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ME
Frequent Guest
Joined: 22 Jun 2005
Posts: 14
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 Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 11:16 am Post subject: Russian Grammar |
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Hi there!
WOW! I love this language... It is so rich with meaning!
I am just struggling with the grammar.
I never know when and how the differ net words change.
I made the mistake of asking a friendly shop owner "ты знаешь..."
She wasn't so friendly after that!
Where can I get all the grammar rules and stuff?
Thanks
Me |
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Lord-Adrian
Frequent Guest
Joined: 07 Jul 2005
Posts: 55
Location: Russia, Orel
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 10:55 am Post subject: |
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Можно купить книгу на Озоне ozon.ru
Или задавай вопросы, попробую ответить. |
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Lord-Adrian
Frequent Guest
Joined: 07 Jul 2005
Posts: 55
Location: Russia, Orel
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 10:58 am Post subject: |
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| Или могу Вам выслать старые учебники детей по русскому языку. |
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jgerike
Frequent Guest
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 22
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| Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2005 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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ME:
Yes...the Russian language is incredibly rich. I have a degree in Russian and will never master the language. Besides it's been 15 years since I've realy spoken any significant Russian.
I don't know the rest of what you were trying to say but when you Said "ты знаешь" (do you know?) you used the informal version of "YOU" toward someone you did not know. You should have used the Formal "You" which is "вы знаете". The spelling might be of here a bit as I don't have a Cyrillic keyboard. If you are addressing someone you don't know and especially if they are slightly older you should use the Formal "you" rather than the informal. If in Doubt...aways aks someone. Russian would rather be asked than for you to just assume that you can be so informal with them.
I had a similar experience with a "babushka" in the Hermitage....I used the wrong form of "you" and she started yelling at me. I stood my ground and when she got done yelling at me....half of which I did no understand anyway.....I appologized and told her that i was a student and made a mistaked and tried to smile at here....and tried to be a bit humble. Works every time.
sorry for the long explanation....anyone correct me if I'm wrong about the usage of this ! |
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Camrade
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Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 516
Location: Санкт-Петербург
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| Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2005 8:57 pm Post subject: |
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2jgerike
the explanation is absolutely right. Вы знаете - is just a typical and polite form. Ты знаешь - it's often said to people whom you know quite well.
Informal phrases to people whom you don't know sound really impolite so reaction of people (espescially elderly ones) is very predictable. |
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431
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| Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 12:32 am Post subject: |
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not exactly. You can also say say "Ты знаешь" when you are talking to a young person or someone your age, or close to your age (if, say, you are both clearly students, even if you don't know him/her). When you speak with someone older or with a woman that you have romantic interest in, it's better to use "Вы знаете"
Also, there are more polite ways of saying the same thing.
The expression about means: "Do you know?"
But you can use a more polite form that corresponds to english expression: "Could you please tell me..."
So, "Could you please tell me where I can grab a bite around here" can be said in many ways, like:
Вы не подскажете где я могу сдесь перекусить? OR
Будте так любезны, подскажите мне где я могу сдесь перекусить? |
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vettra
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Posts: 123
Location: Cleveland
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| Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 6:21 am Post subject: |
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don't worry - no matter what you say to the Soviet person, they will sooner or later be angry with whatever you said so it doesn't really matter.
Being pissed off is a way of life in Russia |
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Intourist
Talk Show Host
Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 245
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 12:49 pm Post subject: |
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| vettra wrote: | don't worry - no matter what you say to the Soviet person, they will sooner or later be angry with whatever you said so it doesn't really matter.
Being pissed off is a way of life in Russia |
That was a moronic thing to say. |
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Anya
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 19 Feb 2004
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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| There aren't as many 'Soviet people' as there used to be... |
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Camrade
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Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 516
Location: Санкт-Петербург
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| Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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2vettra
I guess you need some medical help |
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jgerike
Frequent Guest
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 22
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| Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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| I think that the matter is closed.....there really was no more need for response...and I'm sure that I"ll get ripped a new one for just saying this.....let sleeping dog lie......I'm sure someone will feel the need to respond to critizize, correct or condem this post. Have fun. Amazing how much response there was to a simply grammar question. |
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