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Thread: Надо/нужно

  1. #1
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    Надо/нужно

    How do you translate into English sentences that in Russian start with Надо or нужно, so that the subject is not specified? eg. Надо сделамь покупки.
    Would it be One needs to fo the shopping, or what?
    I can't seem to be able to arrive at a correct version.

  2. #2
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    Depends on the context. Usually there's someone who 'must' do whatever. Just because you don't really need to name them in Russian doesn't mean they don't exist.

    So

    Надо сделамь покупки

    Could be "I have to.../ you have to.../ he has to.../ she has to/ dad has to.../ Johnny has to... / whatever", depending.

    The only time one would ( ) translate it as "One must..." (which sounds really archaic and stilted btw), is when you have a general, context-free instruction or piece of advice.

  3. #3
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    Sometimes English uses an abstract "You" which isn't actually referring to the person you are talking to.
    Ingenting kan stoppa mig
    In Post-Soviet Russia internet porn downloads YOU!

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    Not only "to have to and must", but also "to be to, should" It depends on the context.
    For example:
    1. I and my frient arranged to meet at the bus stop. therefore I am to go to the bus stop
    2. I was taken on a work. I have to go to the work every day.
    3. I see that a man was knocked down by a car. I should call 911
    4. I've caught a cold. I must go to doctor and obtain a sick-list for my work

    Maybe, I made some mistakes...

  5. #5
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    Also there is no difference between "Надо" and "Нужно" I and my friends were talking about it, and noone gave any clear explanations, and I decided that "Надо = Нужно"

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    Почтенный гражданин flowforever's Avatar
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    Надо сделать покупки.
    Придёт весна и мы раскроем окна..
    Айда на встречу друг другу!
    Придёт весна и яркое солнце
    Растопит лёд старых обид глупых.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by flowforever
    Надо сделать покупки.
    oh yeah, my bad, messed up the letter

    anyway, the thing is, I'm not given any context. I have some sentences in Polish that I have to translate to English. Polish, just like Russian, in the case of Надо etc doesn't give any person, and I was just wondering if there is such way to do it in english, or I actually have to create a person.
    I guess I got it cleared up now, thanks to you

    As for the difference between Надо and Нужно, we were taught that Нужно is a stronger word, like you absolutely must do it, whereas with Надо, you just should do it, or are expected to do it, whatever.

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    Quote Originally Posted by kamka
    Quote Originally Posted by flowforever
    Надо сделать покупки.
    oh yeah, my bad, messed up the letter

    anyway, the thing is, I'm not given any context. I have some sentences in Polish that I have to translate to English. Polish, just like Russian, in the case of Надо etc doesn't give any person, and I was just wondering if there is such way to do it in english, or I actually have to create a person.
    I guess I got it cleared up now, thanks to you

    As for the difference between Надо and Нужно, we were taught that Нужно is a stronger word, like you absolutely must do it, whereas with Надо, you just should do it, or are expected to do it, whatever.
    Maybe you're right, but take it easy.. In collocual speech noone feels any difference between them.
    Мне нужно(надо) пойти в туалет
    Ему нужно (надо) помыться
    Ей нужно (надо) застрелиться
    I dont see any difference

  9. #9
    Moderator Lampada's Avatar
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    "Надо" более разговорное, чем "нужно".
    С "надо" есть много устойчивых выражений:
    Это ж надо!
    Оно мне надо?
    Надо, Вася, надо!
    Так ему и надо!
    Надо полагать, что ...
    Парень что надо!"
    "...Важно, чтобы форум оставался местом, объединяющим людей, для которых интересны русский язык и культура. ..." - MasterАdmin (из переписки)



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    Quote Originally Posted by Chuvak
    Maybe you're right, but take it easy.. In collocual speech noone feels any difference between them.
    Мне нужно(надо) пойти в туалет
    Ему нужно (надо) помыться
    Ей нужно (надо) застрелиться
    I dont see any difference
    I see. So it pretty much depends on the speaker, which variant to choose? Now, that sort of rules I like!!!

    Anyway, according to the post you made about correcting mistakes, I hope it's ok of me to draw your attention to the fact that "colloquial" is spelt with "q", and "no one" is spelt seperately.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by kamka
    I see. So it pretty much depends on the speaker, which variant to choose? Now, that sort of rules I like!!!
    Just make sure you choose the same variant as your teacher chooses.
    Corrupting young minds since May 6, 2004.

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    Quote Originally Posted by TATY
    Sometimes English uses an abstract "You" which isn't actually referring to the person you are talking to.
    Yeah; in this case people should really say "one", but most people don't. Can be very confusing when you're talking about what people have to/can do if you use "you", though. Stupid language .
    Ленин пил
    Ленин пьёт
    Ленин будет пить

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lampada
    "Надо" более разговорное, чем "нужно".
    С "надо" есть много устойчивых выражений:
    Это ж надо!
    Оно мне надо?
    Надо, Вася, надо!
    Так ему и надо!
    Надо полагать, что ...
    Парень что надо!"
    Это точно!!!
    Надо Федя, надо

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by kamka
    Quote Originally Posted by Chuvak
    Maybe you're right, but take it easy.. In collocual speech noone feels any difference between them.
    Мне нужно(надо) пойти в туалет
    Ему нужно (надо) помыться
    Ей нужно (надо) застрелиться
    I dont see any difference
    I see. So it pretty much depends on the speaker, which variant to choose? Now, that sort of rules I like!!!

    Anyway, according to the post you made about correcting mistakes, I hope it's ok of me to draw your attention to the fact that "colloquial" is spelt with "q", and "no one" is spelt seperately.
    Спасибо!!!

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chuvak
    Quote Originally Posted by kamka
    Quote Originally Posted by Chuvak
    Maybe you're right, but take it easy.. In collocual speech noone feels any difference between them.
    Мне нужно(надо) пойти в туалет
    Ему нужно (надо) помыться
    Ей нужно (надо) застрелиться
    I dont see any difference
    I see. So it pretty much depends on the speaker, which variant to choose? Now, that sort of rules I like!!!

    Anyway, according to the post you made about correcting mistakes, I hope it's ok of me to draw your attention to the fact that "colloquial" is spelt with "q", and "no one" is spelt seperately.
    Спасибо!!!
    No it's not, it's hyphenated by most people: "no-one".
    Ленин пил
    Ленин пьёт
    Ленин будет пить

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by Seventh-Monkey
    No it's not, it's hyphenated by most people: "no-one".
    As far as I know both of variants are possible. "no one", and "no-one".

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by Seventh-Monkey
    Yeah; in this case people should really say "one", but most people don't.
    Probably because they don't want to sound like the Queen.
    Please correct any Russian language mistakes I make.

  18. #18
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    Re: Надо/нужно

    Quote Originally Posted by kamka
    How do you translate into English sentences that in Russian start with Надо or нужно, so that the subject is not specified? eg. Надо сделамь покупки.
    Would it be One needs to fo the shopping, or what?
    I can't seem to be able to arrive at a correct version.
    Greetings from Moscow!
    may I ask you? you learn the Russian language???
    my mother tongue the Russian - you apparently English!
    we may help with each other!
    What do you think?

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    Re: Надо/нужно

    Quote Originally Posted by irin@
    Quote Originally Posted by kamka
    How do you translate into English sentences that in Russian start with Надо or нужно, so that the subject is not specified? eg. Надо сделамь покупки.
    Would it be One needs to fo the shopping, or what?
    I can't seem to be able to arrive at a correct version.
    Greetings from Moscow!
    may I ask you? you learn the Russian language???
    my mother tongue the Russian - you apparently English!
    we may help with each other!
    What do you think?
    Hi
    I'm learning Russian, but my native language is not English. I'm Polish, so in case you ever needed help with this one, I'd be more than glad to help you, but as far as English is concerned - I'm no authority, as I'm still just a student of it.

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    Re: Надо/нужно

    Quote Originally Posted by kamka
    Hi
    I'm learning Russian, but my native language is not English. I'm Polish, so in case you ever needed help with this one, I'd be more than glad to help you, but as far as English is concerned - I'm no authority, as I'm still just a student of it.
    oh!
    it is a shame
    excuse me!
    i bad understand English-here and type i scarcely

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