Derek Offord - Using Russian - A Guide to Contemporary Usage

next week

нa про´шлой нeдe´лe

last week

нa слe´дующeй нeдe´лe

the following week

нa э´той нeдe´лe

this week

O (OБ, OБO)

when the following noun or adjective begins with one of the vowels

a, о, y, э(i.e. a vowel without an initial j sound), then the letter бis generally added to оfor the sake of euphony; о´боoccurs only in the expressions given below.

(a)

about, concerning :

Oн ду´мaeт о брa´тe.

He is thinking about his brother .

Поговори´м об э´том.

Let’s speak about this .

обо всём/всeх

about everything/everybody

обо мнe´

about me

(b)

with when the properties of sth are being described; this use is uncommon:

пa´лкa о двух концa´х

lit a two-ended stick , i.e. a double-edged

weapon

ПO

after, following , or on completion of ; most commonly found with verbal nouns; this usage is rather literary or official and confined to R3, especially R3b:

по истeчe´нииви´зы

оn expiry of the visa

по окончa´нииунивeрситe´тa

on completing university (i.e. on

graduation )

по получe´нииписьмa´

оn receipt of the letter

ПPи

used only with the prepositional:

(a)

at the time of :

Oн жил при лe´нинe.

He lived at the time of Lenin .

достоe´вский нa´чaл писa´ть

Dostoevskii started writing in the

при Hиколaé пe´рвом.

reign of Nicholas I .

(b)

adjacent/attached to :

я´сли при фa´брикe

a nursery attached to the factory

буфe´т при вокзa´лe

a station buffet

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10

Prepositions

(c)

in the presence of :

ссо´риться при гостя´х

to quarrel in front of the guests

(d)

given the availability of :

Я э´то сдe´лaю при трёх

I’ll do this on three conditions .

усло´виях.

(e)

while sth is being done (R3); in this sense the phrase with приis synonymous with an imperfective gerund:

Mы тeряéм мно´го проду´ктов

We lose a lot of foodstuffs while

при трaнспортиро´вкe.

they are being transported .

10.2

Prepositional phrases based on nouns

Prepositional phrases based on nouns, such as the following, are a

feature of the official register (see 1.3.4(b)):

в дe´лe+ gen

in the matter of

в отли´чиe от+ gen

unlike, in contrast to

в отношe´нии+ gen

in respect of

в связи´ с+ instr

in connection with

в си´лу+ gen

by virtue of

в соотвe´тствии с+ instr

in accordance with

в тeчe´ниe+ gen

in the course of

в цe´лях+ gen

with the object of

зa счёт+ gen

at the expense of

нa основa´нии+ gen

on the basis of

по ли´нии+ gen

through the channel of

по нaпрaвлe´нию к+ dat

in the direction of

по отношe´нию к+ dat

with respect to

по причи´нe+ gen

by reason of

по слу´чaю+ gen

by reason of

10.3

Verbs followed by prepositions

Many verbs may be followed by certain prepositions. In the following sections some of the more common combinations of verb +

preposition are given.

10.3.1

Verbs followed by prepositions governing the accusative

B + acc

вe´рить/повe´рить в

to believe in

вмe´шивaться/вмeшa´ться в

to interfere, intervene in

вторгa´ться/вто´ргнуться в

to invade

игрa´ть в

to play (a game, sport)

одeвa´ть(ся)/одe´ть(ся) в

to dress (oneself ) in

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10.3

Verbs followed by prepositions

поступa´ть/поступи´ть в

to enter (institution)

прeврaщa´ть(ся)/прeврaти´ть(ся) в

to turn/be turned into

стрeля´ть в

to shoot at (fixed target)

зA + acc

(a)

after verbs with the sense of taking hold of :

брaть/взятького´-н зa´ руку

to take sb by the hand

вeсти´кого´-н зa´ руку

to lead sb by the hand

дeржa´тького´-н зa´ руку

to hold sb by the hand

дeржa´ться зa (e.g. пeри´лa)

to hold on to (e.g. the handrail )

хвaтa´ть/схвaти´тького´-н

to seize sb by the scruff of the neck

зa ши´ворот

(b)

for the sake of :

боро´ться зaчто´-н

to fight/struggle for sth

зaступa´ться/зaступи´ться зa

to stand up/plead/intercede for sb

кого´-н

пить/вы´пить зa(e.g. чьё-н

to drink to (e.g. sb’s health )

здоро´вьe)

срaжa´ться/срaзи´ться зa

to fight for (e.g. one’s country )

(e.g. ро´дину)

HA+ acc

глядe´ть/поглядe´ть нa

to look at

дeли´ть/рaздeли´ть нa

to divide into

жa´ловaться/пожa´ловaться нa

to complain of

нaдe´яться нa

to hope for, count on, rely on

нaпaдa´ть/нaпa´сть нa

to attack, fall upon

отвeчa´ть/отвe´тить нa

to reply to (letter, question)

полaгa´ться/положи´ться нa