Thread: А 'and' И

I've been wondering this for a while and haven't made sense of it...

What is the difference between using A and И for and? (too many ands...)

Is one used when related to a person or subject of a sentence or something?

Это сделал не я, а он. (contrast)
Это сделал и я, и он. (we both)

a = but, on the other hand
и = and

Она пела, а я читал.
Она пела, и я читал.

A excerpt from http://www.answers.com/topic/russian-grammar

Coordination

Common coordinating conjunctions include:

* и /i/ "and", complemental;
* а /a/ "and", oppositional, tending to "but";
* но /no/ "but";
* ибо /ibə/ "for".

The distinction between и and а is important. И implies a following complemental state that does not oppose the antecedent. А implies a following state that acts in opposition to the antecedent, but more weakly than но "but".

они уехали,
и мы уезжаем /onʲi ujexalʲi/i mɨ ujeʒajem/ they have departed/and we are departing
они уехали,
а мы уезжаем /onʲi ujexalʲi/a mɨ ujeʒajem/ they have departed, while (but) we are (still) departing
они уехали,
но мы приезжаем /onʲi ujexalʲi/no mɨ prʲijeʒajem/ they have departed, but we are arriving


The distinction between и and а developed after the mediaeval period; originally, и and а were closer in meaning. The unpunctuated ending of the Song of Igor illustrates the potential confusion. The final five words in modern spelling, князьям слава а дружине аминь /knazʲam slava a druʒine amʲinʲ/ can be understood either as "Glory to the princes and to their host! Amen." or "Glory to the princes, and amen (R.I.P.) to their troops". Although majority opinion is definitely with the first interpretation, there is no full consensus. The psychological difference between the two is quite obvious.

I had to answer the same question not long ago, so I'm already skilled in it.

Look what kind of simple sentences are to be coordinated with one of the conjunctions. If they have only one different member of a sentence, then use "и". If the two sentences differ in two members, use "а"
The differing parts are underlined.

Я люблю мороженое.
Он любит мороженое.
---------------------------------
Я люблю мороженое и он тоже его любит.

Я люблю мороженое.
Я люблю шоколад.
--------------------------------
Я люблю мороженое и шоколад.

Я люблю мороженое.
Он любит шоколад.
------------------------------------
Я люблю мороженое, а он (любит) шоколад.

Я люблю мороженое.
Он не любит мороженое.
------------------------------------------
Я люблю мороженое, а он его не любит.

Originally Posted by Indra

I had to answer the same question not long ago, so I'm already skilled in it.

Look what kind of simple sentences are to be coordinated with one of the conjunctions. If they have only one different member of a sentence, then use "и". If the two sentences differ in two members, use "а"
The differing parts are underlined.

Я люблю мороженое.
Он любит мороженое.
---------------------------------
Я люблю мороженое и он тоже его любит.

Я люблю мороженое.
Я люблю шоколад.
--------------------------------
Я люблю мороженое и шоколад.

Я люблю мороженое.
Он любит шоколад.
------------------------------------
Я люблю мороженое, а он (любит) шоколад.

Я люблю мороженое.
Он не любит мороженое.
------------------------------------------
Я люблю мороженое, а он его не любит.

That's a great explaination! Well done Indra

Originally Posted by Indra

Я люблю мороженое.
Он любит шоколад.
------------------------------------
Я люблю мороженое, а он (любит) шоколад.

Я люблю мороженое.
Он не любит мороженое.
------------------------------------------
Я люблю мороженое, а он его не любит.

What about
Я люблю мороженое, но он (любит) шоколад.
Я люблю мороженое, но он его не любит.

This one would be correct too (the question was how to choose between и and a), but it will have a bit of different sense. The sentences you suggested

Я люблю мороженое, но он (любит) шоколад.
Я люблю мороженое, но он его не любит.

have to be extended in order to point to consequences of the contradiction (or such consequences are obvious)

for example
Я люблю мороженое, но он его не любит, поэтому покупаем мы его редко.

Sentences with "a" DON'T contain contradiction, they just constate two independent facts.

Originally Posted by TATY

That's a great explaination! Well done Indra

Thank you
My explanation is good for beginners but it is not full. Other variants are possible in the narrative style ("Я люблю мороженое и не люблю шоколад") or in emotional speech.

Another example:

Я люблю мороженое, а не шоколад.

I like ice-cream, not chocolate

Originally Posted by HA

Another example:

Я люблю мороженое, а не шоколад.

I like ice-cream, not chocolate

No, this one isn't an exception

Thank you very much, that makes it much clearer. I think at this stage those examples are enough help for now, later on I will look at finding some of the other variants.