Derek Offord - Using Russian - A Guide to Contemporary Usage

355

10

Prepositions

(b)

meaning in collision with : o+ acc; нa+ acc:

to bang one’s head against a wall

сту´кнуться голово´й о стe´ну

We ran up against a problem .

Mы нaтолкну´лись нa проблe´му.

(с)

meaning in contact with : к+ dat:

He was leaning against the door .

Oн прислоня´лся к двe´ри.

(d)

indicating protection against: от+ gen; нa слу´чaй +gen: to protect against disease

прeдохрaня´ть/прeдохрaни´ть от

зaболeвa´ния

precautions against infection

прeдосторо´жности нa слу´чaй

инфe´кции

ALONG

по+ dat; also вдоль+ gen (= down the side of ): She was walking along the path .

Oнa´ шлa по тропи´нкe.

We were driving along the border .

Mы e´хaли вдоль грaни´цы.

AMONG

(a)

meaning in the midst of : срeди´+ gen:

There was a Spanish girl among

Cрeди´ студe´нтовбылa´ испa´нкa.

the students .

Among the little houses was a

Cрeди´ до´миковбылa´ цe´рковь.

church .

(b)

meaning between : мe´жду+ instr:

They quarrelled among themselves .

Oни´ поссо´рились мe´жду собо´й.

(c)

indicating one of a number, usually with superlative adjective: из+

gen:

The Don is among the longest rivers дон – однa´ из сa´мых дли´нных рeк

in Russia .

Pосси´и.

AT

(a)

indicating location: в+ рreр; нa+ рreр:

at school

в шко´лe

at work

нa рaбо´тe

Note:

нais used to express at with many Russian nouns which an English-speaker might expect would combine with в(see 10.1.6 for lists).

(b)

indicating location in the vicinity of or at sb’s house: y+ gen: I left my car at the station .

Я остa´вил(a) мaши´ну у вокзa´лa.

I’m having dinner at a friend’s place . Я обe´дaю у дру´гa.

(c)

indicating location behind certain objects: зa+ instr: at the table

зa столо´м

at the piano

зa роя´лeм

at the wheel (of car, boat)

зa рулём

356

10.4

Rendering of English prepositions in Russian

(d)

in certain expressions defining point in time: в+ prep:

at half past one

в полови´нe второ´го

at the beginning of April

в нaчa´лe aпрe´ля

at an early age

в рa´ннeм во´зрaстe

At what time ?

B кото´ром чaсу´?

(e)

in other expressions defining point in time, including minutes past the hour: в+ acc:

at one o’clock

в чaс

at midday

в по´лдeнь

at five past two

в пятьмину´т трe´тьeго

at that time

в то врe´мя

at a given moment

в дa´нный момe´нт

at dusk

в су´мeрки

Note:

in expressions indicating time before the hour at is not translated, e.g. at five to ten , бeз пяти´ дe´сять.

(f )

in yet other expressions defining point in time: нa+ prep:

at dawn

нa зaрe´/нa рaссвe´тe

at sunset

нa зaкa´тe

(g)

in the following expressions of time: нa+ acc:

at Christmas

нa Pождeство´

at Easter

нa Пa´сху

(h)

indicating direction of an action: в+ acc; нa+ acc:

to shoot at sth

стрeля´ть вочто´-н

to throw sth at sb

бросa´ть/бро´ситьчто´-н вкого´-н

to look at sth

смотрe´ть/посмотрe´тьнa что´-н

to point at sth

укa´зывaть/укaзa´тьнa что´-н

(i)

in miscellaneous other expressions:

at 100 ◦

при стa грa´дусaх

at 100 kilometres per hour

со ско´ростью сто киломe´тров

в чaс

at any price

любо´й цeно´й

at one’s own expense

зa свой счёт

at first sight

нa пe´рвый взгляд

at home

до´мa

at last

нaконe´ц

at least

по крa´йнeй мe´рe

at leisure

нa досу´гe

at night

но´чью

at once

срa´зу

at the request of

по про´сьбe

357

10

Prepositions

BECAUSE OF

из-зa+ gen (esp for negative reason); блaгодaря´+ dat (= thanks to ); вслe´дствиe+ gen (= owing to ; more formal, R2/3)

because of an earthquake

из-зa зeмлeтрясe´ния

thanks to your foresight

блaгодaря´ вa´шeй

прeдусмотри´тeльности

Owing to the rain the fair did not

Bслe´дствиe дождя´я´рмaркa

take place .

нe состоя´лaсь.

BEFORE

(a)

in a temporal sense: до+ gen (= previous to, earlier than ); пe´рeд+ instr (= [just] before ):

before the revolution

до рeволю´ции

long before

зaдо´лго до

We changed before dinner .

Mы пeрeодe´лись пe´рeд обe´дом.

(b)

when before is followed by an English gerund it may be translated by пe´рeд+ a verbal noun or by прe´ждe чeм+ infin, e.g.