Re: Old Soviet Grammar Book
Quote:
Originally Posted by uno
I have two questions. I have an old soviet grammar book that says people should be greated as Гражданин и Гражданка. Is this still used?
Also there is a section with these sentences. Are they correct?
Я не читаю письма. I am not reading the letter.
Она не кушает мяся. She doesn't eat meat.
Uno
I don't think, гражданин and гражданка are very common nowadays. The most common words are "девушка, женщина" and "молодой человек, мужчина".
And a note about the second sentence. Firstly, it should be "мяса" :). Secondly, you shouldn't use the verb "кушать" here. This verb is used only with reference to children. If you speak about teenagers or adults, you should use есть.
Re: Old Soviet Grammar Book
Quote:
Originally Posted by pranki
Quote:
Originally Posted by uno
I have two questions. I have an old soviet grammar book that says people should be greated as Гражданин и Гражданка. Is this still used?
Also there is a section with these sentences. Are they correct?
Я не читаю письма. I am not reading the letter.
Она не кушает мяся. She doesn't eat meat.
Uno
I don't think, гражданин and гражданка are very common nowadays. The most common words are "девушка, женщина" and "молодой человек, мужчина".
And a note about the second sentence. Firstly, it should be "мяс
а" :). Secondly, you shouldn't use the verb "кушать" here. This verb is used only with reference to children. If you speak about teenagers or adults, you should use есть.
I didn't know that! Is кушать sort of like "num-nums"?
Re: Old Soviet Grammar Book
Quote:
Originally Posted by challenger
I didn't know that! Is кушать sort of like "num-nums"?
Actually, many of Russians don't know that. But it's true. Using of "кушать" with reference to adults proves oneself as a bit uneducated or provincial person (I'm strongly unsure about this sentence :( ).
P.S. I don't know what "num-nums" means :)
Re: Old Soviet Grammar Book
Quote:
Originally Posted by uno
I have two questions. I have an old soviet grammar book that says people should be greated as Гражданин и Гражданка. Is this still used?
Also there is a section with these sentences. Are they correct?
Я не читаю письма. I am not reading the letter.
Она не кушает мяся. She doesn't eat meat.
Uno
Is it genitive singular or accusative plural in the first sentence (i.e. письмА or пИсьма)?
If gen. sing., it sounds very old-fashioned (nowadays accusative is used by far more often).
If acc. plural, this sentence is OK (I don't read letters).
And for the second sentence, accusative is also more natural. So I would say:
Я не читаю письмо.
Она не ест мясо.
Re: Old Soviet Grammar Book
Quote:
Originally Posted by pranki
Quote:
Originally Posted by challenger
I didn't know that! Is кушать sort of like "num-nums"?
Actually, many of Russians don't know that. But it's true. Using of "кушать" with reference to adults proves oneself as a bit uneducated or provincial person (I'm strongly unsure about this sentence :( ).
P.S. I don't know what "num-nums" means :)
The old lady I stayed with in Tatarstan said кушать ALL the time. At least 10 times a day to me.
Re: Old Soviet Grammar Book
Quote:
Originally Posted by pranki
Secondly, you shouldn't use the verb "кушать" here. This verb is used only with reference to children. If you speak about teenagers or adults, you should use есть.
Nonsense. "Kушать" is less formal than "есть" but it's absolutly normal. I know a lot of educated people, some of them with two or more University degrees, who use this word all the time adressing to their friends (not only kids).