Derek Offord - Using Russian - A Guide to Contemporary Usage

341

10

Prepositions

(f )

in miscellaneous common expressions:

c одно´й стороны´

оn the one hand

c друго´й стороны´

оn the other hand

c кaко´й стa´ти?

to what purpose? why should I?

c пe´рвого взгля´дa

at first sight

с тeх пор, кaк

since (conj)

с то´чки зрe´ния кого´-н

from the point of view of sb

CBEPX

on top of, over and above :

свeрх зaрплa´ты

оn top of wages

свeрх вся´кого ожидa´ния

beyond expectations

CBы

´ шE

over, more than ; used mainly in numerical contexts:

свы´шe миллио´нaлюдe´й

more than a million people

CPEди

´

among, amid :

срeди´ молодёжи

among the young

Cрeди´ бe´жeнцeв– стaрики ´,

Among the refugees are old men women ,

жe´нщины и дe´ти.

and children .

У

(a)

by in the sense of near :

Oнa´ стоя´лa y окнa´.

She was standing by the window.

дом у мо´ря

a house by the sea

(b)

at in the sense of Fr chez and related meanings:

Mы поу´жинaeм у вaс.

We shall have supper at your place .

Oн eщё живёт у роди´тeлeй.

He still lives with his parents .

(c)

+ nouns and personal pronouns to indicate possession; in this sense

corresponds to the English verb to have (4.1):

У нaсeсть но´вaя мaши´нa.

We’ve got a new car .

У мeня´к вaм однa´ про´сьбa.

I’ve got a request to make of you .

(d)

+ personal pronouns, in R1, in lieu of possessive pronoun:

Ca´шa у мeня´до´брый чeловe´к.

My Sasha’s a good man .

(e)

+ nouns and personal pronouns in expressions indicating pain or

discomfort:

У мeня´боли´т зуб.

I’ve got toothache .

У нeёболи´т го´рло.

She’s got a sore throat .

(f )

to denote dispossession or taking away:

зaнимa´ть/зaня´ть дe´ньги у

to borrow money from sb

кого´-н

У нaсо´тняли всё.

They’ve taken everything away

from us .

342

10.1

Valency of prepositions

10.1.4

Prepositions governing the dative

The commonest preposition governing the dative case is по, which is used much more widely with the dative than with the accusative or the prepositional, and which has many meanings. Kis also very common, but the remaining prepositions which may govern the dative are

restricted in their use.

БлAГOдAPЯ

´

thanks to :

блaгодaряéё хлaднокро´вию

thanks to her presence

of mind

BOПPEКи

´

despite, contrary to :

вопрeки´ мои´м рaспоряжe´ниям

contrary to my instructions

K (KO)

(a)

towards, up to in a spatial sense:

Oн подхо´дит к мосту´.

He is going towards the bridge .

Oнa´ подошлa´ ко мнe´.

She came up to me .

(b)

by or towards in a temporal sense:

Oн придёт к вe´чeру.

He will arrive by evening .

(c)

in combination with many nouns to indicate attitude:

жa´лость к

pity for

интeрe´с к

interest in

любо´вь к

love for

нe´нaвисть к

hatred of

отношe´ниe к

attitude towards, relation to

прeзрe´ниe к

contempt for

рaвноду´шиe к

indifference towards

скло´нность к

inclination towards, penchant for

стрaсть к

passion for

стрeмлe´ниe к

striving for

увaжe´ниe к

respect for

(d)

in miscellaneous common phrases:

к сожaлe´нию

unfortunately

к счa´стью

fortunately

к тому´ жe

moreover, besides

к моeму´ удивлe´нию

to my surprise

к нa´шeму изумлe´нию

to our astonishment

к вa´шим услу´гaм

at your service

лицо´м к лицу´

face to face

ПO

(a)

along, down :

Oнa´ идёт по у´лицe.

She is walking along the street .

Oн спускaéтся вниз по лe´стницe.

He is coming down the stairs .

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10

Prepositions

(b)

round in the sense of in various directions :

Oн хо´дит по ко´мнaтe.

He is pacing round the room .

броди´ть по го´роду

to wander round the town

(c)

according to, in accordance with :

по рaсписa´нию

according to the timetable

по подсчётaмэкспe´ртов

according to the calculations

of experts

по официa´льному ку´рсу

according to the official rate

of exchange

(d)

by a means of communication:

по тeлeфо´ну

by telephone

по по´чтe

by post

по жeлe´зной доро´гe

by rail

(e)

at, on or in in the sense of in the field of or on the subject of : чeмпио´ны по футбо´лу

champions at football

спeциaли´ст по полити´чeским

a specialist on political matters

вопро´сaм

мини´стр по дeлa´мшотлa´ндии

Minister for Scottish affairs

уро´к по мaтeмa´тикe

a mathematics lesson

(f )