Thread: Conversation book--урок 1

Thanks, max,

A quick question: can нельзя be used in the past or future? I want to say, "Jews were not allowed to work in the government." (This is related to a reading on anti-Semitism).

Нельзя было еврейям работать в государственную службу. Is there a better way to express this? What about in the future, "You won't be allowed to..."

Another question...is this correct? Когда ему не удалось найти работу, она ему помогла. I want to say, "When he couldn't find work, she helped him out."

Thanks,
Z

Originally Posted by zorro

Thanks, max,

A quick question: can нельзя be used in the past or future? I want to say, "Jews were not allowed to work in the government." (This is related to a reading on anti-Semitism).

Нельзя было еврейям работать в государственную службу. Is there a better way to express this? What about in the future, "You won't be allowed to..."

Z

Yes, in conventional speech we say НЕЛЬЗЯ БЫЛО/НЕЛЬЗЯ БУДЕТ.
In formal situation though, more likely will be chosen different structures.

Past:
Евреям не позволялось работать...
Евреям запрещалось работать...
Евреи не могли работать...
Евреи не допускались к работе...
...

Future:
Вам/тебе не будет позволено ...
Вы/ты не сможете/сможешь ...

работать в государственную службу -> работать на государственной службе (prepositional required)

"When he couldn't find work, she helped him out."

Когда он не мог найти работу, она ему помогла.
"не удалось" sounds for me as if he made one attempt and surrendered.
More likely he was seeking for a job for a while. So I would use imperfective past voice.

Thanks again for your help.

I'm still not sure about using the genitive or accusative for the direct object of a negative sentence. Is this correct? Я не понимаю этот вопрос. Since the direct object is one specific thing, it's in the accusative?

What about this sentence? Я делаю, что могу, чтобы помочь членам семьи. I want to say, "I do what I can to help the members of my family."

Thanks,
Z

Originally Posted by zorro

Thanks again for your help.

I'm still not sure about using the genitive or accusative for the direct object of a negative sentence. Is this correct? Я не понимаю этот вопрос. Since the direct object is one specific thing, it's in the accusative?

Розенталь says "Родительный падеж, имеющий в рассматриваемой конструкции значение подчеркнутого отрицания, обычно употребляется в следующих случаях: ... 3) при глаголах восприятия, мысли, желания, ожидания (видеть, слышать, понимать, думать, знать, хотеть, желать, ожидать и т.п.), например: Печали в ее словах Самгин не слышал (Горький); Он... деревни не знал (Чехов); Степка проглотил... конфеты и даже не заметил их вкуса (В. Гроссман);"
So it should be "Я не понимаю этого вопроса".
However, this rule seems to be becoming outdated nowadays. In my idiolect, both "Я не понимаю этот вопрос" and "Я не понимаю этого вопроса" are correct. But "Я не понимаю этого вопроса" sounds bookish and "Я не понимаю этот вопрос" sounds as in everyday conversations.

Originally Posted by zorro

Thanks again for your help.
What about this sentence? Я делаю, что могу, чтобы помочь членам семьи. I want to say, "I do what I can to help the members of my family."

That is correct.
But it sounds better with "мой": "Я делаю, что могу, чтобы помочь членам моей семьи" or "Я делаю, что могу, чтобы помочь моей семье". Not sure, why the pronoun is required in this case... mmmm... maybe the reason is that when used without "мой", it sounds as if you are talking to a member of your family. Uh... Never mind!

Originally Posted by RedFox

In my idiolect, both "Я не понимаю этот вопрос" and "Я не понимаю этого вопроса" are correct. But "Я не понимаю этого вопроса" sounds bookish and "Я не понимаю этот вопрос" sounds as in everyday conversations.

Just the other way around here in my city

A couple more simple questions.

Is either one of these correct or one better than the other?
Я не очень похож на своих братьев.
Я не много похож на своих братьев.

What if I want to say, "I used to be an athlete." Is it Я был спортсменом. or Я был атлетом.? I want to say this was serious sports, that I played sports all through college competitively, not as a hobby like jogging or tennis for fun.

Even the word "sports" isn't that clear to me. If I want to say, "I always liked sports." Would it be Мне всегда нравились спортивны игры. ?

Thanks for any help,
Z

Я не очень похож на своих братьев. - I am not really like my brothers.

Я немного похож на своих братьев. - I am a bit like my brothers.

Originally Posted by zorro

What if I want to say, "I used to be an athlete." Is it Я был спортсменом. or Я был атлетом.? I want to say this was serious sports, that I played sports all through college competitively, not as a hobby like jogging or tennis for fun.

Я был спортсменом. Я занимался серьёзным/большим спортом.

"атлет" will not do here. It is an emotional epithet (first meaning is "a beautiful strong man with impressive constitution"), applying it to oneself is funny.

Originally Posted by zorro

Even the word "sports" isn't that clear to me. If I want to say, "I always liked sports." Would it be Мне всегда нравились спортивные игры. ?

Мне всегда нравился спорт. or Мне всегда нравились спортивные игры. depending on what exactly you mean.

Спортивные игры are football, basketball, etc. (that is interactive competition of teams) but NOT sprint, weight-lifting etc.

But all of those above are спорт.