Derek Offord - Using Russian - A Guide to Contemporary Usage

He won’t be there? Then we’ll get

бeз нeго´.

by without him .

(b)

with the same word used twice (тaк being placed between the word or

words used twice), indicates concession on the part of the speaker, or acceptance of a suggestion, or that some property is fully manifested, e.g.

– дaвa´йтe встрe´тимся в кино´.

‘Let’s meet in the cinema. Is that

Cоглa´сны?

OK?’

– B кино´ тaк в кино´.

‘The cinema it is then.’

– Кaк поe´дeм домо´й? дaвa´й нa

‘How shall we get home? Shall we get

тaкси´?

a taxi?’

– Ha тaкси´ тaк нa тaкси´.

‘All right then, we’ll get a taxi.’

B Cиби´ри зимо´й уж хо´лодно тaк

God, it’s cold in Siberia in winter .

хо´лодно.

(c)

expresses approximation with time, distance, quantity, etc., e.g.

– Когдa´ приe´дeшь?

‘When will you get here?’

– чaсо´в тaкв шeсть.

‘About six o’clock.’

– дaлeко´ до цe´нтрa?

‘Is it far to the centre?’

– Taккиломe´трa двa.

‘About two kilometres or so.’

– Cко´лько вe´сит ры´бa?

‘How much does the fish weigh?’

– Килогрa´мм тaкпять.

‘About five kilos.’

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5

Vocabulary and idiom

-то

(a)

stresses sth, e.g.

B то´м-тои дe´ло.

That’s just it .

зо´нтик-тонe зaбу´дь. идёт

Don’t forget your umbrella. It’s

дождь.

raining .

(b)

in stressing part of an utterance, may reinforce a contrast, e.g.

Cтe´ны-тоужe´ построéны, но

The walls are built but there isn’t a

кры´ши eщё нeт.

roof yet .

Я-товы´полнил(a) своё обeщa´ниe,

I’ve fulfilled my promise, but you’re

a вы мe´длитe.

procrastinating .

(c)

in constructions in which a word is repeated and in which -то stands after the word when it is first used, expresses concession, e.g.

Писa´ть-то пишу´, a онa´ нe читaéт

She doesn’t read my letters, although

мои´ пи´сьмa.

I make a point of writing to her .

зaнимa´ться-то зaнимa´лся/

I failed the exam, although I

зaнимa´лaсь, a нa экзa´мeнe

worked really hard .

провaли´лся/провaли´лaсь.

(d)

in certain phrases expressing strong negation, has a euphemistic

nuance, e.g.

Кни´гa нe осо´бeнно-тоинтeрe´снa.

The book’s pretty dull .

Mнe нe о´чeнь-тохотe´лось

I really didn’t want to talk to her .

говори´ть с нeй.

He тa´к-топро´сто бы´ло eго´

It wasn’t all that easy to calm him

успоко´ить.

down .

(e)

in exclamations with a tone of admiration or wonder, e.g.

Oнa´ крaсa´вицa. Кaкиé глaзa´-то!

She’s beautiful. What wonderful

eyes!

Haро´ду-тонa ры´нкe! что тaм

What a lot of people at the market!

продaю´т?

What are they selling there?

(f )

lends intimacy or informality to an utterance, e.g.

B тeáтр-тоходи´л(a) вчeрa´?

Did you go to the theatre yesterday

then?

‘Кaк тeбя´ звaть-то?’ – спроси´л

‘What should we call you then?’

врaч рeбёнкa.

the doctor asked the child .

Note:

used as a particle -то is always attached to the word that it is intended to emphasise; it cannot stand on its own and never bears the stress.

уж

(a)

intensifies some word denoting affirmation, negation or degree, e.g.

– Tы устa´л(a)?

‘Are you tired?’

– дa уж. E´лe иду´.

‘ I certainly am. I can hardly move.’

Oн уж совсe´мпeрeстa´л зaходи´ть

He’s completely given up calling on

к нaм.

us .

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5.4

Modal particles

(b)

expresses acceptance or concession, perhaps reluctant, e.g.

– дaй мнe свой зо´нтик нa´ дeнь. ‘Will you lend me your umbrella for the day?’

– Бeри´ уж, то´лько нe зaбу´дь eго´ ‘All right, but don’t leave it on the в поéздe.

train.’

– дым тeбe´ мeшaéт? Mо´жeт,

‘Is the smoke bothering you? Shall

попроси´ть, чтоб нe кури´ли?

we ask them to stop smoking?’

– У жпусть они´ ку´рят.

‘Oh, let them smoke.’

(c)

with an imperative, lends the order a blunt but good-natured tone, an air of camaraderie, e.g.

Mолчи´ ужоб э´том. Teбe´ нe´чeм

You’d better keep quiet about that.

горди´ться.

You’ve got nothing to be proud of .

иди´ уж.

Get a move on .

хоть (бы)

(a)

may mean if only or at least , or may have the same meaning as дa´жe, хотя´ (бы)

even , оr дa´жe e´сли, even if , especially in set phrases, e.g.

Приeзжa´й хотьнa оди´н дeнь.

Do come, if only just for a day .

Aх, хоть быодно´ письмо´

Oh, if only there were just one

от нeё!

letter from her!

Xотьубe´й, нe скaжу´.

I couldn’t tell you to save my life .

(lit Even if you kill me I won’t tell

you )

(b)

introduces an example which readily springs to the speaker’s mind; in this use it may be translated by for example, to take only , e.g.

лю´ди лeни´вы. Bзять хотьтeбя´.

People are lazy. Take you for

example .

что

(a)

may introduce a question, perhaps with a tone of surprise, disapproval or indignation, e.g.

что, боли´т жeлу´док?

So you’ve got stomach-ache, have

you?

что, он говори´т, что нe знaéт

What! He says he doesn’t know me?

мeня´?

(b)

combines with a personal pronoun in the nominative to form elliptical exclamations in which some verb such as говори´ть is understood,

e.g.

– Mо´жeт быть, ску´шaeшь eщё