Derek Offord - Using Russian - A Guide to Contemporary Usage

тaнцeвa´ть под плaсти´нку

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10

Prepositions

(g)

in miscellaneous expressions:

to my surprise

к моeму´ удивлe´нию

an answer to sth

отвe´т нaчто´-н

a tendency to

скло´нность к+ dat

a claim to sth

прeтe´нзия нaчто´-н

a right to sth

прa´во нaчто´-н

an exception to a rule

исключe´ниe из прa´вилa

the key to a door

ключ от двe´ри

compared to

по срaвнe´нию с+ instr

harmful to

врe´дный для+ gen

near to

бли´зкий от+ gen

similar to

похо´жий нa+ aсс

a visit to (the) Ukraine

посeщe´ниeУ крaи´ны

I have been to Moscow .

Я был(a´) в Mосквe´.

TOWARDS

(a)

in most meanings: к+ dat:

They were travelling towards

Oниé´хaли к о´зeру.

the lake .

He was standing with his back

Oн стоя´л ко мнeспино´й.

towards me .

attitude towards

отношe´ниe к

(b)

in other expressions:

towards evening

под вe´чeр

responsibility towards

отвe´тствeнность пe´рeд+ instr

UNDER

(a)

indicating location: под+ instr:

to sit under the trees

сидe´ть под дeрe´вьями

to be under suspicion

быть под подозрe´ниeм

(b)

indicating motion: под+ acc:

She shoved a note under the door .

Oнa´ подсу´нулa зaпи´ску под двeрь.

(c)

meaning according to : по+ dat:

under Roman law

по ри´мскому прa´ву

(d)

in other expressions:

under five dollars

мe´ньшe пяти´ до´ллaров

children under five

дe´ти до пяти´ лeт

under those circumstances

при тeх обстоя´тeльствaх

under Lenin

при лe´нинe

under one’s arm

под мы´шкой

under repair

в рeмо´нтe

The matter is under consideration .

дe´ло рaссмa´тривaeтся. (R3b)

UNTIL

(a)

in most contexts: до+ gen:

until Wednesday

до срeды´

until three o’clock

до трёх чaсо´в

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10.4

Rendering of English prepositions in Russian

(b)

meaning up to and including : по+ acc:

The visa is valid until 1 March .

Bи´зa дeйстви´тeльнa по пe´рвоe

мa´ртa.

(с)

with negated verb: то´лько:

I shall not do it until tomorrow .

Я то´лько зa´втрa сдe´лaюэ´то.

UP

(a)

indicating location: нa+ рreр:

The cat is up the tree .

Ко´шкa сиди´т нa дe´рeвe.

(b)

indicating motion: нa+ aсс; (ввeрх) по+ dat:

He went up the hill .

Oн пошёл нa´ гору.

The smoke goes up the chimney .

дым поднимaéтся по трубe´.

They sailed up the Volga .

Oни´ поплы´ли ввeрх по

Bо´лгe.

WITH

(a)

in the majority of meanings, especially in the company of, together with : c+ instr:

I work with him .

Я рaбо´тaю с ним.

She went there with a friend .

Oнa´ пошлa´ тудa´ с дру´гом.

a man with a red face

мужчи´нa с румя´ным лицо´м

with pleasure

с удово´льствиeм

I agree with you .

Я соглaшa´юсь с вa´ми.

(b)

indicating instrument; also indicating what sth is covered or

surrounded by: instrumental case without a preposition:

She is eating with a spoon .

Oнaéст ло´жкой.

I saw it with my own eyes .

Я ви´дeл(a) э´то свои´ми глaзa´ми.

The lake is covered with ice .

Óзeро покры´то льдом.

a house surrounded with flowers

дом окружённый цвeтa´ми

(c)

indicating presence at sb’s home, or entrustment of sth to sb: y+ gen: I lodge with them .

Я снимa´ю ко´мнaту у них.

I left my things with the concierge .

Я остa´вил(a) свои´ вe´щи у

вaхтёрa.

(d)

indicating source or cause: от+ gen:

He is trembling with cold .

Oн дрожи´т от хо´лодa.

She is blushing with shame .

Oнa´ крaснeéт от стыдa´.

(e)

in miscellaneous other functions:

with all one’s heart

от всeй души´

with the exception of

зa исключe´ниeм+ gen

with regard to

в связи´ с+ instr

по отношe´нию к+ dat (R3)

что кaсaéтся+ gen

with your consent

с вa´шeго соглa´сия

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10

Prepositions

with your permission

с вa´шeго рaзрeшe´ния

to go with/match

подходи´ть к+ dat

satisfied with

дово´лeн/дово´льнa+ instr

to speak with a stutter

говори´ть зaикa´ясь

Down with the government!

доло´й прaви´тeльство!

What’s it to do with me?

При чём тут я?

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11 Syntax

11.1

Use of the cases

A sound understanding of the functions of the cases in Russian is

crucial to an ability to master the language, for grammatical

relationships in the sentence, and therefore meaning, depend on

inflection. The sections which follow examine the basic function