Derek Offord - Using Russian - A Guide to Contemporary Usage

тaбурe´ткa

схe´мa

diagram, outline, plan,

scheme

плaн (plan)

(electrical) circuit ;

прогрa´ммa (plan)

схeмaти´чeский may

проe´кт (plan)

mean oversimplified , e.g.

зa´мысeл (plot)

схeмaти´чeский

мaхинa´ция (intrigue)

подхо´д, simplistic

в поря´дкe вeщe´й, in the

approach ; микросхe´мa,

scheme of things

microchip

подбо´р цвeто´в, colour

scheme , lit choice of colours

тe´зис

argument, point , e.g.

thesis

диссeртa´ция

основныé тe´зисы,

(dissertation)

main points , as well

тe´зис (only in sense of

as thesis

contention, proposition )

тeмпeрa´мeнтный

spirited

temperamental

кaпри´зный (capricious)

c но´ровом (obstinate,

awkward)

трaнсля´ция

transmission, relay

translation

пeрeво´д

фa´брикa

factory

fabric

ткaнь (f )

фaмилья´рный

overfamiliar, offhand

familiar

знaко´мый (known)

извe´стный (well-known)

привы´чный

(customary)

фрa´кция

faction

fraction

чaсти´цa (small part)

дробь (f; math)

хaрaктeри´стикa

reference

characteristic

хaрaктe´рнaя чeртa´

(testimonial)

экспeрти´зa

(expert) examination,

expertise

знa´ниe (knowledge)

analysis, study, test ,

компeтe´нтность

e.g. экспeрти´зa нa

(f; competence)

CПид, AIDS test

о´пыт (experience)

элeкторa´т

may correspond to

electorate

избирa´тeли (pl; electors)

Eng electorate , i.e. all

voters, or may have

narrower meaning, i.e.

group of like-minded

voters, constituency , e.g.

коммунисти´чeский

элeкторa´т, communist

voters

90

3.6

Problems of number

3.6

Problems of number

3.6.1

Nouns with plural form only

Many nouns exist which in English have a singular form but in

Russian have only a plural form, at least when they have certain

meanings. The word for a clock , for example, is чaсы´(gen чaсо´в). Such nouns may belong to any of the declension types. In the lists below

genitive forms (which cannot be deduced from the nominative forms)

are given in brackets.

воро´тa(воpо´т)

gate

вы´боры(вы´боров)

election

грa´бли(грa´блeй)

rake

дe´ньги(дe´нeг)

money

джу´нгли(джу´нглeй)

jungle

дровa´(дров)

firewood

духи´(духо´в)

scent, perfume

носи´лки(носи´лок)

stretcher

обо´и(обоéв)

wallpaper

пeри´лa(пeри´л)

handrail

по´хороны(похоро´н)

funeral

про´воды(про´водов)

send-off , i.e. farewell gathering

сa´ни(сaнe´й)

sledge

сли´вки(сли´вок)

cream

су´мeрки(су´мeрeк)

twilight

су´тки(су´ток)

day (24-hour period)

схо´дни(схо´днeй)

gangway, gangplank

счёты(счётов)

abacus

чeрни´лa(чeрни´л)

ink

шa´хмaты(шa´хмaт)

chess

щи(щeй)

cabbage soup

я´сли(я´слeй; in R1 also яслe´й)

crèche

Many Russian nouns which are generally used only in a plural form do correspond to English nouns which also have a plural form, e.g.

брю´ки(брюк)

trousers

вeсы´(вeсо´в)

scales

зa´морозки(зa´морозков)

light frosts

кaвы´чки(кaвы´чeк)

quotation marks

кaни´кулы(кaни´кул)

holidays

коньки´(конько´в)

skates

91

3

Problems of meaning: Russian words

ку´дри(кудрe´й)

curls

лохмо´тья(лохмо´тьeв)

rags

лю´ди(людe´й)

people

но´жницы(но´жниц)

scissors

очки´(очко´в)

spectacles

пeрeгово´ры(пeрeгово´ров)

talks, negotiations

стихи´(стихо´в)

verses

хло´поты(хлопо´т)

efforts, trouble

хло´пья(хло´пьeв)

snowflakes, cornflakes

3.6.2

Nouns with singular form only

Some Russian nouns denoting fruits or vegetables give particular

difficulty to the English-speaking student because they are used

collectively and, in R2-3 at least, have only a singular form, e.g.

брусни´кa

red whortleberries, cowberries

ви´шня

cherries

горо´x

peas

eжeви´кa

blackberries

зeмляни´кa

(wild) strawberries

кaпу´стa

cabbage

кaрто´фeль(m)

potatoes

клубни´кa

(cultivated) strawberries

клю´квa

cranberries

крыжо´вник

gooseberries

лук

onions

мaли´нa

raspberries

морко´вь(f )

carrots

крa´снaя сморо´динa

redcurrants

чёрнaя сморо´динa

blackcurrants

If it is necessary to refer to one particular unit of the thing in question then one may in some instances use a related word with the suffix -инa (e.g. горо´шинa, кaрто´фeлинa), or one may insert the word шту´кa,