Thread: Говорю по-русски

Originally Posted by kgcole

I think part of my problem is trying to stick too closely to the English...which gives me the "word for word" habit of translating.

As I said earlier, you should learn some patterns which help you start thinking like Russian. It could be a good solution. Try it and I'm sure you'll see the result. You can't just translate words and put them together in the same order. It's nonsense.

For example, the problem with the verb "to have". "I have a car" sounds in Russian like "У меня есть машина". Do you see the verb "to have" here? Right, Russians don't use it a lot, it's not such an important verb in Russian as it's in English.
Also, there is no "а" (sort of "and", soft opposition) conjunction in English. There are only "и" (and) and "но" (but) in English. But the conjunction "a" adds an additional dimension to sentences, which you should figure out. Sometimes you can't say something properly if you don't use this powerful conjunction. It looks like Russians often avoid the words "either/neither", because there are no straight analogs of them in Russian. But can you imagine a good English language without these words?

And so on...

Originally Posted by Paul G.

As I said earlier, you should learn some patterns which help you start thinking like Russian. It could be a good solution. Try it and I'm sure you'll see the result. You can't just translate words and put them together in the same order. It's nonsense.

For example, the problem with the verb "to have". "I have a car" sounds in Russian like "У меня есть машина". Do you see the verb "to have" here? Right, Russians don't use it a lot, it's not such an important verb in Russian as it's in English.
Also, there is no "а" (sort of "and", soft opposition) conjunction in English. There are only "и" (and) and "но" (but) in English. But the conjunction "a" adds an additional dimension to sentences, which you should figure out. Sometimes you can't say something properly if you don't use this powerful conjunction. It looks like Russians often avoid the words "either/neither", because there are no straight analogs of them in Russian. But can you imagine a good English language without these words?

And so on...

Paul - - I’ll try to isolate some patterns in my textbook and what I read. I don’t want to sound too much like I’m just repeating things I copy down, you know. I do have a question about the genitive case, though. I’m familiar with the phrase “У меня есть”, but I have read it where “есть” is omitted and it’s written in short as simply “У меня…”; i.e. “У меня книгу”. Is this correct to do this? - - I’ll try to incorporate “а” into my sentences. I am a little confused over certain articles such as “тот”, especially when it’s declined as “тут”. I’m not sure exactly how to translate it. I have other questions I’ll ask later. I’m glad I ran into this forum. It helps a great deal!

Originally Posted by kgcole

... isolate some patterns in my textbook and what I read. ...

Adverbial phrases. "Interestingly for me and pleasantly sounding Russian adverbial phrases."
And impersonal constructions.

Originally Posted by Seraph

Adverbial phrases. "Interestingly for me and pleasantly sounding Russian adverbial phrases."
And impersonal constructions.

I'll see what I can find...although I'm not sure what you mean by impersonal constructions...

Originally Posted by kgcole

I do have a question about the genitive case, though.

OK, and what is you question? I cannot see it.

Originally Posted by kgcole

I’m familiar with the phrase “У меня есть”, but I have read it where “есть” is omitted and it’s written in short as simply “У меня…”; i.e. “У меня книгу”. Is this correct to do this?

You cannot say "У меня книгу". You can say "У меня книга". Note that "книга" is grammatically a subject here! (Lit.: At me is a book).

If your question is about the difference between "У меня есть книга" and "У меня книга", just remember that "У меня есть книга" is better.
I can try to explain some rules where to use "есть" and where to omit it, but I'm afraid it can be a bit complicated for the beginner.

Basically, we always omit "есть" when something naturally belongs to you: "У меня длинные волосы" (I have long hair) - you cannot put "есть" here, since the hair belong to you naturally. Otherwise, if you say "У меня есть длинные волосы" would sound like you have some long hair separate from your body (e.g. you keep that hair in a box or something like that).

Originally Posted by kgcole

I am a little confused over certain articles such as “тот”, especially when it’s declined as “тут”.

1. "тот" is not an article. We just do not have articles. "тот" is an indicative pronoun.
2. "тут" means "here", it's almost the same as "здесь" (if you know). It has nothing to do with "тот".
3. Yes, "тот" IS declined: тот, то, того, тому, тем, (о) том, та, той, той, ту, той, (о) той, те, тех, тем, теми, (о) тех.

If you have a question about the declension, just provide an example and ask what is not clear in that example. We'll try to help.