Thread: A complicated sentence; spoken vs literary Russian

Thanks xXHoax, very comprehensive answer. I think I've never paid enough attention to these conjunctions, a symptom of having prioritised reading over writing and speaking, I guess. I'm still a bit unclear about when to use them, vs который; is it mostly a matter of 'register'?

Thanks Alex80, a few questions:-

1) Said the young police clerk, as he looked up from the pile of papers in front of him.
сказал молодой полицейский чиновник, глядя вверх от множества документов перед собой. (mine)
сказал молодой полицейский чиновник, глядя поверх множества документов перед собой. (yours)

As far as I can tell, поверх (+gen) means 'over' in a locative sense. If I had wanted to say 'as he looked at me over a pile of papers in front of him', I think поверх would fit here. But I meant 'as he moved his gaze upwards (from the pile of papers in front of him) to me.' is which case would вверх be correct?

2) "I believe my superior would like a word with you though, although he has told me to warn you, that you may not want to hear what he has to say."
- кажется, мой главный желал бы разговаривать с вами, хоть он мне приказал вам предупредить, чтобы вам может не хочется слышать что, который он должен сказать. - (mine)

главный:- Is there a context in which главный would be used instead of начальник, or is it just wrong?
должен сказать:- I thought должен was always followed by an infinitive in this context. Is there not an equivalent construction in Russian for 'what he has to say' as opposed to 'what he says'?

3) He said, evening up the papers before him and rising to leave, looking at me as if testing my reaction.
и он выравнил документи перед собой прежде чем подняться, чтобы уйти, ещё положив на меня выражение, будто проверять моя реакция. (mine)

проверять:- 'looking at me as if testing my reaction' could also be rendered as 'looking at me as if to test my reaction.' Can this also be the case in Russian?

I think I got all the other points.

I propose a question for the native Russians:

Could one elaborate when after a word like сверху, using c+genitive noun? In order to specify from what one is looking, for example.
Are these viable, or and even plausible sounding phrases?

Лететь вверх в небо

глядеть снизу с множества документов

Шёл он вниз в шахту.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nevermind, this is explained in the links

Originally Posted by xXHoax

ICould one elaborate when after a word like сверху, using c+genitive noun? In order to specify from what one is looking, for example.
Are these viable, or and even plausible sounding phrases?

Лететь вверх в небо
глядеть снизу с множества документов
Шёл он вниз в шахту.

1. Лететь вверх в небо - it`s passable. We normally say "лететь в небо", "лететь ввысь", - it gives more than enought information and no need to overload it with "вверх" (unlike english "up in the air"?).

2. Глядеть снизу с множества документов - probably not, sounds like he (police clerk!) is sitting on on the pile of papers...
Options:

Молодой полицейский чиновник оторвал взгляд от вороха бумаг.
Молодой полицейский чиновник перевел взгляд с вороха бумаг на посетителя.
Молодой полицейский чиновник поднял взгляд и сказал: <...>

Also, with participial turnover (дееприч. оборот):

- сказал молодой полицейский чиновник, оторвав взгляд от вороха бумаг.
- сказал молодой полицейский чиновник, переведя взгляд с вороха бумаг на посетителя.
- сказал молодой полицейский чиновник, подняв взгляд.

3. Шел он вниз в шахту - - same thing: it`s understood and may be fine.
But "Он шел вниз в шахту" or just "Он спускался в шахту" sounds better.