Thread: Transitive to intransitive

In a Russian grammar, I study different meanings of particle -ся. One of them is changing a transitive verb into an intransitive one: "Преподаватель кончил урок. Урок кончился." Ok, no problem. but explaining that it adds: Предмет как бы самостоятельно совершает децствие. выраженное глаголом с -ся. What I translate (wrongly, I think): "Any object realising / getting to a term the action independently, is expressed by a verb with particle -ся". Surely there is a more accurate translation. I think that my bad understanding of как бы is the root of my problem. Can someone help me? Thanks

Originally Posted by Vladi

In a Russian grammar, I study different meanings of particle -ся. One of them is changing a transitive verb into an intransitive one: "Преподаватель закончил урок. Урок кончился." Ok, no problem. but explaining that it adds: Предмет как бы самостоятельно совершает действие. выраженное глаголом с -ся. What I translate (wrongly, I think): "Any object realising / getting to a term the action independently, is expressed by a verb with particle -ся". Surely there is a more accurate translation. I think that my bad understanding of как бы is the root of my problem. Can someone help me? Thanks

-ся = -self

"Урок кончился" literally would be "The lesson has finished itself"

как бы = as if, as it were

The object's action expressed with the verb containing -ся is considered to be performed as if the object is performing that action all by itself.

Also it may help to know that -ся is a shortening from себя.
So Урок кончился - Урок закончил себя.

Originally Posted by Vladi

In a Russian grammar, I study different meanings of particle -ся. One of them is changing a transitive verb into an intransitive one: "Преподаватель кончил урок. Урок кончился." Ok, no problem. but explaining that it adds: Предмет как бы самостоятельно совершает децствие. выраженное глаголом с -ся. What I translate (wrongly, I think): "Any object realising / getting to a term the action independently, is expressed by a verb with particle -ся". Surely there is a more accurate translation. I think that my bad understanding of как бы is the root of my problem. Can someone help me? Thanks

Never say "Преподаватель кончил урок" Its much better to say "Преподаватель закончил урок"
"кончил" has a sexual meaning (He's finished a sexual act, come off)!!!

Originally Posted by Chuvak

Originally Posted by Vladi

In a Russian grammar, I study different meanings of particle -ся. One of them is changing a transitive verb into an intransitive one: "Преподаватель кончил урок. Урок кончился." Ok, no problem. but explaining that it adds: Предмет как бы самостоятельно совершает децствие. выраженное глаголом с -ся. What I translate (wrongly, I think): "Any object realising / getting to a term the action independently, is expressed by a verb with particle -ся". Surely there is a more accurate translation. I think that my bad understanding of как бы is the root of my problem. Can someone help me? Thanks

Never say "Преподаватель кончил урок" Its much better to say "Преподаватель закончил урок"
"кончил" has a sexual meaning (He's finished a sexual act, come off)!!!

It's not "come off", just "come".

Originally Posted by Chuvak

Originally Posted by Vladi

In a Russian grammar, I study different meanings of particle -ся. One of them is changing a transitive verb into an intransitive one: "Преподаватель кончил урок. Урок кончился." Ok, no problem. but explaining that it adds: Предмет как бы самостоятельно совершает децствие. выраженное глаголом с -ся. What I translate (wrongly, I think): "Any object realising / getting to a term the action independently, is expressed by a verb with particle -ся". Surely there is a more accurate translation. I think that my bad understanding of как бы is the root of my problem. Can someone help me? Thanks

Never say "Преподаватель кончил урок" Its much better to say "Преподаватель закончил урок"
"кончил" has a sexual meaning (He's finished a sexual act, come off)!!!

Кончил урок is pretty okay, don't label everything as sexually motivated.

Originally Posted by Rtyom

Originally Posted by Chuvak

Originally Posted by Vladi

In a Russian grammar, I study different meanings of particle -ся. One of them is changing a transitive verb into an intransitive one: "Преподаватель кончил урок. Урок кончился." Ok, no problem. but explaining that it adds: Предмет как бы самостоятельно совершает децствие. выраженное глаголом с -ся. What I translate (wrongly, I think): "Any object realising / getting to a term the action independently, is expressed by a verb with particle -ся". Surely there is a more accurate translation. I think that my bad understanding of как бы is the root of my problem. Can someone help me? Thanks

Never say "Преподаватель кончил урок" Its much better to say "Преподаватель закончил урок"
"кончил" has a sexual meaning (He's finished a sexual act, come off)!!!

Кончил урок is pretty okay, don't label everything as sexually motivated.

Maybe it's the age difference. I think Chuvak is of a younger generation. Like in English some old people will still use "gay" in its old meaning of happy.

Originally Posted by Ramil

Also it may help to know that -ся is a shortening from себя.

That must be this year's golden tip!!! Thanks, Ramil!!

Originally Posted by TATY

Maybe it's the age difference. I think Chuvak is of a younger generation. Like in English some old people will still use "gay" in its old meaning of happy.

There you have it, Rtyom - you've been labelled geriatric by someone three years your junior!!!!!

Oh, TATY, you do make me laugh sometimes!!!!

As for me, I'll just go and have a look in the mirror to see whether the mummification process has set in yet........

Originally Posted by BabaYaga

Originally Posted by Ramil

Also it may help to know that -ся is a shortening from себя.

That must be this year's golden tip!!! Thanks, Ramil!!

Although you can't use себя instead of -ся you must use the word with -ся.
I've explained the etymology because it helps to remember once you know that.

День рождения Сигмунда Фрейда - суббота! 6 May 1856. Приглашены всем уважаемые гости -- глагол КОНЧИТЬ и суффиксы ЗА- и его шизофренический друг -СЯ/-СЬ. =:^))

Originally Posted by chaika

День рождения Зигмунда Фрейда - суббота! 6 May 1856. Приглашены всем уважаемые гости -- глагол КОНЧИТЬ и суффиксы ЗА- и его шизофренический друг -СЯ/-СЬ. =:^))

+5!

Originally Posted by chaika

День рождения Сигмунда Фрейда - суббота! 6 May 1856. Приглашены всем уважаемые гости -- глагол КОНЧИТЬ и суффиксы ЗА- и его шизофренический друг -СЯ/-СЬ. =:^))

Это надо отметить

Now I should rethink the use of "this is where I get off the bus"