Thread: Вы

How are English sentences like, "When it rains, you go inside" translated into Russian? For example, in this sentence the person to whom you are speaking does not go inside when it rains. The use of "you" implies that this is what people do. In Russian would it be они?

You can't translate it directly.

Когда идет дождь нужно спрятаться.
or
Когда идет дождь люди прячутся.
or
Никто не мокнет под дождем, если можно спрятаться.
etc....

Когда идет дождь - прячутся. that is also possible.

As far as I understand your interest lies in some impersonal structures of the Russian language.

Originally Posted by challenger

How are English sentences like, "When it rains, you go inside" translated into Russian? For example, in this sentence the person to whom you are speaking does not go inside when it rains. The use of "you" implies that this is what people do. In Russian would it be они?

Actually, in English we say, "When it rains, one goes inside."

Originally Posted by BlackMage

Originally Posted by challenger

How are English sentences like, "When it rains, you go inside" translated into Russian? For example, in this sentence the person to whom you are speaking does not go inside when it rains. The use of "you" implies that this is what people do. In Russian would it be они?

Actually, in English we say, "When it rains, one goes inside."

That's formal and I wouldn't say that in an informal setting unless I wanted people to think I was trying to sound like a dick.

Does it mean that you think that the sentence "When it rains, you go inside" is incorrect?

Hang on, I thought Russian had proverbs with the "you" form in it.

- Так думай, чтоб после раздумки не было
- Твоё хоть дороже, краснее, а свое мне милее.
- Маленькая добычка, да большой бережь - век проживешь
- Малого пожалеешь, большое потеряешь.
- Пашешь - плачешь, жнешь - от радости скачешь
- Перед смертью не надышишься
etc.

So why can't you say:

"когда дождь идёт - спрячешься"

Originally Posted by basurero

Originally Posted by BlackMage

Originally Posted by challenger

How are English sentences like, "When it rains, you go inside" translated into Russian? For example, in this sentence the person to whom you are speaking does not go inside when it rains. The use of "you" implies that this is what people do. In Russian would it be они?

Actually, in English we say, "When it rains, one goes inside."

That's formal and I wouldn't say that in an informal setting unless I wanted people to think I was trying to sound like a dick.

Yeah.

Originally Posted by ReDSanchous

Does it mean that you think that the sentence "When it rains, you go inside" is incorrect?

I would say that the sentence is more colloquial than incorrect. It could be simply that the word "should" is implied or it could be a statement of fact that the person actually does go inside.

Originally Posted by DDT

Originally Posted by ReDSanchous

Does it mean that you think that the sentence "When it rains, you go inside" is incorrect?

I would say that the sentence is more colloquial than incorrect. It could be simply that the word "should" is implied or it could be a statement of fact that the person actually does go inside.

I think the sentence sounds fine and it is gramatically correct.
If you say "When it rains, you go inside", it sounds like an order.
If you say "When it rains, you should go inside", the meaning of the sentence changes from an order to a suggestion. It is more polite.

I personally would say "When it rains, go inside" or "Go inside when it rains." It sounds more natural and it is still an order.

Originally Posted by BlackMage

Actually, in English we say, "When it rains, one goes inside."

The statement "When it rains, one goes inside" sounds like a general statement about what people do when it rains. It is not very common to use the pronoun "one", so it sounds a bit archaic/formal.

"When it rains, you go inside" is correct and absolutely 100% natural to my ears. It's kind of sarcastic, as if stating the obvious.

EG

"I don't want to live in Japan"
"How come?"
"It rains all the time and I don't have an umbrella"
"Well you don't need one, when it rains you go inside"

Originally Posted by basurero

"I don't want to live in Japan"
"How come?"
"It rains all the time and I don't have an umbrella"
"Well you don't need one, when it rains you go inside"

One continent, one country but completely different ways of thinking. That's what I can conclude after reading your posts about whether the sentence 'When it rains, you go inside" is correct or not

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

So why can't you say:

"когда дождь идёт - спрячешься"

In the first place:
когда дождь идёт - прячешься
когда дождь пойдёт - спрячешеся

In the second place everything depends on context.

- Сбегай за водкой
- Нее, там дождь собирается, а у меня зонта нет
- Ничё, когда дождь пойдёт - спрячешься

Когда идет дождь иди внутрь (помещения )
Когда идет дождь ты идешь внутрь