Thread: Меня - у меня etc

I'd be very grateful if someone could spare me a few minutes and give me a brief explanation of the above.

I understand Меня in sentences such as : Меня зовут

But i'm less sure (haven't got a bloody clue) in sentences like : у меня / у него / у вас

I can work out why words like него/неё are used but not the 'у'.

I'd also like to know if the following is correct:

у нас - talking to a single person.
у вас - talking to more than one person.

Apologies in advance if this requires more than a basic explanation as i'm always conscious of taking up too much of peoples time.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Originally Posted by Black Cat

I'd be very grateful if someone could spare me a few minutes and give me a brief explanation of the above.

I understand Меня in sentences such as : Меня зовут

But i'm less sure (haven't got a bloody clue) in sentences like : у меня / у него / у вас

I can work out why words like него/неё are used but not the 'у'.

Constructions with "у" usually can be translated as "have" or "have got":

У меня есть мнение o.. I have an opinion about.."есть" can be skipped in some cases though:

У кого-нибудь есть желание поработать сегодня сверхурочно? -- У меня нет.
Have somebody a desire to do some extra work today? -- I have not.

I'd also like to know if the following is correct:
у нас - talking to a single person.
у вас - talking to more than one person.

у нас - talking [s:1bohudoj]to[/s:1bohudoj] about a [s:1bohudoj]single[/s:1bohudoj] first person, plural. We have..

у вас - talking to more than one person. This is correct. You have.. It can be singular also if it's formal/respecting adressing, but it should be "у Вас" then.

Also:
у нас - at ours (at our place)
у вас - at yours (at your place)

It's just a matter of memorizing correct pronouns:

Я -> У меня - I have
Мы -> У нас - We have

Ты (singular) -> У тебя - You have
Вы (plural or formal/polite singular) -> У вас/У Вас - You have

Он -> У него - He has
Она -> У неё - She has
Они -> У них - They have

That's brilliant,

Thank you very much for the speedy replies,this will be a big help to me.I'll get these examples written down and spend a bit more time on my grammar.

Your time replying is always most appreciated.

M