Русский язык для начинающих

Y. G. Ovsiyenko

R U S S I A N

f o r  B e g i n n e r s

Moscow • 2020

Y. G. Ovsiyenko

R U S S I A N

f o r  B e g i n n e r s

Moscow • 2019

УДК 811.161.1
ББК 81.2 Рус-96
 
О34

Translated from the Russian by V. Korotky
Designed by V. Karasyov
Reviewed by the Russian Section for Foreign Students Attending 
the Preparatory Department State University

 
Овсиенко, Ю. Г.
О34  
Русский язык для начинающих: Учебник (для говорящих на 
 
английском языке) / Ю.Г. Овсиенко. — М.: Русский язык. Курсы,
 
2019. — 472 с.
 
 
ISBN 978-5-88337-119-5
Учебник адресован взрослой аудитории и предназначен для всех, кто начинает учить русский язык. Он может быть использован как в работе с преподавателем, так и для самостоятельных занятий.
Будучи компактным, учебник достаточно информативен: он содержит 
основ ные сведения о фонетических и грамматических законах русского языка, 
краткие сведения о речевом этикете, картинный словарь, обобщающие грамматические таблицы, ключи к упражнениям.
Текстовой материал учебника знакомит учащихся с культурой и историей 
России и дает возможность для развития диалогической и монологической речи.
Подбор и организация учебного материала, коммуникативная направленность его представления и закрепления служат основной цели: практическому овладению языком как средством общения.

Учебное издание
Овсиенко Юлия Георгиевна

РУССКИЙ ЯЗЫК ДЛЯ НАЧИНАЮЩИХ
(для говорящих на английском языке)

Контрольное редактирование М.А. Кастрикина
Художественный редактор Л.П. Копачева
Компьютерная вёрстка Е.П. Бреславская
Подписано в печать 15.05.2019. Формат 60х90/16. Бумага офсетная.
Гарнитура «Петербург». Печать офсетная. Усл. печ. л. 29,5
Тираж 1000 экз. Заказ №

Издательство ООО «Русский язык». Курсы.
107078, Москва, ул. Новая Басманная, д.19, стр.2
Тел./факс: +7(499) 261-54-37, тел.: +7(499) 261-12-26.
е-mail: russky_yazyk@mail.ru; ruskursy@mail.ru; rkursy@gmail.com; ruskursy@gmail.com; 
Сайт издательства: www.rus-lang.ru

Отпечатано с готового оригинал-макета издательства
в ОАО «Щербинская типография»
117623, Москва, ул. Типографская, д. 10. Тел.: (495) 659-23-27

© Издательство «Русский язык». Курсы, 2006
Репродуцирование (воспроизведение) любым 
способом данного издания без договора с издательством запрещается.

ISBN 978-5-88337-119-5

CONTENTS

Preface  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12
Abbreviations Used in This Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13
Introductory Phonetics Course  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14
The Russian Alphabet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14
Russian Sounds and Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16
Stressed Vowels and the Reduction of Vowels  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16
Intonational Construction IC1  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17
Intonational Construction IC2  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18
Hard and Soft Consonants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18
Intonational Construction IC3  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
20
Voiced and Voiceless Consonants  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21
Intonational Construction IC4  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22
Main Types of Intonational Constructions (Summary)  . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22
Texts  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23
How Some Russian Letters Are Written . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23
Notes on the Tables  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
24
Pictorial Vocabulary  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
28

MAIN COURSE

Part I

Unit 1
Preparation for Reading  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
43
Text. Знако2мство . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
Dialogues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
Grammar. The Noun. The Gender of Nouns. The Personal Pronouns он,
она2, оно2. Possessive Pronouns  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
45
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48

Unit 2
Preparation for Reading  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
52
Text. Оле2г до2ма  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
53
Dialogue  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
53
Grammar. Adverbs of Place. Word Order in a Sentence. Complete and
Short Answers. The Construction у меня2 есть ‘I have …’  . . . . . . . . . . .
53
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
55

Unit 3
Preparation for Reading  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
59
Texts. Мы изуча2ем ру2сский язы2к. Ве2чером  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
60
Dialogues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
61
Grammar. The Verb. The Present Tense. The 1st and 2nd Verb Conjugations. The Verbs чита2ть and говори2ть. Verb Group  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
62
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
63

Unit 4
Preparation for Reading  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
65
Text. Наш райо2н и на2ша у2лица  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
65
Dialogue  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
66
Grammar. The Plural of Nouns. Special Cases of the Formation of the
Plural of Nouns. The Plural of Possessive Pronouns. The Demonstrative 
Pronouns э2тот, тот.The Use of э2то and э2тот. The Conjunctions и, а, но. 
Complex Sentences. The Verb жить  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
66
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
69

5

Unit 5
Preparation for Reading  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
72
Text. Оле2г и его2 семья2  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
72
Dialogue  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
72
Шу2тка  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Grammar. The Past Tense of the Verb. The Use of the Verb быть. The
Prepositional of Nouns. Word Order in Questions (Interrogative Sentences). The Verb писа2ть. The Use of the Prepositions в and на with
the Prepositional  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
73
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
77

Unit 6
Preparation for Reading  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
80
Text. Джон и его2 семья2  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
80
Dialogue  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
81
Grammar. The Prepositional with the Meaning  of  the Subject of a
Thought or the Topic of a Conversation. Personal Pronouns in the Prepositional. The Conjugation of the Verbs люби2ть, сиде2ть, гото2вить. The
Verb преподава2ть. Verb Groups.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
81
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
83

Unit 7
Preparation for Reading.The Verbs слы2шать and слу2шать. The Verbs
смотре2ть and ви2деть . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
86
Text. В кино2  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
88
Dialogue  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
88
Grammar. The Accusative Singular of Nouns. Transitive Verbs. An Object
in  the  Prepositional or  the Accusative. The Accusative of Personal
Pronouns. The Accusative in the меня2 зову2т …  Construction. The
Constructions как зову2т …? and как называ2ется …? Complex Sentences.
The Verb идти2.The Verbs петь, ждать. Verb Groups  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
89
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
92

Unit 8
Preparation for Reading. Expressing Time (Когда2? ‘When?)  . . . . . .
95
Text. В воскресе2нье  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
96
Dialogue  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
96
Grammar. Verb with the Particle ся. The Verb занима2ться. The Verbs
начина2ть — начина2ться, конча2ть — конча2ться. The Conjugation of
the Verbs е2хать, встава2ть, брать. Verb Groups  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
97
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
98
Read with a Dictionary. Письмо2 домо2й . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
101

Unit 9
Preparation for Reading. Ско2лько сто2ит … ? ‘How much is … ?’  . . . .
102
Text. На2ша столо2вая  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
103
Dialogues. В буфе2те . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
103
Grammar. Expression of Place and Direction. The Prepositional of Place
and the Accusative of Direction. The Imperative of Verbs. Formation
of the Imperative. The Verbs идти2 and е2хать. The Verb хоте2ть. The
Verbs есть and пить. Verb Groups  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
104
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
108
Read with a Dictionary. Второ2е письмо2 домо2й  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
112

Unit 10
Preparation for Reading  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
113
Text. В библиоте2ке  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
114
Dialogue  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
114
Grammar. Verbal Aspect. The Meaning of the Verbal Aspects. Formation of the Aspects. Impersonal Sentences. The мо2жно + an Infinitive
Construction. Verb Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
114
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
118
Read with a Dictionary. Се2льский врач  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
120

Unit 11
Preparation for Reading  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
122
Text. Но2вая кварти2ра . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
122
Dialogue  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
123

6

Grammar. The Adjective. The Nominative Singular and Plural of Adjectives. Adjectives Denoting Colours. The Numeral. Ordinal Numerals.
Simple and Complex Sentences. IndefinitePersonal Sentences. The Verbs
ходи2ть and е2здить. The Verbs идти2, е2хать and ходи2ть, е2здить. The
Use of the Verb висе2ть. Verb Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
123
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
128
Read with a Dictionary. Но2вый дива2н. Посло2вицы о до2ме  . . . . . . . .
130

Unit 12
Preparation for Reading  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
132
Text. В теа2тре . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
133
Dialogue  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
133
Grammar. Correlation Between  Verbal Aspect and Tense. The Future
Tense of the Verb. Formation of the Future Tense. Conjugation of Some
Perfective Verbs (дать, лечь, помо2чь, перевести2, сесть, встать, нача2ть,
взять, поня2ть, верну2ться, закры2ть). Verb Groups  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
134
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
137
Read with a Dictionary. Де2тский музыка2льный теа2тр  . . . . . . . . . . . .
140

Unit 13
Preparation for Reading  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
142
Text. День рожде2ния  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
142
Dialogue  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
142
Grammar. The Genitive Case of Nouns. Personal Pronouns in the Genitive. The Use of the Personal 3rd Person Pronouns in the Genitive with
and without a Preposition. The Genitive Conveying Possession and
Part of a Whole. The Genitive in Impersonal Sentences after the Negatives нет, не2 было, не бу2дет. The Verb мочь. The Construction мочь+
an Infinitive. The Conjugation of the Verbs прийти2, танцева2ть. Verb
Groups  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
143
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
146
Read with a Dictionary. Москва2. Немно22го из исто2рии Москвы2 . . . .
150

Unit 14
Preparation for Reading  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
154
Text. Пода2рок Оле2гу  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
155
Dialogues. Разгово2р по телефо2ну. В универма2ге  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
155
Grammar. The Dative Case of Nouns. Personal Pronouns in  the  Dative.
The Dative Used to Indicate Age. The Construction with the Verb нра2виться. Personal and IndefinitePersonal Sentences. Verbs Used with the
Dative. Verb Groups  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
156
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
158
Read with a Dictionary. На2ша шко2ла. Студе2нту оди2ннадцать лет.
162
Посло2вицы об уче2нии, о зна2нии.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
163

Unit 15
Preparation for Reading  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
164
Text. На экску2рсии . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
165
Dialogues. В гости2нице. В но2мере  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
165
Grammar. The Use of the Verbs ста2вить (поста2вить) — стоя2ть, etc. The 
Short Form of Adjectives. The Construction  до2лжен + an Infinitive. The
Verbs спра2шивать — спроси2ть, проси2ть — попроси22ть. Verb Groups . . .
166
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
169
Read with a Dictionary. Яросла2вль  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
173

Unit 16
Preparation for Reading. The Use of the Words бо2лен (больна2, больны2), боли2т, боле2ть (заболе2ть)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
176
Text. Оле2г заболе2л  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
177
Dialogue. В поликли2нике . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
178
Посло2вицы о здоро2вье . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
178
Grammar. The Dative in Impersonal Constructions. The Dative + ну2жно
(мо2жно, нельзя2) + an Infinitive Construction. The Dative + тру2дно (легко2) + an Infinitive and the Dative + ве2село (интере2сно, etc.) Constructions. 
The Dative with Verbs of Motion. The Use in the Dative of  the  Personal 
3rd Person  Pronouns  with  and without a Preposition. The Use of the

7

Words ли and е2сли. Word Order in Sentences with the Word ли. The
Conjugation of the Verbs боле2ть (заболе2ть), вы2звать, оде2тьcя, остава2ться (оста2ться). Verb Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
178
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
182
Read with a Dictionary. Театра2льный двор. (After Yu. Yakovlev) . . .
185

Unit 17
Preparation for Reading  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
187
Text. Гость из Сара2това  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
188
Dialogues. На вокза2ле. На стоя2нке такси2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
188
Шу2тка. На вокза2ле  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
189
Grammar.The Genitive of Nouns (continued). Prefixes Used  with
Verbs of Motion: прийти2 — уйти2, подойти2 — отойти2, войти2 — вы2йти.
Antonymous Prepositions. Antonymous Prefixes. The Use of Prepositions and Cases in Answer to the Questions где? куда2? отку2да? Complex Sentences with the Word  кото2рый. Verb Groups  . . . . . . . . . . . . .
189
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
192
Read with a Dictionary. На ро2дине Серге2я Есе2нина  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
195

Unit 18
Preparation for Reading  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
197
Text. На Пу2шкинский пра2здник . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
198
Dialogue  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
198
Зна2ете ли вы? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
199
Grammar. The Instrumental of Nouns. The Endings of Nouns with the
Stem in ж, ш, щ, ч, and ц. The Insnrumental after the Verbs станови2ться (стать), быть, рабо2тать. The Declension of the Noun вре2мя.
The Use of the Pronoun сам. The хоте2ть + an Infinitive and хоте2ть,
что2бы … Constructions. The Conjugation of  the  Verb  собра2ться.
Verb Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
199
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
202
Read with a Dictionary. Я без перево2дчика. (After M. Wilson) Посло2вицы о языке2, о сло2ве . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
205

Unit 19
Preparation for Reading. The Uses of the Verb игра2ть. Nouns and Adverbs with the Meaning of Time  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
208
Text. Джон идёт на футбо2л  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
209
Dialogue  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
210
Зна2ете ли вы? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
210
Grammar. The Instrumental of Joint Action. Personal Pronouns in the Instrumental. The Use of the Personal 3rd Person Pronouns with and without a Preposition. The Use of the Prepositions к, с, об with the 1st
Person  Singular  Pronoun. The  мы  с сестро2й …,  мать с отцо2м … Constructions.  Verbs  Used  with  Nouns in  the  Instrumental.  The Use of
the Verbs мочь, уме2ть, знать. Complex Sentences with Clauses of Cause
or  Result.  The  Conjugation  of  the Verb увле2чься. Verb Groups  . . . . . . .
210
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
213
Read with a Dictionary. Михаи2л Васи2льевич  Ломоно2сов — основа2тель пе2рвого ру2сского университе2та. Выска2зывания о нау2ке,
о зна2нии  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
217
SummingUp Grammatical Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
219

Part II

Unit 20
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
228
Диало2г  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
229
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
229
Текст. Сме2лые лю2ди . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
230
Grammar. Declension of Feminine Adjectives in the Singular. Femi.
nine Adjectives with the Stem in a Hard or Soft Consonant. Femi.
nine Adjectives with the Stem in ж, ш, ч, щ. Declension of  Feminine Possessive Pronouns  in  the  Singular.  Declension  of  Feminine
Demonstrative Pronouns in the Singular. Adjectives with  the  Stem  in
a  Soft  Consonant.  The  Use  of  the  Conjunctions  что and   что2бы.

8

The Use of the Verbs происходи2ть — произойти2, случа2ться — случи2ться. The Conjugation of the Verbs боя2ться, лете2ть. Verb Groups . . .
230
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
233
Чита2йте со словарём. О2зеро Байка2л . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
236

Unit 21
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
238
Диало2г  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
238
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
239
Текст. Тури2стпенсионе2р . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
240
Grammar. Verbs of Motion. Verbs of the идти2 Group. Verbs of the ходи2ть Group. Intransitive Verbs. Transitive Verbs. The Meaning  of  the
Verbs of Motion of the идти2 and ходи2ть Groups. The Use of the Verbs
нести2, вести2, везти2. Some Meanings of the Verbs идти2, води2ть, вести2.
About the Means of Transport. In the  мне идёт … Construction. The 
Possessive Pronoun свой. The Conjugation of the Verbs бежа2ть, вез.
ти2, вести2, нести2, плыть. Verb Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
241
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
247
Чита2йте со словарём. Движе2ние — э2то жизнь. Посло2вицы и погово2рки с глаго2лами движе2ния  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
250

Unit 22
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
252
Диало2г  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
252
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
254
Текст. Дом в лесу2. (After K. Paustovsky).  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
255
Grammar. Declension in the Singular of Masculine and Neuter Adjectives with the Stem in a Hard or Soft Consonant. Masculine and Neuter Adjectives with the Stem in ж, ш, ч, щ. Declension of Masculine
and Neuter Possessive Pronouns in the Singular. Declension of Masculine and Neuter Demonstrative Pronouns in the Singular. Declension of
Ordinal Numerals. Declension of the Numeral тре2тий. Expressing  Time.
The Conjugation of the Verbs кри2кнуть, пла2кать. Verb Groups  . . . . .
255
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
259
Чита2йте со словарём. Вели2кий поэ2т Росси2и. Стихотворе2ния
А. С. Пу2шкина: «Я вас люби2л», «Зи2мняя доро2га» (отры2вок), «К Чаада2еву» (отры2вок), «К Н. Я. Плюско2вой» (отры2вок)  . . . . . . . . . . . . .
262

Unit 23
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
266
Диало2г  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
267
Текст. Отцы2 и де2ти . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
268
Шу2тка  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
268
Посло2вицы, погово2рки и афори2змы об уче2нии, о зна2нии  . . . . . . . . .
268
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
268
Тексты. Пра2здник славя2нского сло2ва. Све2тлый пра2здник весны2
269
Grammar. Expressing Time (continued). The Genitive after  the  Prepositions до before, по2сле after, с … до … from … till/to. Double Negation. The Conjugation of the Verbs приня2ть, сдать, ошиби2ться. Verb
Groups  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
271
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
275
Чита2йте со словарём. Екатери2на Рома2новна Да2шкова  . . . . . . . . . . .
278

Unit 24
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
281
Диало2г  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
281
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
282
Текст. Остров Ки2жи . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
282
Посло2вицы и афори2змы о труде2  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
283
Grammar. The Genitive Plural of Nouns. The Genitive Plural of Adjectives. The Genitive Plural of Possessive Pronouns. The Genitive Plural
of Demonstrative Pronouns. The Pronoun себя2. Some Expressions with
себя2. Verb Groups  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
284
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
286
Чита2йте со словарём. Дом Хемингуэ2я  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
290

Unit 25
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
292
Диало2г  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
292
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
293
Те2ксты. До2ктор Еле2на. Языки2 наро2дов Се2вера  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
294
Grammar. The Genitive after a Numeral. The Phrase друг дру2га. The 
Conjugation of the Verbs привы2кнуть, исче2знуть. Verb Groups  . . . .
295
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
297
Чита2йте со словарём. Фёдор Миха2йлович Достое2вский  . . . . . . . . .
300

Unit 26
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
303
Диало2г  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
304
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
305
Текст. Ру2сские мецена2ты  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
305
Grammar. The Accusative Plural of Nouns. Animate Nouns in the Aсcusative Plural. The Accusative Plural of Adjectives and Demonstrative
and Possessive Pronouns. The Accusative Plural of Adjectives Qualifying Animate Nouns. Possessive Pronouns in the Accusative Plural.
Demonstrative Pronouns in the Accusative Plural. Formation of the
3rd Person Imperative of Verbs. Personal and IndefinitePersonal Sentences. Verb Groups  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
307
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
310
Чита2йте со словарём. Писа2тель, поэ2т, певе2ц  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
313
Пе2сни Була2та Окуджа2вы: «Дава2йте восклица2ть!», «Пе2сенка об откры2той две2ри», «О Воло2де Высо2цком» (отры2вок)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
315

Unit 27
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
317
Диало2г  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
318
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
319
Текст. О ру2сских музе2ях . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
319
Grammar. The Prepositional Plural of Nouns. The Prepositional Plural
of Adjectives. The Prepositional Plural of Possessive Pronouns. The 
Prepositional Plural of Demonstrative Pronouns. The Conjugation of the
Verb расти2. Verb Groups  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
320
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
323
Чита2йте со словарём. Солдатёнок. (After Ch. Aitmatov). Ци2фры и
фа2кты. (Из исто2рии Второ2й мирово2й войны2.)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
326

Unit 28
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
330
Диало2ги. На по2чте  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
331
Образцы2 пи2сем и телегра2мм  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
332
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
333
Текст. Пи2сьма Анто2на Па2вловича Че2хова  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
334
Grammar. The Dative Plural of Nouns. The Dative Plural Adjectives. The
Dative Plural of Possessive Pronouns. The Dative Plural of Demonstrative Pronouns. Complex Sentences with the Word кото2рый. The Conjugation of the Verbs обня2ть, посла2ть, наде2яться. Verb Groups  . . . . . .
336
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
339
Чита2йте со словарём. Анто2н Па2влович Че2хов. Че2ховские спекта2кли. Изрече2ния о кни2ге, о её ро2ли в жи2зни челове2ка  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
343

Unit 29
Подгото2вка к чте2нию. The Use of the Verb наступа2ть — наступи2ть  . .
346
Диало2г  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
347
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
348
Текст. Го2род на Неве2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
348
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
350
Текст. Но2вгород  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
350
Grammar. The Instrumental Plural of Nouns. The Instrumental Plural
of Adjectives. The Insrumental Plural of Possessive Pronouns. The
Instrumental Plural of Demonstrative Pronouns. Complex Sentences
with the Word кото2рый (continued). Verb Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
351
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
353

10

Чита2йте со словарём. Не2сколько слов о бескоры2стии. (After V. Peskov). Посло2вицы и афори2змы о челове2ке, его нра2вственных це2нностях (moral values)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
357

Unit 30
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
359
Диало2ги. Спра2вочное бюро2  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
359
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
360
Текст. Сиби2рь  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
360
Grammar. Aspectual Pairs of Prefixed Verbs of Motion. The Constructions что2бы + an Infinitive and что2бы + Past Tense. Verb Groups  . . .
362
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
364
Чита2йте со словарём. Сме2ло, малы2ш! (After Yu. Semyonov). Посло2вицы и афори2змы о дру2жбе  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
367

Unit 31
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
370
Диало2г  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
370
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
371
Те2ксты. О на2шей ёлке. Ру2сское Рождество2  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Grammar. Direct and Indirect Speech. The Use of Pronouns in Direct
and Indirect Speech. Verb Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
373
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
374
Чита2йте со словарём. Леге2нда о ма2тери  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
379

Unit 32
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
383
Диало2г  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
383
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
384
Текст. Се2рдце Да2нко (По М. Го2рькому)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
385
Grammar. The Comparative Degree of Adjectives and Adverbs. Comparative Constructions. The Superlative Degree. The Conditional Mood.
The Conditional Mood in Complex Sentences. «Не» in the Conditional
Mood. The Conjugation of the Verbs подня2ть, прогна2ть, смея2ться,
умере2ть, упа2сть. Verb Groups  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
387
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
391
Чита2йте со словарём. Константи2н Феокти2стов. Встре2ча в ко2смосе.
Посло2вицы и афори2змы о труде2, о це2ли и смы2сле жи2зни  . . . . . . . . .
395

Unit 33
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
399
Диало2г  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
399
Подгото2вка к чте2нию  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
400
Текст. Пе2рвый учи2тель (По Ч. Айтма2тову)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
400
Grammar. The Verbal Adverb. Derivation of Verbal Adverbs. Verbal  Adverb 
Constructions. Sequence of Actions. The Participle. Derivation of Participles.
Active Participles. Passive Participles.  Participle  Constructions. The Use of
Active and Passive Participles. The Long and Short Forms of Passive Participles. Derivation of the Short  Form of Participles. The Use of  Long  and  Short
Forms of Participles. The  Use of the Performer  and the Object Acted Upon
in Active and Passive Constructions. Verb Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
402
Exercises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
406
Чита2йте со словарём. «Гори2, гори2, моя2 звезда2!». Отры2вки из ру2сских рома2нсов «Гори2, гори2, моя2 звезда2!», «О2чи чёрные»  . . . . . . . . . .
411
SummingUp Grammatical Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
417
Russian Conventional Speech Cliche2s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
429
1. Greeting. Expressions Used at LeaveTaking  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
429
2. Forms of Address. Expressions Used to Attract People’s Attention  . .
430
3. Expressing Requests  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
431
4. Expressing Agreement, Confirmation of an Arrangement or a Refusal . .
432
5. Expressing an Apology  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
434
6. Expressing Regret or Sympathy  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
435
7. Expressing Gratitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
435
8. Formulas of Congratulation. Expressing Good Wishes  . . . . . . . . . . . .
436
Key to the Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
437
RussianEnglish Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
453

11

PREFACE

This is an elementary Russian course intended for adult beginners in Russian (senior secondaryschool pupils, college and university students, and others). It can be studied both with and without a teacher. To make it suitable for unaided study, the theoretical explanations, the notes on Russian history, geography and culture, and the instructions for the exercises are given in English. For the same purpose the course is supplied
with a key to the exercises. 
The course aims at helping the student acquire a working knowledge of Russian so
that he could: communicate with Russians on topics covered by the situations dealt with
in the course; express his thoughts in Russian on the basis of the grammar and vocabulary studied; understand aurally, read and retell simple texts, conveying in Russian his
attitude towards what he has read or heard; read with a dictionary and translate more
difficult texts and prepare oral or written reports on given topic.
Thus the course gives the student a thorough knowledge of the fundamentals of
Russian. On completing it the student, if he so desires, will be able to continue an unaided deeper study of the language.

The Structure of the Course

The book consists of the following sections: 1. A short phonetics course. 2. A pictorial dictionary introducing concrete vocabulary grouped thematically. 3. The main part
consisting of 33 units. 4. Russian conventional speech cliche2s. 5. A key to the exercises.
6. A general alphabetic RussianEnglish vocabulary.
The brief phonetics course gives information the main rules of Russian phonetics
(sounds and letters, pronunciation of Russian sounds, stress and reduction of sounds, soft
and hard consonants, and the main types of intonational constructions).
The pictorial dictionary introduces the most common of the concrete words,
grouped thematically. Its purpose is to explain that part of the concrete vocabulary
which, while belonging to the main active Russian word stock, has a low frequency in
speech and writing. It is precisely the low frequency of these words in the texts that calls
for their visual presentation.
The contents of the course are presented in two parts: Part I contains 19 units (1 to
19), and Part II – 14 units (20 to 33). Each part is concluded by summingup grammatical
tables. The 33 units of the parts give all the necessary information on Russian grammar.
They deal with the following fundamental themes: declension of nouns, adjectives and
pronouns in the singular and plural; verb conjugation; verbal aspects; verbs of motion;
the main methods of expressing location, direction and time; the main types of simple and
complex sentences; the conditional mood; direct and indirect (reported) speech; the participle and the verbal adverb; etc.
The section “Russian Conventional Speech Cliche2s” sums up and supplements the
relevant material contained in the units of the course.
The vocabulary of the course has been selected on the basis of a comprehensive statistical analysis of the Russian word stock and includes the most frequently used words
and phrases. It contains about 2000 words and phrases in all.

The Structure of the Units

The contents of the phonetics section are arranged thematically and not in accordance with the units. They can be divided into four main subsections, each of which is 
concluded by one of the intonational constructions and a short text.

12

The phonetics course is followed by some spelling rules. Only those letters are dealt
with which may prove difficult for Englishspeaking students to master.
The units of the course are arranged as follows: 1. Preparation (conventional formulas, set phrases, cliche2s, and words and expressions occurring in the texts). 2. A text and
a dialogue (or dialogues), based on definite lexical and grammatical themes dealt with in
the unit concerned. 3. Notes on Russian history, geography and culture relevant to the
text and the dialogue. 4. Grammatical notes, preceded by speech patterns (syntactical
models), and grammatical tables. 5. Exercises of the following types: observation execises, substitution exercises, situational exercises (based on visual presentation or speech
stimulus), exercises in translation, and communicative exercises to be done either orally
with a teacher or to be recorded on tape. The study of a unit should be concluded by
doing the “assignments on the text”. This system of execises is aimed at a gradual development of the student’s speaking skills and habits.
In presenting and consolidating the grammar and vocabulary the functional
approach is consistently followed (presentation of the contents in speech patterns and
model sentences, the communicative slant of the exercises, creative assignments on the
texts, etc.).
In addition each unit includes supplementary material for the student’s unaided
study: texts based on Russian history, geography and culture, and thematically relevant
proverbs, sayings, extracts from poetry, and songs. This serves a dual purpose: while
broadening the cognitive range of the course, it also provides material for the development of the student’s dialogical speech (conversation, discussion) and his monological
(oral and written) speech as well.
The texts given in the “Read with Dictionary” section are supplied with lexical
notes and notes of historical and cultural interest. In boxes structures that may prove difficult for the student to grasp are given (with their English equivalents). 
The units contain material for active and passive assimilation (the latter is marked
with a special symbol —  
). Part of the material introduced in the first units as passive
is activised in the subsequent units.
The more complicated types of assignments on the texts (proverbs, sayings, excerpts
from poetry, etc.) are to be done after the completion of the main studies. This material,
marked with  a  special symbol —
makes it possible to slant the course to the student’s
level: students who do all the main exercises without difficulty may be given additional
tasks for unaided creative work.
The “Key to the Exercises” is given in order to enable the student make sure
whether he has done his exercises correctly. This part of the course is particularly important for those studying the course outside the Russian language environment.
Thematically this course is based on sociocultural material and includes information on Russian history and geography. In addition to a purely pragmatic purpose, the
illustrative material aims at broadening the student’s knowledge of Russian culture.
The choice of the material and its arrangement have been determined by the principal goal of the course — giving the student a working knowledge of Russian. 

ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS BOOK

acc., accusative
neut., n., neuter
adj., adjective
nom., nominative
conj., conjunction
p., perfective
dat., dative
pl., plural
fem., f., feminine
prep., prepositon
gen., genitive
prepos., prepositional
imp., imperfective
pron., pronoun
instr., instrumental
sing., singular
masc., m., masculine
smb., somebody
smth., something

13

INTRODUCTORY PHONETICS
COURSE

The Russian Alphabet

Letters
Name of
Sound
Similar English Sound
PrintHandLetter
ed
written

A a
А а
a
[a]
like ar in “far”

Б б
Б б
бэ
[б]
like b in “but”

В в
В в
вэ
[в]
like v in “voice”

Г г
Г г
гэ
[г]
like g in “get”

Д д
Д д
дэ
[д]
like d in “day”

Е е
Е е
е
[йэ]
like ye in “yet”

Ё ё
Ё ё
ё
[йо]
like yo in “your”

Ж ж
Ж ж
жэ
[ж]
like s in “pleasure”

З з
З з
зэ
[з]
like z in “zone”

И и
И и
и
[и]
like ee in “meet”

Й й
Й й
short и
[й]
like y in “boy”

К к
К к
ка
[к]
like k in “skate”

Л л
Л л
эл
[л]
like l in “look”

М м
М м
эм
[м]
like m in “may”

Н н
Н н
эн
[н]
like n in “not”

О о
О о
о
[о]
like or in “port”

П п
П п
пэ
[п]
like p in “spoon”

14

Letters
Name of
Sound
Similar English Sound
PrintHandLetter
ed
written

Р р
Р р
эр
[р]
like r in “rock”

С с
С с
эc
[с]
like s in “smoke”

Т т 
Т т
тэ
[т]
like t in “tie ”

У у
У у
у
[у]
like oo in “moon”

Ф ф
Ф ф
эф
[ф]
like f in “foot”

Х х
Х х
ха
[х]
like ch in the Scottish
“loch”

Ц ц
Ц ц
цэ
[ц]
like ts in “boots”

Ч ч
Ч ч
чэ 
[ч]
like ch in “chair”

Ш ш
Ш ш
ша
[ш]
like sh in “shell”

Щ щ
Щ щ
ща
[щ]
like sh, ch in “Danish
charter” (pronounced as
one sound)

ъ
ъ
hard sign

ы
ы
ы
[ы]
like i in “kick”

ь 
ь
soft sign

Э э
Э э
э
[э]
like e in “bet”

Ю ю
Ю ю
ю
[йу]
like you in “youth”

Я я
Я я
я
[йа]
like ya in “yard”

15

RUSSIAN SOUND AND LETTERS

There are 33 letters in the Russian alphabet, but there are many
more sounds in the language. Russian sounds are articulated somewhat differently from their English counterparts. Some Russian
sounds have no English counterparts (see the table on p. 14 —15).
After a soft consonant (for soft and hard consonants, see p. 18)
the letters е, ё, ю and я indicate one sound: [э], [о], [у] and [а],
respectively: нет [н’ет], лю2ди [л’уд’и].
The letters е, ё, ю and я indicate one sound combinations [йэ],
[йо], [йу] and [йа], respectively:
1. at the beginning of a word: юг [йу], я [йа];
2. after a vowel: моё [йо], моя2 [йа];
3. after ь and ъ : друзья2 [йа], съесть [йэ].

STRESSED VOWELS AND THE REDUCTION OF VOWELS

Russian words have one stressed syllable. The stress may fall on
the first, second, third, etc. syllable of a word: ко2мната, кварти2ра,
потоло2к.
The stressed syllable is longer and is articulated more tensely
than the unstressed ones. In unstressed syllables the vowels undergo
reduction and are shorter (quantitative reduction), while the vowels
[a], [o] and [э] change their timbre (qualitative reduction).
The vowels [и], [у] and [ы] undergo only quantitative reduction,
i. e. they are shorter in unstressed syllables than in stressed ones: 
иди2 — кино2, тут — туда2, сыр — сыро2к.
There are two degrees of reduction in Russian: the 1st degree (in
the first pretonic syllable and in the absolute beginning of a word) and
the 2nd degree (in the other pretonic and in the posttonic syllables).

a [a]
1. [a] when stressed: там, ма2ма, па2па, а2вгуст.
2. [a] when unstressed: стака2н, авто2бус, магази2н, кварти2ра.
In the first pretonic syllable and at the beginning of a word a
shorter and faint sound [] is pronounced instead of [a]: балко2н
[блко2н], авто2бус [вто2бус].
In the second pretonic and in a posttonic syllable [a] is shorter
than in the first pretonic syllable. It is represented by [ъ]: магази2н
[мъгзи2н], ко2мната [ко2мнътъ].

о [о]
1. [o] when stressed: он, мост, дом, пол, по2лка.
2. [o] when unstressed: она2, крова2ть, коридо2р, потоло2к.

о → [а]

In an unstressed position [o] is pronounced in the same way as
[a] in an identical position.

16

In the first pretonic syllable and at the beginning of a word [] is
pronounced instead of o: слова2рь [слва2р’], окно2 [кно2]; [] is also
pronounced instead of o in second pretonic and a posttonic syllable
[ъ]: молоко2 [мълко2], колбаса2 [кълбса2], э2то [э2тъ].

INTONATIONAL CONSTRUCTION IC1

Это мама.
Она дома.

The intonational construction IC1 conveys a complete thought
in the form of a statement (declarative sentence). The centre of IC1
is the stressed syllable of the word containing the nucleus of the
information conveyed by the statement.
A distinctive feature of IC1 is a sharp drop of the tone on centre
of the IC, which continues on the part. The postcentral part is pronounced with a tone lower than the mid tone characteristic of the
precentral part.

Read the sentences, using IC1.

1
1
1
1
1
Э2то дом. Э2то квартира. Э2то мама. Она2 дома. Э2то папа.

1
Он тоже до2ма.

до2ма at home
Э2то ма2ма. This is Mother.
Она2 до2ма. She is at home.
то2же also
е[э], [йэ]

1. [э] when stressed: лес, есть, день, сле2ва, пе2сня.
2. [э] when unstressed: стена2, тетра2дь, среда2, де2рево.
е → [и]

In the first pretonic syllable a short [и] is pronounced instead of
e: река2 [р’ика2], сестра2 [с’истра2]; and in the second pretonic and in a
posttonic syllable a very short [и], which is represented by [ь]: телегра2ф [т’ьл’игра2ф], телеви2зор [т’ьл’и2визър], ве2чер [в’э2ч’ьр].
я [а], [йа]

1. [a] when stressed: пять, мя2со, моя2, я2сно.
2. [a] when unstressed: де2сять, ку2хня, язы2к.
я [и]

In the first pretonic syllable a short [и] is pronounced instead of я:
пятна2дцать [п’итнаццът’], обяза2тельно [б’иза2т’ьл’нъ]: and in the
second pretonic and in a posttonic syllable a very short [и], which
is represented by [ь]: дя2дя [д’а2д’ь], ме2сяц [м’э2с’ьц], дере2вня
[д’ир’э2вн’ь], янва2рь [й7инва2р’].

17