Quote Originally Posted by Aluette View Post
1. В общем и целом - no "и", it is a expression
Did not get it. What do you mean by "no и"? There is "и"!

Quote Originally Posted by Aluette View Post
2. About "чтобы": you can split что and бы, but the sence will be different
Я хотела, чтобы ты остался. - I wanted you to stay.
Я сказала, что я бы осталась еще на неделю. - I said that I would stay for a week.
"чтобы" and "что бы" are not the same. "чтобы" indicates a purpose, and it is a single word which cannot be split: Я сел за стол, чтобы почитать книгу.
But "что бы" is just a combination of "что" (what?) with the particle "бы": Я задумался: что бы мне сегодня почитать? The particle can be moved ("что мне бы сегодня почитать") or omitted ("что мне сегодня почитать"), but there is no "чтобы" in this example.

Quote Originally Posted by Aluette View Post
About "на водах" или "на воде": in Russian Google I found both, and plural is even more frequent. I think we have not got many beaches in Russia, and even if so one can hardly meet a lifeguard there (unfortunately). So not many Russians know the exact word for this exotic profession.
I would never say "спасатель на водах", it just sounds weird to me. But maybe they do use it, if you found it in Google.

Quote Originally Posted by Aluette View Post
About нужно и приходилось: The expression "мне нужно было" ( and the synonym "мне надо было") as I feel it has no indication that the needed action was performed. Example: Мне нужно было выучить это ещё вчера - I was to learn it yesterday (but no undication that I did learn it, may be yes but most probably no). Мне пришлось выучить это - I had to learn it - the action is completed, you obviously have the result. In case "Мне нужно было часто делать СЛР в прошлом." there is no indication that you were successive in these procedures though of course in this context it is understandable but just sounds slightly awkward for a Russian ear.
A good point! I did not notice it, but you're right!

"Мне нужно было прочитать эту книгу, но я её не нашёл" - It was necessary to me to read this book, but I could not find it.
So, "мне нужно было" does not provide any information if the action was ever performed.