Thread: Your question may already be answered -- FAQ

http://masterrussian.net/mforum/faq.php

Coupla minor corrections:

Friendly should be Friendy.
зачем is usually translated as 'what for', not 'why for'.

In answer to the question, how can I pronounce ы, I would suggest the answer:
http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/rus ... /yery.html

In answer to the question, how can I pronounce soft consonants, .. I don't know.

Originally Posted by waxwing

Friendly should be Friendy.

Thank you waxwing!

Thanks, corrected where needed.

Your question may be already answered -- FAQ

мне кажется, что the word order is wrong. Both "Your question may be answered already" and "Your question may already be answered" seem better to me, although I prefer the latter. Maybe Joysof/линдзи know which one to choose.

Yeesh. Yes, it's generally best not to split the "be" from the participle. But in casual communication it's not exactly a travesty.

The rules of this forum shall be as follows and shall also be unconditionally binding for all registered users:

4 - Try to check your grammar and spelling

And furthermore, this is a site for language interested persons. I think most people here would appreciate help with improving their skills. Notice help, not criticism.

Спасибо. Я не американец. Английский язык мне не родной.

Me neither (я не тоже?) I

[quote=Kamion]Me neither (я не тоже?) I

Thanks. I think тоже is a difficult word to use, since it means both "too" and "neither". It sounds as though it becomes easier, but it seems so wrong to me when you translate "neither" to " тоже". My brain seems to lack the ability to understand that " тоже" can have a negative meaning. Well, maybe that

Originally Posted by waxwing

зачем is usually translated as 'what for', not 'why for'.

i know this is really old, but im going to go out on a limb and suggest that зачем be translated as "How come" from now on, instead of "what for".

usually what for, in english is only a one (two) word answer, where "how come" can be used with sentences, as well as by itself.

For example.

Dogboy smells bad.
How come? right

We are going to say dogboy smells bad.
What for ? / howcome? right

Dogboy smells bad
What for wrong

The only example i can think of in russian now would be зачем я, and i know i already said this a few weeks ago, but why would it be tranlsated (as it always is) as "Why me"?

Where in reality, you could just translate it EXACTLY and LITERALLY, and you would have to change nothing -
Howcome I ?

"Why me" doesn't even fit the song !

Зачем я жду звонка - Why me wait for the call WrongЗачем я жду звонка- Howome I wait for the call Right

IMHO- I think that how come is better suiting in most cases, and the translation should be considered.
(Consider this my thesis) =)

Interesting one. I think there is a lot of overlap between zachem and pochemu in everyday Russian speech. In particular, I think there is a tendency to overuse the former in favour of the latter.

In your example: "Dogboy smells appalling." would почему or зачем be correct in Russian? I thought it would be pachemu there. Because there is no sense of purpose.

Usually 'what for' is short for 'with what purpose in mind', right?

I thought 'how come' is more like 'why?' than 'what for' + it's very very colloquial .. more than 'what for', anyway.

I think in both languages it does get quite mixed up and vague.

what about отчего or чего?

can someone really distinguish them all? thanx

Originally Posted by kasta

what about отчего or чего?

can someone really distinguish them all? thanx

They just have different meanings: "чего" is genitive from "что" and is usually translated as "what" (also "that" and "which", depending on the context) and "отчего" means "why(what is the cause)", so I don't think they ever overlaps. Are there any particular cases where you couldn't distinguish them?

thank you friendy ,it was confusing.

but now between чего, отчего, почему ,зачем

i think i have better answer for myself, thank you

MasterAdmin, I've added an "official" link to your site on the unofficial FAQ, do I get to be in "Friends and Partners" now?

Also, I'm very flattered that parts of my site made it into the "official" FAQ. But, it would be very hip and cool of you to ask first, or add a link to the site if you're going to add parts of it. Also, I hate to nitpick, but please don't make changes to what I wrote either. You see, not every John expects to still be called "John" when he goes to Mexico. Of course, if I was named John...

Pravit, I think we discussed it already. You OK'ed using some or all of your FAQ. I can take it off if you changed your mind. PM me to discuss further questions.

I also put you on F&P page http://www.masterrussian.com/blfandp.shtml Keep up the good work!

I can't find an exact post where I said that, but I don't really mind what's already on the FAQ. Thanks for the link, though

unless your talking about something i don't understand..."Friendy" is not a word, "Friendly" is correct way of saying it, friends, a freindly person, the frendliest person I know, etc.