Russian For Dummies

Andrew D. Kaufman, PhD, is an associate professor, general faculty; lecturer in Slavic Languages and Literatures; and assistant director of the Center for Teaching Excellence at the University of Virginia. His work has been featured on Today, NPR, PBS, and Oprah.com, as well as in The New York Times and The Washington Post.Serafima Gettys, PhD, is Director of the Foreign Language Program at Lewis University, where she also teaches Russian.

• Introduction 1About This Book 1Conventions Used in This Book 2What You’re Not to Read 3Foolish Assumptions 3How This Book Is Organized 4Part 1: Getting Started 4Part 2: Russian in Action 4Part 3: Russian on the Go 4Part 4: The Part of Tens 4Appendixes 5Icons Used in This Book 5Beyond the Book 6Where to Go from Here 6Part 1: Getting Started 7Chapter 1: Russian in a Nutshell 9Discovering How Easy the Russian Alphabet Really Is 9Tackling Basic Grammar 10Easing into Common Expressions 11Counting on Numbers, Times, and Measurements 11Speaking Russian around the House 12Using Russian in Social Scenarios 13Starting conversations 13Finding your way around 13Eating out and buying food 14Going shopping 14Exploring entertainment opportunities 14Doing business and communicating 15Enjoying sports, hobbies, recreation, and more 15Getting a Handle on Travel Topics 15Chapter 2: Checking Out the Russian Alphabet 17Recognizing Russian Letters (It’s Easier Than You Think) 18Introducing the entire alphabet 18I know you!: Familiar-looking, same-sounding letters 22Playing tricks: Familiar-looking, different-sounding letters 22How bizarre: Weird-looking letters 23Sounding Like a Real Russian with Proper Pronunciation 25Understanding the one-letter-one-sound principle 25Giving voice to vowels 26Enunciating consonants correctly 28Surveying sticky sounds 30Chapter 3: Warming Up with Russian Grammar Basics 33Beginning with Nouns and Pronouns 34Defining a noun’s gender 34Making a noun plural 35Replacing nouns with pronouns 36The Case of Russian Cases: What Are They For? 37The nominative case 39The genitive case 39The accusative case 40The dative case 41The instrumental case 41The prepositional case 42Putting Nouns and Pronouns in the Correct Cases 42Checking out cases for singular nouns 42Trying your hand at changing the case of a singular noun 44Putting plurals in proper cases 45Trying your hand at putting nouns into plural cases 47Perusing the correct cases of pronouns 48Decorating Your Speech with Adjectives 49Making sure that adjectives and nouns agree 49Adding Action with Verbs 54Spotting infinitives 54Living in the present tense 55Describing action in the present tense 55Talking about the past tense 56Planning for the future tense 57Using the unusual verb “to be” 58Expressing possession with a special phrase 60Helping yourself with modal verbs 60Providing Extra Details with Adverbs 61Describing how 61Describing when and how often 62Constructing Sentences Like a Pro 62Enjoying the freedom of word order 62Creating a Russian sentence step by step 63Connecting with conjunctions 64Forming questions 64Chapter 4: Getting Started with Basic Expressions 67To Whom Am I Speaking?: Being Informal or Formal 67Comings and Goings: Saying Hello and Goodbye 68Saying hello to different people 68Greeting folks at any time of day 69Handling “How are you?” 69Taking your leave 70The Name Game: Deciphering Russian Names 71Breaking the Ice: Making Introductions 72Getting acquainted 73Introducing yourself 73Introducing your friends, family, and colleagues 74You Can Say That Again: Using Popular Expressions 76Speaking courteously 76Excusing yourself 77Arming yourself with other handy phrases 77Talking about Talking: The Verb “To Speak” 78Chapter 5: Getting Your Numbers, Times, and Measurements Straight 81One by One: Counting in Russian 81From zero to ten 82From 11 to 19 82From 20 to 99 83From 100 to 999 84From 1,000 to beyond 84Special rules for counting things and people 85Ordinal numbers 86The Clock’s Ticking: Telling (and Asking About) Time 87Counting the hours 88Marking the minutes 88Distinguishing day and night 89Understanding the 24-hour clock 90Asking for the time 90It’s a Date!: Checking Out the Calendar 92Naming the days of the week 92Talking about time relative to the present 93Mentioning months and seasons 94Delving into dates 95Saying years 95The Long and Short of It: Familiarizing Yourself with Metric Measurements 98Chapter 6: Speaking Russian at Home 101Taking a Tour of Your Home 101The kitchen 102The dining room 103The living room 104The bedroom 105The bathroom 105The laundry room 106The garage 106Home Is Where the Food Is 109Get cookin’: The verb “to cook” 109Eat up: The verb “to eat” 110Drink up: The verb “to drink” 110Enjoying different meals 111Describing your food and drink preferences with the verb “to like” 112Engaging in Daily Activities 115Discussing your household chores 115Talking about all the places you go 115Bantering about bedtime activities 116Part 2: Russian in Action 119Chapter 7: Getting to Know You: Making Small Talk 121Let Me Tell You Something: Talking about Yourself 122Stating where you’re from 122Talking about your nationality and ethnicity 123Giving your age 127Discussing your family 127Telling what you do for a living 129I’m Sorry!: Explaining that You Don’t Understand Something 132Let’s Get Together: Giving and Receiving Contact Information 132Chapter 8: Asking for Directions 137Using “Where” and “How” Questions 137Asking where a place is 138Inquiring how to get to a place 139The Next Step: Understanding Specific Directions 140Making sense of commands in the imperative mood 140Listening for prepositions 141Keeping “right” and “left” straight 141Going here and there 144Traveling near and far 146Chapter 9: Dining Out and Going to the Market 149Eating Out in Russia 149Finding a place to eat 149Making reservations on the phone 150Ordering a meal 151Having handy phrases for the wait staff 152Receiving and paying the bill 153Going Out for Groceries 155Meats and fish 155Fruits and vegetables 156Dairy products and eggs 157Baked goods 157A Russian tradition: Hot cereal 158Beverages 158Chapter 10: Shopping Made Easy 163Shopping with Confidence: The Verb “To Buy” 164So Many Stores, So Little Time: The Shopping Scene in Russia 165Looking at different types of stores and merchandise 165Finding out when a store is open 167Navigating a department store 168You Are What You Wear: Shopping for Clothes 170Seeking specific items of clothing and accessories 170Describing items in color 172Finding the right size 172Trying on clothing 173This or That? Deciding What You Want 174Using demonstrative pronouns 174Comparing two items 175Talking about what you like most (or least) 176You Gotta Pay to Play: Buying Items 176How much does it cost? 176I’ll take it! How do I pay? 177Chapter 11: Going Out on the Town 181Together Wherever We Go: Making Plans to Go Out 181On the Big Screen: Going to the Movies 183Picking a particular type of movie 184Buying tickets 184Choosing a place to sit and watch 185It’s Classic: Taking in the Russian Ballet and Theater 188Culture Club: Visiting a Museum 190How Was It?: Talking about Entertainment 191Chapter 12: Taking Care of Business and Telecommunications 195Looking Around Your Office 195Indispensable office supplies 196Rooms around the office 197Simple office etiquette 197Ringing Up Telephone Basics 198Brushing up on phone vocabulary 198Distinguishing different types of phones 199Knowing different kinds of phone calls 199Dialing the Number and Making the Call 200Arming Yourself with Basic Telephone Etiquette 201Saving time by not introducing yourself 201Asking for the person you want to speak to 202Anticipating different responses 202Leaving a message with a person 206Talking to an answering machine 209Using a Computer 209Familiarizing yourself with computer terms 210Sending email 211Sending Correspondence 211Chapter 13: Recreation and the Great Outdoors 215Shootin’ the Breeze about Recreational Plans 215What did you do last night? 216What are you doing this weekend? 217What do you like to do? 218Surveying the World of Sports 219Listing a few popular sports 220Using the verb “to play” 220Talking about other athletic activities 221Reading All about It 223Talking about what you’re reading 223Discussing genres 224Sounding Off about Music 227Taking note of a few popular instruments 227Asking about instruments that others play 228Wondering what kinds of music others like 228Being Crafty 229Rejoicing in the Lap of Nature 230Part 3: Russian on the Go 233Chapter 14: Planning a Trip 235Where Do You Want to Go?: Picking a Place for Your Trip 235Checking out continents and countries 236Visiting Russia 237How Do We Get There?: Booking a Trip 238Don’t Leave Home without Them: Dealing with Passports and Visas 241Taking It with You: Packing Tips 244Chapter 15: Dealing with Money in a Foreign Land 247Paying Attention to Currency 247Rubles and kopecks 247Dollars, euros, and other international currencies 248Changing Money 249Using Banks 250Opening an account at the bank of your choice 251Making deposits and withdrawals 252Heading to the ATM 253Spending Money 254Using cash 254Paying with credit cards 256Chapter 16: Getting Around: Planes, Trains, Taxis, and More 259Understanding Verbs of Motion 259Going by foot or vehicle habitually 260Going by foot or vehicle at the present time 261Explaining where you’re going 262Navigating the Airport 263Using the verb “to fly” 263Checking in and boarding your flight 263Handling customs and passport control 264Conquering Public Transportation 266Taking a taxi 266Using minivans 266Catching buses, trolley buses, and trams 267Hopping on the subway 267Embarking on a Railway Adventure 268Making sense of a train schedule 268Surveying types of trains and cars 269Buying tickets 269Stocking up on essentials for your ride 270Boarding the train and enjoying your trip 270Chapter 17: Finding a Place to Stay 273Finding a Hotel That’s Right for You 273Types of hotels 273Making a reservation 274Checking In 279Enduring the registration process 279Taking a tour of your room 283Familiarizing yourself with the facilities 283Meeting the staff 284Resolving Service Problems 284Reporting a broken item 285Requesting missing items 285Asking to change rooms 286Checking Out and Paying Your Bill 286Chapter 18: Handling Emergencies 289Finding Help in Case of Accidents and Other Emergencies 289Hollering for help 290Making an emergency phone call 290Reporting a problem 291Requesting English-speaking help 293Receiving Medical Care 294Knowing parts of the body 295Describing your symptoms 297Understanding questions a doctor asks 298Communicating allergies or special conditions 300Seeing a specialist 300Undergoing an examination and getting a diagnosis 301Visiting a pharmacy 303Calling the Police When You’re the Victim of a Crime 304Talking to the police 304Answering questions from the police 305Part 4: The Part of Tens 307Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Pick Up Russian Quickly 309Check Out Russian TV, Movies, and Music 309Listen to Russian Radio Programs 310Read Russian Publications 310Surf the Internet 311Visit a Russian Restaurant 311Find a Russian Pen Pal 312Teach English to a Russian Immigrant 313Visit a Jewish Community Center 313Travel to Russia 313Date or Marry a Russian 314Chapter 20: Ten Things Never to Say in Russian 315Use the Right Form of “You” 315Don’t Rush to Say “Hi!” 316Don’t Switch to First Names Prematurely 316Use “How Are You?” with Caution 317Respond to “How Are You?” in a Culturally Appropriate Manner 317Choose the Right Form of “Happy” 318Watch Out When You Talk about Studying 318Accent a Certain Verb Carefully 318Know the Difference between a Bathroom and a Restroom 319Don’t Toast with the Wrong Phrase 319Chapter 21: Ten Favorite Russian Expressions 321Showing Strong Feelings 321Using “Give” in Various Situations 322Starting a Story 322Taking “Listen!” to the Next Level 322Describing Amazement about Food 323Insisting that the Good Times Continue 323Noting the Benefit of Silence 323Saying that Two Heads Are Better Than One 324Expressing that a Friend in Need Is a Friend Indeed 324Understanding the Importance of Old Friends 324Chapter 22: Ten Phrases That Make You Sound Fluent in Russian 325Showing Off Your Excellent Manners 325Paying a Compliment 326Inviting Someone Over for Tea 326Saying “Help Yourself” 327Wishing Someone “Bon Appétit!” 327Embracing the Tradition of Sitting Down Before Leaving 327Offering Hospitality 328Wishing Good Luck 328Signing Off with Kisses 329Offering Unusual Congratulations 329Appendix A: Russian-English Mini-Dictionary 331Appendix B: Verb Tables 351Appendix C: Answer Keys 357Index 361