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Grammar

Russian grammar, one step at a time

The three things that make Russian hard are cases, aspect and verbs of motion. Each one gets its own pages — the rule, the endings with stress, the mistake English speakers make and a quiz.

AllA1A2B1B2

The six cases

Nominativewho / whatGenitiveof · no · manyDativeto · forAccusativewhat (object)Instrumentalwith · byPrepositionalin · about
NominativeA1

The dictionary form: who or what does something.

GenitiveA1

нет, мно́го, два, у, из, без — and the English “of”.

DativeA2

To whom, for whom — and мне нра́вится.

AccusativeA1

The direct object: я ви́жу ма́му.

InstrumentalA2

With, by — and what you work as.

PrepositionalA1

в Москве́, о кни́ге — where and about what.

Pronouns in every caseA1

меня́, мне, мной — the full table.

Tenses

The present tenseA1

Two sets of endings cover almost every verb.

The past tenseA1

Four forms, and they follow gender.

The future tenseA2

бу́ду чита́ть or прочита́ю.

Sentence basics

Asking questionsA1

кто, что, где, куда́ — and intonation.

Saying noA1

не, нет and the double negative.

У меня́ естьA1

Russian has no verb “to have”.

ты vs выA1

Which “you” — and when to switch.

знать vs уме́тьA1

Know a fact or know how?

мочь vs уме́тьA2

Able now, or able at all?

Verb aspect

говори́ть vs сказа́тьA1

Speak or say? Process or result.

The future tenseA2

бу́ду чита́ть or прочита́ю — two futures, one choice.

де́лать vs сде́латьA2

The model pair: one prefix, one difference.

Verbs of motion

идти́ vs ходи́тьA2

Going once, in one direction — or going in general.

идти́ vs е́хатьA1

On foot or by transport?

в vs наA1

Which preposition for which place.

Words that change

Noun genderA1

он, она́, оно́ — read it from the ending.

Adjective endingsA1

но́вый, но́вая, но́вое, но́вые.

Numbers + nounsA2

оди́н стол, два стола́, пять столо́в.

э́то vs э́тотA1

This is, or this one?

ComparativesA2

лу́чше, бо́льше, са́мый.

свой vs мойB1

The possessive English lacks.

Spelling rulesA1

Why it is кни́ги, not книгы.

Sentences and verbs, further on

The imperativeA2

скажи́те, иди́те — and the polite -те.

Reflexive verbs in -сяA2

учи́ть or учи́ться?

Word orderA2

Free, but not random.

Motion prefixesB1

при-, у-, в-, вы-.

Cases finally clicking?

The 6 Cases Workbook: every ending on one page, then 300 exercises that make them automatic.

See the workbook — $14