Language Learning

1. Я учу русский язык

   ya uchu russkiy yazyk

   I am studying the Russian language

   Usage

   Telling someone you are learning Russian

   Grammar Note

   "Учить" (to study/teach) takes the accusative. "Русский язык" doesn't change in accusative (masculine inanimate)

2. Говорите, пожалуйста, медленнее

   govorite, pozhaluysta, medlenneye

   Please speak more slowly

   Usage

   Politely asking someone to speak more slowly

   Grammar Note

   "Говорите" is the formal imperative of "говорить" (to speak). "Медленнее" is the comparative of "медленно"

3. Что это значит по-русски?

   chto eto znachit po-russki

   What does this mean in Russian?

   Usage

   Asking the meaning of a Russian word or expression

   Grammar Note

   "По-русски" is an adverbial expression for "in Russian". Same pattern: по-английски (English), по-японски (Japanese)

4. Повторите, пожалуйста

   povtorite, pozhaluysta

   Please repeat that

   Usage

   Asking someone to repeat what they said

   Grammar Note

   "Повторите" is the polite imperative of "повторить" (to repeat). Adding "пожалуйста" softens the request

5. Как это пишется?

   kak eto pishetsya

   How is this written / spelled?

   Usage

   Asking how to write or spell a word

   Grammar Note

   "Пишется" is the reflexive form of "писать" (to write). The "-ся" suffix gives it a passive/general meaning

6. Я не понимаю это слово

   ya ne ponimayu eto slovo

   I don't understand this word

   Usage

   Saying you do not understand a particular word

   Grammar Note

   "Понимать" takes the accusative. "Не" negates the verb. "Слово" (neuter) has the same form in nominative and accusative

7. Как произносится это слово?

   kak proiznositsya eto slovo

   How is this word pronounced?

   Usage

   Asking about the correct pronunciation of a word

   Grammar Note

   "Произносится" is the reflexive form of "произносить" (to pronounce), giving it a passive meaning

8. Вы говорите по-английски?

   vy govorite po-angliyski

   Do you speak English?

   Usage

   Politely asking whether someone speaks English

   Grammar Note

   "Вы" is the formal second person in Russian, contrasting with the casual "ты". "По-английски" is adverbial

9. Можете написать это для меня?

   mozhete napisat' eto dlya menya

   Could you write that down for me?

   Usage

   Asking someone to write something down so you can read it

   Grammar Note

   "Можете" is the formal second-person of "мочь" (can). "Написать" is perfective. "Для" + genitive = "for"

10. Мой русский ещё не очень хороший

    moy russkiy yeshchyo ne ochen' khoroshiy

    My Russian is not very good yet

    Usage

    Apologizing for or acknowledging your limited Russian proficiency

    Grammar Note

    "Мой" is the masculine possessive, agreeing with the masculine noun "русский"; the predicate adjective must agree too — "хороший". "Хорошо" is an adverb and cannot be the predicate of a noun subject (an adverb needs a verb: "Я ещё не очень хорошо говорю по-русски")

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