Svetlana Flemming - Colloquial Russian - The Next Step in Language Learning

to adjust to

skaza´t;sq na (+ acc)

to tell on, affect

slo'i´t;sq

to be formed

sostoqńie

state

SPID

AIDS

trevo´'nyj

alarming

huma´

plague

N.B. Kak Vy otnośites; k \´tomu? – What do you think about this? Pust; u helove´ka bu´det vy

´ bor – Let people have the choice

Exercise 3

Answer the questions in Russian.

1 Kto tako´j {rij Leoni´dovih Wevheńko?

2 Pohemuźdravooxraneńie zanimaét oso´boe meśto?

3 K kako´j sfeŕe otnośit Wevheńko zdravooxraneńie?

4 Kakovaśituaćiq v rossi´jskom zdravooxraneńii?

5 Kak Wevheńko ob#qsnqét situaći[?

6 Kak vliq´[t SMI v Rossii na sostoqńie o´b]estva?

7 Hto du´maet Wevheńko o pla´tnoj i bespla´tnoj medicińe?

Exercise 4

True or false?

1 Haśtnye klińiki v Rossii qvlq´[tsq (bespla´tnymi, pla´tnymi, dostu´pnymi dlq vsex)?

Zdravooxranenie

|

223

1111

2 L;go´ty v C|LTe predostavlq´[tsq (vsem l[´dqm, voeńnym, 2

mnogode´tnym se´m;qm)?

3

3 Zdravooxraneńie na´do otnosi´t; k sfeŕe (obslu´'ivaniq, 4

'izneobespeheńiq, obrazovańiq)?

5

4 Situaći[ v zdravooxraneńii mo´'no ob#qsni´t; (negati´vnym 6

vliqńiem SMI, raspa´dom SSSR, psixi´heskim sostoqńiem

7

o´b]estva)?

8111

9

10

Language points ♦

1

2

3

Impersonal expressions

4

There are a large number of impersonal constructions in Russian 5

which involve the use of the dative and / or the infinitive.

6

7

8

Expressions of possibility

9

20111

Mo´'no / vozmo´'no ‘it is possible’

1

2

Mo´'no (vozmo´'no) poĺ;zovat;sq uslu´gami

3

vysokokvalificiŕovannyx vrahe´j.

4

It is possible to utilise the services of highly-qualified doctors.

5

Mo´'no (but not vozmo´'no) may also be used in the sense of ‘it is 6

permitted’:

7

8

Mo´'no zdes; kuri´t;?

9

May one smoke here?

30

1

Nel;zq´ / nevozmo´'no ‘it is impossible’

2

3

Nel;zq´ + perfective and nevozmo´'no mean ‘it is impossible’: 4

Nel;zq´ / nevozmo´'no razrewi´t; vse va´'nye dlq zdoro´v;q 5

proble´my.

6

It is impossible to resolve all important health problems.

7

8

Nel;zq´ + imperfective means ‘it is forbidden, not permitted’: 9

Nel;zq´ povywa´t; ceńy.

40

It is forbidden to raise prices.

1

421111

224

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The health service

Exercise 5

Decide whether to use mo´'no or nel;zq´:

1 . . . govori´t; gro´mko v bibliote´ke. 2 . . . sozdava´t; haśtnye klińiki. 3 . . . vvodi´t; pla´tnoe obrazovańie. 4 . . . poĺ;zovat;sq uslu´gami haśtnyx vrahe´j. 5 . . . kuri´t; vo vre´mq pole¨ta. 6 . . .

zakaza´t; bile´t heŕez interne´t. 7 . . . eźdit; bez bile´ta.

Expressions of necessity

Na´do / nu´'no ‘it is necessary’

Nam na´do / nu´'no ulu´hwit; zdravooxraneńie.

We need to improve healthcare.

Note the use of byĺo / bu´det:

Nam na´do by

ĺo / bu´det ulu´hwit; zdravooxraneńie.

We had to / will have to improve healthcare.

In the negative na´do and nu´'no have differentiated meanings: Ne na´do otkryva´t; haśtnu[ klińiku.

One should not (it is necessary not to) open a private clinic.

Ne nu´'no otkryva´t; haśtnu[ klińiku.

It is not necessary to open a private clinic.