живЕТ, мы живЕМ, вы живЕТЕ, они живУТ.
94
Here is a list of irregular verbs. As so many are irregular you ought to make an effort
to master them at once. The imperfective is given first.
95
Infinitive Meaning Present tense Perfective future
жить live живу, живёшь, поживу, поживёшь
пожить они живут
давать give даю, даёшь, дам, дашь, даст,
дать они дают дадим, дадите, дадут
пить drink пью, пьёшь, выпью, вьшьёшь
выпить они пьют
одевать dress одеваю, одеваешь одену, оденешь,
одеть они одевают они оденут
есть eat ем, ешь, ест, едим, поем, etc.
поесть едите, едят
96
Exercises
Give the Imperfective future and the Perfective future forms of:
1. I shall write. 6. You (polite form) will sit.
2. They will live. 7. You (familiar form) will write.
3. She will drink. 8. They will not get up.
4. We will give. 9. We will dress.
5. Will he get up? 10. She will not drink.
(Max. 20)
II. Three points each.
1. I used to live in the (на) Caucasus.
2. We shall get up at once (немедленно).
3. The boy had written the letter.
4. The woman was sitting on the chair.
5. Comrade Kruschev used to get up at six in the morning (в шесть часов утра).
6. I got up early (рано) this morning.
7. She dressed her (её) son this evening.
8. He was drinking white wine.
9. We shall always live in the country.
10. The mother and the daughter are sitting in the restaurant (ресторан).
(Max. 30)
97
Practice in talking
(a) Что вы едите? What are you eating?
Я ем цыплёнок. I am eating chicken.
Что туристы делают? What are the tourists doing?
Они смотрят на (+асс.) церковь. They are looking at the church.
Practice in talking
И
Что вы вйдели в городе / в доме?
What did you see in the town / in the house?
Я вйдел собор . . .
I saw the cathedral etc. ...
(*)
Где вы работаете?
Where are you working?
Я работаю в университете.
I am working in the university.
99
16 The Imperative, Reflexive verbs,
the Conditional
39 The Imperative
To form the imperative take the 2nd person sing, of the present tense, remove the ending
and add и (sing.) and ите (plural).
Infinitive 2nd pers. sing. Imperative sing. Imperative plural
говорить говорйшь говори говорите
Note. When the imperative is in the negative the Imperfective aspect is generally used.
He говорйте с ним. Don’t talk to him.
When it is not negative use the Perfective aspect.
Поговорйте с ним. Speak to him.
100
40 Reflexive verbs
101
41 The conditional. Translating would and should
The idea of would or should, would have or should have, is formed by putting бы before
the past tense.
Я бы знал. I would know.
Мы бы писали. We should have written.
Notes
(a) When a conditional sentence begins with ‘if’ (если in Russian), the бы is added
to it: ёслибы.
Еслибы я его видел. If I had seen him.
Еслибы он знал, он был бы дома. If he had known, he would have been
at home.
(b) After wishing verbs чтобы must be used, when there is a change of subject, plus
the past tense.
Я хочу, чтобы он знал. I want him to know.
But when there is no change of subject use the infinitive.
Я хочу знать. I want to know.
(c) Чтобы also means ‘in order to’.
Я приехал, чтббы его видеть. I came in order to see him.
102
Exercise
1. I would read if I was at home.
2. She would dine in a restaurant, if she was in Moscow.
3. I want him to write a letter.
4. Speak to him. He lives in London (Лондон).
5* We were hoping to see him at the theatre. (Max. 10)
105
Words to learn: adjectives
Phrases to learn
106
Exercises
107
Practice in talking
108
17 Adverbs. Numbers 1-20. Days of the week
42 Formation of adverbs
Drop the ый, ий, ой from the adjective and add O:
хорбший good хорошо well
лёгкий easy легко easily
Note
легко it is easy б^дет легко it will be easy
трудно it is difficult было трудно it was difficult
Numbers 1-20
i. одйн/однб/одно 8. восемь 15. пятнадцать
2. два/две 9. девять іб. шестнадцать
3- ТРИ іо. десять 17. семнадцать
4. четыре іі. одиннадцать 18. восемнадцать
5. пять і2. двенадцать 19. девятнадцать
6. шесть 13. тринадцать го. двадцать
7. семь 14. четырнадцать
109
Note carefully
1. The genitive singular is used after 2, 3, 4.
четыре книги four books
двадцать четыре кнйги twenty-four books
4. When there is an adjective with the noun after 2, 3, 4, the adjective goes into the
genitive plural.
два болынйх стакана two big glasses
три честных мальчика three honest boys
111
Words to learn: travel by land, sea and air
112
Masculine Notice the expressions
HOC bow поездом by train
приход arrival самолётом by air
отход departure автомобилем by car
такси taxi пароходом by ship
m
Infinitive Meaning Present tense Perf. fut. Past
114
Exercises
I i. slowly 6. regularly
2.naturally 7. cleanly
3- honestly 8. quickly
4- happily 9. weakly
5- perfectly 10. well
(Max. 10)
II i. I was hoping. 6. She came (on foot).
.
2 She was not laughing. 7. They would be at home.
3- He was getting dressed. 8. They arrived (not on foot).
4- You (familiar) want to eat. 9. Is he writing?
5- They hear. 10. We will drink (imperfective).
(Max. 10)
III i. on Friday 6. two cups
2. two tables 7. on Thursday
3- on Sunday 8. seventeen
4- five eggs 9. four
5- eighteen 10. twenty glasses
(Max. 10)
115
IV !• The railway station is in the middle (середйна) of the town.
2. The passengers will disembark this evening.
3. She is going to the restaurant car.
4. I was speaking to a member (член) of the crew.
5. Did you find your luggage easily?
6. He was talking with a Russian friend in the compartment.
7. The plane has just (тблько что) landed.
8. The taxi stopped at the corner (на углу) of the street.
9. The porter is bringing the luggage to the sleeping car.
10. I think that his lifejacket is in his cabin.
(Max. 30)
Practice in talking
i. Как вы приехали в Советский Союз?
How did you come to the Soviet Union?
Я приёхал самолётом . . .
I arrived by plane etc.
116
2. С кем вы говорйли в поезде?
With whom were you talking in the train?
Я говорил с русским о . . .
I was talking to a Russian about. . .
117
Translating Must: Need: Intend: Like
119
iii. INTEND
я намерен I intend
ты намёрен you intend
он намёрен he intends
она намёрена she intends
оно намёрено it intends
мы, вы, они намёрены we, you, they intend
Singular
Мне нр&вится каюта I like the cabin (lit. to me is pleasing the cabin).
Ей нравится гостйница She likes the hotel.
Plural
Ему нравятся комнаты He likes the rooms.
Perfective
The perfective infinitive is понравиться and is used regularly.
121
Words to learn: motoring
Masculine Feminine Neuter
тормоз brake нефть oil рулевое колесо steering wheel
карбюратор carburettor шйна tyre столкновение collision
рожок horn вода water колесо wheel
бензйн petrol скорость speed путешествие journey
гараж garage машйна car
штраф fine запасные spare
мотор engine ч&сти parts
Verbs to learn
Present tense Future perfective
Private collection
Exercises
124
Possessive adjectives and pronouns
Possessive adjectives and pronouns
Once you have learnt one of them the others fall into place very easily.
(a) my
Masculine Feminine Neuter Plural all genders
Nom. мой моя моё мой
Acc. мой мою моё мой
Gen. моего моей моего мойх
Dat. моему моей моему мойм
Instr. моим моей моим мойми
Prep. моём моей моём мойх
this этот and that тот are declined alike.
Masculine Feminine Neuter Plural all genders
Nom. этот эта это эти
Acc. этот эту это эти
Gen. этого этой этого этих
Dat. этому этой этому этим
Instr. этим этой этим этими
Prep. этом этой этом этих
125
эта шина моя. This tyre is mine.
это моё место, but This is my place.
эти запасные части мой. These spare parts are mine.
это мой запасные части. but These are my spare parts.
Notice how это expresses this is, are, that is, those are.
Examples
этот дом мой This house is mine.
это ваш карандаш This is your pencil.
эта газета ваша This paper is yours.
126
47 Interrogative pronouns and adjectives
127
48 WHO? WHOSE?
Phrases to learn
Я иду в аптеку I am going to the chemist’s.
Вход запрещён No admittance.
Вход Entrance.
Выход Exit.
Курйть запрещается Smoking forbidden.
Берегитесь Look out.
Извинйте I beg your pardon. Sorry.
Я очень рад вас вйдеть I am very glad to see you.
Садйтесь, пожалуйста Sit down, please.
Потому, что Because.
Exercise
I
1. He has my ticket. 6. Is this his book? No it’s yours.
2. They have our books. 7. With whom are you working?
3. To your staircase (dat.) 8. Whose vegetables are you eating?
4. Whose lamp are you using? 9. Which cathedral are you visiting?
5. In my house. 10. Whom are you meeting?
Exercise
II
1. About whom are you talking?
2. In which room was the doctor?
3. I know your teacher (remember which case animate objects take).
4. To whom is he writing?
5. In whose school were the pupils?
6. When is the interpreter having breakfast?
7. How many pupils?
8. Whose car is this?
9. Do you know the airman?
10. Which doctor do you prefer (предпочитать)?
130
Practice in talking
III I.
Is this your book?
Это ваша кнйга?
No, it’s hers.
Нет, это её.
2.
Where do you work?
Где вы работаете?
I am a student and work at home.
Я студент и работаю дома.
Почему вы в гараже?
Why are you in the garage?
Потому что у нас было столкновёние.
Because we have had a breakdown.
2.
Где работает носйлыцик/почтальон?
Where does a porter/postman work?
Носйлыцик работает в гостйнице. Почтальон вам приносит пйсьма.
A porter works in a hotel. A postman brings you letters.
20 Age
49 AGE
For ‘how old are you’ the Russians say ‘how many to you of summers’ (лето summer).
Сколько вам лет? How old are you?
Сколько ему лет? How old is he?
With 2, 3, 4 год is used for year and the answer is ‘to me three years’ and year is in
the genitive singular.
Мне три года. I am three years old.
Ему двадцать четыре года. Не is twenty-four years old.
With 5 and above лето is used for year and is in the genitive plural.
Ей пять лет. She is five years old.
Брату шесть лет. My brother is six.
Phrases to learn
У меня голова болит. I have a headache.
У меня горло болйт. I have a sore throat.
У него желудок болйт. Не has a stomach ache.
Я себя очень плохо чувствую. I feel very ill.
135
Хорошая погода. It is fine.
Морозит. It is freezing.
Идёт дождь/шёл дождь. It is raining / was raining.
Идёт снег / шёл снег. It is snowing / was snowing.
Жарко/было жарко. It is hot / was hot.
Холодно / было холодно. It is cold / was cold.
Private collection
136
Exercises
I 1. This lawyer. 6. This is difficult.
2. Those porters. 7. She is eight years old.
3. Which sailor? 8. How old is your brother?
4. Which girl? 9. My daughter is three.
5. That hospital. 10. It is raining.
(Max. 20)
137
3 Practice in talking
1.
Какая погода сегодня?
What’s the weather like today?
Идёт дождь / шёл дождь.
It is raining / was raining, etc.
2.
Что с вами?
What’s the matter with you?
У меня голова болит. Я простудйлся.
I have got a headache. I have caught a cold, etc....
3-
Почему вы идёте в город сегодня утром?
Why are you going to the town this morning?
Я хочу купить хлеб и сыр.
I want to buy bread and cheese, etc. (name all the foods you know).
138
21 Relatives. Translating who, whom, whose,
of which, etc.
Examples
Хлеб, который мы кушаем.
The bread which we are eating.
Девушка, которая меня любит.
The girl who loves me.
Молоко, которое мы пьём.
The milk we are drinking.
139
Мальчик, которому я дал яйцо.
The boy to whom I had given an egg.
BUT
тот, кто
he who...
та, кто
she who...
те, кто
they who...
The Months
140
Those months ending in ь are masculine and are a new declension for you. As you will
seldom need more than the genitive and prepositional when dealing with dates only these
are given below.
Gen. января
Prep. январе
Май also needs care and its ending too forms a new declension. Again you will need
only the genitive and prepositional.
Gen. мая
Prep. мае
The Seasons
141
Words to learn: shopping
Masculine Feminine
бакалейный магазин grocers булочная bakers
аптекарский магазин chemists мясная лавка butchers
кнйжный магазин book shop рыбная лавка fishmonger
универсалный магазин the stores табачная лавка tobacconist
банк bank овощная лавка greengrocer
гастроном name of large pro¬ парикмахерская hairdresser
vision shop in папироса cigarette
USSR марка stamp
деньги money (a plural word) плёнка film (for
бйнковый чек cheque camera)
пуговица button
142
Verbs to learn
Adjectives to learn
жёлтый yellow сйний blue зелёный green
серый grey светлый light тёмный dark
143
Phrases to learn
Делать покупки. То do the shopping.
Что вам угодно? What can I do for you?
Сколько это стоит? How much is that?
Это слйшком дорого. That is too expensive.
Покажите мне. . . Show me...
Это очень дёшево. That is very cheap.
Exercise
1. The town which we visit.
2. The bookshop will be open (открыт) on Wednesday.
3. Do you prefer the red or the yellow dress (платье).
4* I like (мне нравится) the hat she has just bought.
5. They would like to visit the Kremlin today.
6. The teacher about whom they were speaking.
7. She must buy a new hat today.
8. He has spent the money, which she gave him.
9. I am doing the shopping this morning.
10. Give me three stamps, please.
(Max. 30)
144
2 Practice in talking
145
22 More about adjectives. Translating some
thing, somebody, somewhere
When the adjective comes after the noun, it may have a short form rather like
закрытый, closed открытый, open
закрытый дом a closed house
Дом закрыт, The house is closed,
закрытая книга a closed book
Кнйга закрыта, The book is closed,
закрытое окно the closed window
Окно закрыто, The window is closed,
открытые газеты the open newspapers
Газеты открыты. The newspapers are open.
146
There are some adjectives which you already know which are a little odd in their short
form in the masculine singular.
Some adjectives do not have a short form, such as большой (big) and маленький (small).
They have великий and малый as their short form.
Дом велик. The house is large.
The use of the short form is not essential and if in doubt use the long one.
147
52 Translating words like something, somebody, somewhere
148
53 Getting married
54 Introductions
149
Exercises
150
Comparison of adjectives
54 Comparison of adjectives
(a) To form а comparative knock off the adjectival ending and add -ее. The stress
usually falls on the comparative.
новый new новее newer
бедный poor беднее poorer
(b) ‘Than’ is translated by чем and the nominative or else by the genitive of the object
or person compared.
Он беднее чем мой брат. тт . . ,
Он беднее моего бр&та. Не 15 P00rer than m>'brother-
(c) If the comparative comes before the noun such as ‘a more interesting professor’
более is tacked on before the adjective. Likewise менее is used for ‘less’,
бблее новый дом a newer house
менее интересная книга a less interesting book
151
(d) There are a number of irregular comparisons, the most useful of which are given
below.
Positive Comparative Meaning
большой больше big
маленький меньше small
лёгкий легче easy
дорогой дороже expensive
дешёвый дешевле cheap
молодой моложе young
хороший лучше good
Of these some have a special form when they come before the noun.
маленький меньший
большой больший
хороший лучший
молодой младший
это лучшая кнйга. That’s a better book.
152
(е) Гораздо is the Russian for ‘much’ in comparative sentences.
гораздо лучше much better
гораздо дешевле much cheaper
if) Superlatives are translated by putting самый, самая, самое before the adjective,
and it is declined as an adjective.
С&мая интересная кнйга. A most interesting book.
Москва с4мыи большой город в мире. Moscow is the largest town in the world.
Exercise
1. He is younger than his sister.
2. I am reading a more interesting book.
3. This is the best newspaper.
4. Bread is cheaper than milk.
5. Which is the smallest car?
6. It is colder in Moscow than in London.
7. Fish is much more expensive.
8. My brother has a whiter hat.
9. Caviar is more tasty than meat.
10. How do you do? (Max. 20)
153
24 Numerals 20 onwards. Declension of num¬
bers. Ordinal numbers
54 Numerals
154
55 The numbers decline in Russian
(/) 40 сорок, 90 девяносто, юо сто remain the same in the nominative and accusative.
In the other cases they add a nearly always.
Examples
Он читает с двумя коммунйстами.
Не is reading with two communists.
В четырёх магазйнах.
In four shops.
Я говорю на семй языках.
I speak seven languages.
156
56 The ordinal numbers: First, second, third, etc
157
They all decline like normal adjectives except for третий third, which is a little tricky.
Masculine Feminine Neuter Plural
Nom. третий третья третье третьи
Асе. третий третью третье третьи
Gen. третьего третьей третьего третьих
Dat. третьему третьей третьему третьим
Instr. третьим третьей третьим третьими
Prep. третьем третьей третьем третьих
Translating once, twice, thrice etc. and many, how many? a few, few
(a) Once — раз; twice — два раза; five times — пять раз.
The rule is followed that a genitive singular is required for numbers under five and
the genitive plural for those above five.
(А) много many
сколько how many? They all need the genitive plural after them,
несколько a few, several
мало few
много раз many times
мало людей few people
несколько магазинов several shops
158
Exercises
II i. 29 6. 90
2. 46 7. 500
3- 57 8. 860
4. 2076 9- 330
5. nth 10. 600
(Max. 20)
159
Words to learn: Art
Masculine Feminine Neuter
художник painter картина picture искусство art
рисунок drawing архитектура architecture
шедевр masterpiece песня song
музыкант musician выставка exhibition
цвет colour опера opera
музей *museum сельскохозяйственная agricultural
пейзаж landscape выставка exhibition
автор writer музыка music
жйвопись painting
* declined музёй, музёя, музею, музём, музёе.
Verbs to learn
играть to play (reg.)
поиграть,
играть в шахматы, в карты to play chess /cards
петь to sing; пою, поёшь, поют (pres, tense)
спеть
160
Adjectives to learn
великолепный splendid
очаровательный enchanting
Exercises
1. An old museum. 6. Your fourth opera.
2. The new picture. 7. My third exhibition.
3. Modem (современный) art. 8. In the three songs.
4. I know an author. 9. Five painters.
5. His first portrait (портрет). 10. 26 pictures.
(Max. 20)
II 1. I like four pictures in the exhibition.
2. He knows four musicians.
3. The artists of the sixteenth century (век) are very interesting.
4. He does not like the architecture of the Kremlin.
5. The orchestra (оркестр) played in Kiev last night.
6. The colour of this picture is magnificent.
7. She was singing in the opera this afternoon (сегодня после обеда).
8. The author arrived in Russia with five books.
9. The architecture shows that (показывает, что) the tower (башня) is very old.
10. The opera at the Bolshoy Theatre was terrific. ,
(Max. 30)
161
Practice in talking
162
Phrases to help the conversation along
Flash back
163
II (from examples in chapters 9-15)
1. Where are you going to? 6. I am going to the town.
2. He knows a rich doctor. 7. To an old friend (dative).
3. The beds and the baths. 8. The houses and the towns.
4. The Black Sea. 9. I shall work (Imperf.).
5. Comrade Kruschev. 10. They live.
(Max. 10)
III (examples from chapters 16-20)
1. Speak to him. 6. I want him to know.
2. On the first floor. 7. 14.
3. Five daughters. 8. On Saturday.
4. I owe him five roubles. 9. She wants newspapers.
5. What does he intend to do? 10. He likes the rooms.
(Max. 10)
IV (from Phrases to Learn, chapters 2-20)
1. So long! 6. Turn left.
2. Excuse me. 7. Have a good journey.
3. Give me the bill please. 8. What would you like?
4. How much does that cost? 9. Not too expensive.
5. Step on it. 10. Stop!
(Max. 10)
164
Expressing the date and telling the time
Words to learn: the human body
Masculine Feminine Neuter
глаз eye губа lip лицо face
(глаза plural) спина back yxo ear
нос nose рука arm/hand (уши plural)
зуб tooth голова head сердце heart
подбородок chin нога leg/foot колено knee
рот mouth
в рту in the mouth
палец finger (пальцы pi., пальцев gen. pi.)
Verbs to learn
Present tense Future Perfective
мыть to wash мою, моешь, моют
вымыть вымою, etc.
бриться to shave бреюсь, бреешься,
побрйться брёюотся побреюсь, etc.
165
58 Expressing the date
1. The ordinal number is used to express the day and the whole date is put in the
genitive.
восьмого марта On the 8th of March,
двенадцатого июля On the 12th of July.
3. Giving the date. Use the ordinal number in the neuter and put the month in the
genitive.
первое января The first of January,
второе февраля The second of February.
4. Notice
Какое сегодня число? What is the date today?
166
59 Notice the following expressions which you may find useful
на этой неделе this week
на прошлой неделе last week
на будущей неделе next week
2. When you want to say to the hour—for example, a quarter to four—use the
cardinal numbers for the hours and this construction:
без (+ gen.) четверти четыре a quarter to four (without a quarter four)
без двадцатй пять twenty to five
без десятй шесть ten to six
3. Expressing AT the hour use в plus the accusative. This is not necessary with без.
в два часа at two o’clock
в половйну седьмого at half past six
без четверти четыре at a quarter to four
4. Notice
в полдень at midday
в полночь at midnight
168
Exercises
169
26 Translating the gerunds—‘doing’ something,
‘having done’ something
170
Adjectives to learn
советский soviet
политический political
международный international
демократический democratic
социалистический socialist
Verbs to learn
выбираю выберу,
выбирать
выбрать
to choose выберёшь, выбрал
выберут
to govern управляю,
управлять (needs inst. управляешь No perf.
case after it)
советую, посоветую
советовать
to advise советуешь,
посоветовать
советуют
171
61 Gerunds
i. To form the present gerund take away the ending of the 3rd person plural of the
Present Tense of most verbs and add я, or after ж, ц, ш, щ, а.
Example они сидят they sit сйдя sitting
они знают they know зная knowing
Она читала, сйдя в саду She was reading, sitting in the garden.
2. The past gerund is usually formed from the perfective infinitive by dropping the ть
and adding в or вши.
гулять
to go for a walk погуляв having gone for a walk
погулять ®
говорйть ^
Г to talk, say сказав having said
сказать
Example сказав это, он встал having said this, he got up.
172
Exercise
173
Nationalities
174
i. Countries ending in ия are declined as follows.
Nom. Англия
Acc. Англию
Gen. XиглИИ
Dat. Хнглии
Instr. Хнглией
Prep. Хнглии
175
4- To form the feminine of words such as немец knock off -ец and add -ка: немка,
шотландец шотландка
The genitive plural is a little irregular: немок, шотландок.
176
Infinitive Meaning Present Tense Fut. Perf. Past
177
Exercises
The time has now come for you to do more than answer simple questions. Compose
a short talk in Russian, which you either say to a Russian speaking friend, or into a
tape-recorder, or even simply aloud to yourself on either ‘my life’ or ‘Russia’. You
may need a dictionary but a number of phrases on both subjects are given in the next
two pages which you would do well to work into your speech.
MY LIFE RUSSIA
я родился I was born образ жйзни way of life
двадцать лет тому twenty years ago трудный язык a difficult language
назад богатая страна a rich country
молодость youth немецкое вторжение the German inva¬
образование education в 1941 году sion in 1941
с тех пор since then русские успехи Russian successes
моя работа мне при- my work brings me конец войны в 1945 the end of the war
носит удовлетворение satisfaction году in 1945
послевоенные труд¬ post-war difficul¬
ности ties
179
во время военной during military неудача пятилетки the failure of a
службы service five year plan
Я служйл в флоте, в I was serving in the венгерская револю- the Hungarian
армии, во военно- Navy, Army, Air ция revolution
воздушных сйлах Force Объединённые НацииШе United Nations
моя свадьба my marriage
180
Private Collection
181
28 Odds and Ends
We often say things in the present or even the past when we mean the future. The
Russians will use a future perfective.
Как только я приеду в Лондон As soon as I arrive in London, I shall go
я поеду домой. home.
182
64 Use of the present tense
In sentences like ‘I have been waiting for two years’ the Russians use the present tense
because in their minds you still are waiting. The little word уже, meaning already,
is often added in.
Я жду уже два года.
по субботам on Saturdays
по средам on Wednesdays
по воскресеньям on Sundays
66 Expressing ‘abroad’
II. With verbs both aspects are given—the Imperfective first. If no perfective is given
this indicates that either there is not one, or else you will seldom need it.
205
Answers
Chapter 2 Page 23
1. Тіол Ь.Ллюч,
у. jbo C&U£CLHUSL
2. oboM.
3. Лестница, 8. З^ра^спьКріІте
4. OtCKO д. КроЛапи,
5. Кресло ю. KjUrOU-a
Chapter 3 Page 29
206
Chapter 4 Page 35
1. On посещает <уолс 6. Спіеисс рожа,
2. jbjkjU, KQAUuuhoc у. У неё
юге 8. Опа j/саелп. епо ррирга.
4. Jyye. полиа/та? X tee jneuo д. Оюю спалб^ис
5. Ключ, суЛерш, іо. Споносисоса ночи.
208
Chapter 6 Page 48 Exercise 2
1. On ne посещал. Лоиупла. .
2. О no. работала. ^omcl .
3 . CoSuji города..
4. Как Кампа (раапямлия
1. u 6. Вокзалу,
2. Мреслу, у. УнмЛърсіигіеіті^
3- Улицъ 8. Уэсисе
4. д. ьЛСеслігу,
5. Оупилу, 1°.
Chapter 8 Page 55
210
Chapter 8 Page 57 Flash Back
ТГ
4. JUfw
*
neybCL 9. Уямірісшкет-, уихНлрсиишка.
Chapter 11 Page 69
I i. В маленьком доме. К плохому ресторану.
2. Я был с английским другом. Под красной дверью.
3. Молодому солдату. На холодном вокзале.
4. Чрёным поездом. С богатым доктором.
5. За красной площадью. Старому другу.
II i. He беспокойтесь. 6. За нйми.
2. Она хочет работать. 7. Нет ли у него старого стола?
3. Он шёл в магазин. 8. Они хотят обедать.
4. Онй были на вокзале. д. В старом городе.
5. Под окном. ю. Вы никогда не завтракаете.
Chapter 12 Page 73 Page 75
1. Газеты коммунистов. 1. За комнатами.
2. Двери комнат. 2. В банях.
3. Паспорты пассажиров. 3. С клубами.
4. Окна домов. 4. Под банками.
5. Автомобйли — на вокзале. 5. Морей.
Chapter 12 Page 81
I i. красное вино 6. овощи
2. икра 7. тарелка
3. грудинка 8. горчйца
4. борщ д. яйцо
5- СЫР іо. стаканы
II і. Что вам угодно? 3. Дайте мне счёт, пожалуйста.
2. За ваше здоровье! 4. Да, мне хочется пить.
214
5- Дома в Москве. 8. Что за глупость.
6. Хлеб с маслом. 9. Молоко и рыба.
7. Как жалко! іо. От времени до времени.
Chapter 13 Page 86
i. Старые дома Ленинграда. 5. Под красными стульями.
2. Молодые доктора живут на Кавказе. 6. Белое вино.
3. Я посещаю чёрное море. 7. Каспййское море.
4. На новых вокзалах.
8. Союз советских социалистических 9. Синие перья,
республик. іо. Румыния и Финландия.
Chapter 14 Page 87
1. Я буду помнить. 6. Вы будете говорить.
2. Мы будем. 7. Они не будут употреблять.
3- Он не будет обедать. 8. Он не будет завтракать.
4- Где она будет работать? д. Как вы поживаете?
5. Они будут. ю. Доброе ^тро.
Chapter 14 Page 92
1. Я всегда буду гулять утром. 6. Они гуляли.
2. Он только что закрыл окно. 7. Мы всегда будем обедать в восемь
3- Что он будет делать в Москве? часов.
4. Они купили книгу. 8. Открыла ли она окно?
5. Он поработает час завтра. 9. Что он сделал?
іо. Она курила.
Chapter 15 Page 97
I i. Я буду писать. Я напишу. 3. Она будет пить. Она выпьет.
2. Онй будут жить. Они поживут. 4. Мы будем дать. Мы дадим.
216
5- Будет ли он вставать. Встанет 8. Они не будут вставать. Они не
ли он? встанут.
6. Вы будете сидеть. Вы посидите. 9. Мы будем одевать. Мы оденем,
7. Ты будешь писать. Тынапйшешь. іо. Он не будет пить. Он не выпьёт.
218
4- Скажйте мне, пожалуйста, где бар?
5. Официант приносит соль, горчицу и перец.
6. Я надеюсь, что горничная услышала.
7. Кажется, что столовая очень чистая.
8. Покажйте мне комнату, пожалуйста.
9. В котором часу будет завтрак?
іо. Я хочу говорйть с управляющим.
222
7. Мы будем здесь. д. Красная шляпа.
8. Во вторник. іо. На улице.
224
3- Кто-то приходит. 7. Доктор бог&т.
4. Я его встретил где-то. 8. Дверь краснй.
5. Дом велйк. 9. Знаете ли вы что-нибудь,
6. Мой сын молод. іо. Онй его нашлй где-то.
230
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DATE DUE
Jf 5 7 2
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JA 22 ft
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С13
MflRVGROUE COLLEGE
This book shows you how a useful working knowledge of Russian may be
acquired without a long and laborious study of grammar. Here within twenty-
eight brief lessons, you will be equipped rapidly to start talking and reading
Russian.
David N. Callender teaches languages at Eton College in England.