Lesson 4 of 24

Having, Wanting and Liking

Russian has no verb "to have", so this lesson installs the frame that replaces it — у меня есть — fills it with the family vocabulary, adds the two irregular modals хотеть and мочь, and puts you in the dative for мне нравится, мне надо and your first imperatives.

⏱ About 55 minutes 26 phrases 34 exercises

Illustration of a smiling young man in a hoodie under the banner «Russian has no 'to have'» and the frame «У МЕНЯ ЕСТЬ …», with the example «У меня есть брат» glossed «Literally: by me there is a brother».

What you will learn

Say who has what with the fixed frame у + genitive + есть, using меня, тебя, него, неё, нас, вас, них
Make a possessive agree with the noun that follows it: мой, моя, моё, мои; твой, наш, ваш
Talk about a family, including the mobile stress of сестра → сёстры and the odd plural ребёнок → дети
Conjugate the two mixed paradigms хотеть and мочь and follow them with a bare infinitive
Say what you like with мне нравится and мне нравятся, and describe states with мне холодно, мне надо, мне можно
Make a request with the first imperatives: скажи, скажите, дай, дайте, иди

Quick review

Say these aloud before you start. They come from earlier lessons.

Я студе́нт. I am a student. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я студе́нт.
Она́ чита́ет кни́гу. She is reading a book. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Она́ чита́ет кни́гу.
Как тебя́ зову́т? What is your name? — меня and тебя in the next hour stop being a mystery Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Как тебя́ зову́т?
Мы не понима́ем. We do not understand. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Мы не понима́ем.
Вчера́ они́ отдыха́ли. Yesterday they rested. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Вчера́ они́ отдыха́ли.
Вы говори́те по-ру́сски? Do you speak Russian? Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Вы говори́те по-ру́сски?

Theory

У меня есть: how Russian says "I have"

Russian has no verb "to have", and it never needed one. Where English says "I have a brother", Russian says the equivalent of "at me there is a brother": `У меня́ есть брат`. Four pieces, always in this order: the preposition у, the owner in the genitive, есть, and the thing owned. That last piece is the grammatical subject of the sentence, so it stays in the nominative — the form you find in the dictionary.

The owner changes, and that is the only moving part. Learn these seven forms now, because they are the whole of the pattern: меня́, тебя́, него́, неё, нас, вас, них. Third-person pronouns grow an initial н after any preposition — у него́, у неё, у них — and that н never appears when there is no preposition in front (Я знаю́ его́). If меня looks familiar, it should be: you have been saying it since Lesson 3 in `Меня́ зову́т…`, without knowing yet which case it was.

есть does not conjugate. It is the same word for one owner and for ten, and it is the last survivor of the present tense of быть (Lesson 2), which otherwise disappears entirely. In the past and the future the frame simply swaps it for the right form of быть: `У меня́ бы́ло молоко́` and `У меня́ бу́дет дом`. The negative swaps есть for нет — `У меня́ нет сестры́` — and that construction also changes the ending of the thing owned. Learn it as one fixed chunk for now; Lesson 8 explains why.

У меня́ есть сестра́. I have a sister. (literally "at me there is a sister") Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: У меня́ есть сестра́.
У тебя́ есть брат? Do you have a brother? Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: У тебя́ есть брат?
У него́ есть дом, у неё есть дочь. He has a house, she has a daughter. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: У него́ есть дом, у неё есть дочь.
У нас есть ко́фе и молоко́. We have coffee and milk. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: У нас есть ко́фе и молоко́.

Possessives agree with the thing owned, not with the owner

мой has four forms in the nominative — мой, моя́, моё, мои́ — and which one you need is decided entirely by the noun that follows: мой дом, моя́ ма́ма, моё молоко́, мои́ кни́ги. A man says моя мама and a woman says моя мама: the speaker is irrelevant, the noun is everything. This is the same agreement you met with adjectives in Lesson 3 (большо́й дом, больша́я Москва́), applied to a pronoun.

твой is the possessive of ты and ваш the possessive of вы, so the Lesson 3 register split carries straight over: one friend, one relative, one child gets твой; several people, or one adult you do not know well, get ваш. наш means "our" and declines exactly like ваш. Three further possessives never change at all — его́, её and их mean "his", "her" and "their" whatever follows: его́ дом, его́ ма́ма, его́ кни́ги.

There is a fifth possessive, свой, which also means "my/your/his own" and points back at the subject of its own sentence. It is worth knowing that it exists, because you will see it constantly, but it is not safe to produce yet: choosing between его and свой changes who owns the thing, and Russian is strict about it. Lesson 19 teaches it properly. Until then, мой, твой, наш and ваш will never let you down.

Э́то мой дом и моя́ ма́ма. This is my house and my mother. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Э́то мой дом и моя́ ма́ма.
Твой брат — врач? Is your brother a doctor? Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Твой брат — врач?
На́ше молоко́ и ва́ши кни́ги. Our milk and your books. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: На́ше молоко́ и ва́ши кни́ги.
Его́ семья́ о́чень больша́я. His family is very big. — его never changes Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Его́ семья́ о́чень больша́я.

Sound focus

The family nest, and why the stress keeps moving

Family vocabulary comes as a nest, and it is worth learning in pairs rather than as a list. The formal words are оте́ц and мать, the everyday ones па́па and ма́ма (Lesson 1); both sets are completely normal, and отец/мать simply sound more grown-up. Then бра́т and сестра́, сын and дочь, ба́бушка and де́душка, муж and жена́, and the two words for a friend — друг for a man, подру́га for a woman, the same split you saw with professions in Lesson 3. ребёнок means one child; its plural is a different word altogether, де́ти.

Half of these nouns move their stress between singular and plural, and there is no rule that will tell you which. сестра́ becomes сёстры, жена́ becomes жёны, while ба́бушка and де́душка stay put from end to end. Four of them also build their plural on a different stem: брат → бра́тья, муж → мужья́, друг → друзья́, сын → сыновья́. That -ья plural is a family trait of exactly these close-relationship words, so learn the four together.

Sound focus. Wherever a form contains ё, that ё is the stressed vowel, and ё is never written with an accent mark — сёстры, жёны, моё, твоё, неё all carry their stress on their face. Elsewhere in the lesson the reductions are the usual ones: the unstressed о of хо́лодно and мо́жно collapses to [ə], the unstressed е of нельзя́ and интере́сно to [ɪ]. Two traps are worth saying out loud now: ску́чно is pronounced [ску́шно], with чн read as шн, and the ж of жена́ is always hard, so its first syllable sounds like [жы], not [же].

Э́то моя́ ба́бушка и мой де́душка. This is my grandmother and my grandfather. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Э́то моя́ ба́бушка и мой де́душка.
У меня́ есть бра́тья и сёстры. I have brothers and sisters. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: У меня́ есть бра́тья и сёстры.
Де́ти игра́ют и отдыха́ют. The children are playing and resting. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Де́ти игра́ют и отдыха́ют.
Мой оте́ц и моя́ мать до́ма. My father and my mother are at home. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Мой оте́ц и моя́ мать до́ма.

хотеть and мочь: two verbs that refuse the pattern

A modal verb in Russian is followed by a bare infinitive. Nothing goes between them — no preposition, no particle, no agreement: `Я хочу гулять`, `Мы можем работать`. The infinitive never changes, whatever the person, so all the grammar is carried by the first verb. If you know the six forms of хотеть and the six of мочь, you can express wanting and ability with every verb you have met so far.

Those two verbs are the awkward ones. хотеть is mixed within a single tense: the singular takes the endings of conjugation I (я хочу́, ты хо́чешь, он хо́чет) and the plural takes those of conjugation II (мы хоти́м, вы хоти́те, они хотя́т). There is no way to derive that, so it is learnt whole. мочь alternates г and ж — я могу́, ты мо́жешь, они мо́гут — and moves its stress in the past: мог, могла́, мо́гло, мо́гли.

Everything else about them is completely regular. Negation is one particle in front of the conjugated verb (Она не хочет отдыхать), a question is the statement with a rising intonation (Ты хочешь кофе?), and the past is the four familiar forms -л, -ла, -ло, -ли. Neither verb has a useful imperative — you do not order somebody to want or to be able — and that is why Russian asks for permission with можно instead: `Мо́жно?`, `Мо́жно чита́ть здесь?`.

Я хочу́ гуля́ть. I want to go for a walk. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я хочу́ гуля́ть.
Ты мо́жешь чита́ть по-ру́сски? Can you read in Russian? Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Ты мо́жешь чита́ть по-ру́сски?
Она́ не хо́чет отдыха́ть. She does not want to rest. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Она́ не хо́чет отдыха́ть.
Мы мо́жем рабо́тать за́втра. We can work tomorrow. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Мы мо́жем рабо́тать за́втра.

The person in the dative — and how to ask for something

Мне нравится Москва does not contain a subject "I". The person who likes is in the dative — мне, тебе, ему, ей, нам, вам, им — and the thing liked is the subject, which is why the verb agrees with it and not with you: `Мне нравится книга` but `Мне нравятся книги`. One thing, нравится; several things, нравятся. If you know Italian, this is mi piace / mi piacciono with a different verb; if you do not, learn it as the fixed shape it is.

The same dative frame carries a whole family of states and obligations, none of which conjugates at all: мне холодно, мне жарко, мне интересно, мне скучно, мне надо, мне нужно, мне можно, мне нельзя. English says "I am cold" and "I must go"; Russian says "to me it is cold" and "to me it is necessary to go". Drop the dative pronoun and the meaning barely changes — Надо работать — which is why these sentences so often come out with no person in them at all.

When you want somebody else to act, you use the imperative, and it is easy to build. Take the они-form of the present tense, drop the -т, and add -й if what is left ends in a vowel or -и if it ends in a consonant: читают → читай, знают → знай, говорят → говори, смотрят → смотри. Add -те for several people or for one person you address as вы: читайте, говорите, смотрите. Three of these are worth memorising as survival chunks today — скажи / скажите "tell me", дай / дайте "give me", иди / идите "go" — because with пожалуйста attached they turn any request polite.

Мне нра́вится Москва́. I like Moscow. (literally "to me Moscow is pleasing") Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Мне нра́вится Москва́.
Мне нра́вятся на́ши де́ти. I like our children. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Мне нра́вятся на́ши де́ти.
Мне хо́лодно и ску́чно. I am cold and bored. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Мне хо́лодно и ску́чно.
Да́йте, пожа́луйста, ко́фе. Coffee, please. (literally "give, please, coffee") Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Да́йте, пожа́луйста, ко́фе.

У + the genitive pronoun: the frame for "to have"

Form	subject (Nominative)	after у (Genitive)	the frame: у … есть книга
я	я	меня́	У меня́ есть кни́га
ты	ты	тебя́	У тебя́ есть кни́га
он	он	него́	У него́ есть кни́га
она	она́	неё	У неё есть кни́га
мы	мы	нас	У нас есть кни́га
вы	вы	вас	У вас есть кни́га
они	они́	них	У них есть кни́га

Russian has no verb "to have". The owner goes into the genitive after у, the thing owned is the grammatical subject and stays in the nominative, and есть never changes. Third-person pronouns grow an initial н after any preposition: у него, у неё, у них. In the past and future есть becomes the right form of быть: У меня́ бы́ло молоко́, У меня́ бу́дет дом.

Possessives agree with the thing owned, not with the owner

Form	мой	твой	наш
masculine: дом	мой дом	твой дом	наш дом
feminine: мама	моя́ ма́ма	твоя́ ма́ма	на́ша ма́ма
neuter: молоко	моё молоко́	твоё молоко́	на́ше молоко́
plural: книги	мои́ кни́ги	твои́ кни́ги	на́ши кни́ги

Four forms each, chosen by the noun that follows: мой дом, моя мама, моё молоко, мои книги. ваш behaves exactly like наш (ваша, ваше, ваши). Three possessives never change at all — его, её and их mean "his", "her" and "their" in every combination: его дом, его мама, его книги. The reflexive possessive свой exists too, but it points back at the subject of its own sentence and is not safe to use yet; it is taught in Lesson 19.

хотеть and мочь: two verbs that refuse the pattern

Form	хоте́ть — to want	мочь — can, to be able to
я	хочу́	могу́
ты	хо́чешь	мо́жешь
он / она / оно	хо́чет	мо́жет
мы	хоти́м	мо́жем
вы	хоти́те	мо́жете
они	хотя́т	мо́гут

хотеть is genuinely mixed: the three singular forms take the endings of conjugation I (хочу, хочешь, хочет) and the three plural forms those of conjugation II (хотим, хотите, хотят). мочь alternates г and ж, and moves its stress in the past (мог, могла, могло, могли). Both are followed by a bare infinitive, and neither has a usable imperative.

Мне нравится / Мне нравятся: the verb agrees with the thing liked

Form	нравится + one thing (Nominative singular)	нравятся + several things (Nominative plural)
мне — to me	Мне нра́вится дом	Мне нра́вятся кни́ги
тебе — to you (one friend)	Тебе́ нра́вится Москва́?	Тебе́ нра́вятся де́ти?
ему / ей — to him, to her	Ему́ нра́вится ко́фе	Ей нра́вится наш го́род
нам — to us	Нам нра́вится Москва́	Нам нра́вятся де́ти
вам — to you (plural or polite)	Вам нра́вится дом?	Вам нра́вятся кни́ги?
им — to them	Им нра́вится ко́фе	Им нра́вятся города́

There is no subject "I" anywhere in these sentences. The person doing the liking is in the dative, the thing liked is the grammatical subject and therefore controls the verb: одна книга нравится, две книги нравятся. Exactly the same frame carries the state words — мне холодно, мне интересно, мне надо, мне можно.

Vocabulary

Learn each word with its stress mark and its pronunciation. Nouns are given with their gender, animacy and their full six-case declension; verbs are given with their aspect and, where one exists, their partner verb.

Russian	English	Gender / aspect	Pronunciation	Audio
брат masculine · animate	brother	masculine · animate	/brat/ BRAHT	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: брат
сестра́ feminine · animate	sister	feminine · animate	/sʲɪˈstra/ sih-STRAH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: сестра
сын masculine · animate	son	masculine · animate	/sɨn/ SIHN	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: сын
дочь feminine · animate	daughter	feminine · animate	/dotɕ/ DOHCH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: дочь
мать feminine · animate	mother	feminine · animate	/matʲ/ MYAT	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: мать
оте́ц masculine · animate	father	masculine · animate	/ɐˈtʲets/ uh-TYETS	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: отец
ба́бушка feminine · animate	grandmother, granny	feminine · animate	/ˈbabʊʂkə/ BAH-boo-shkuh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: бабушка
де́душка masculine · animate	grandfather, grandad	masculine · animate	/ˈdʲedʊʂkə/ DYEH-doo-shkuh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: дедушка
муж masculine · animate	husband	masculine · animate	/muʂ/ MOOSH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: муж
жена́ feminine · animate	wife	feminine · animate	/ʐɨˈna/ zhih-NAH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: жена
ребёнок masculine · animate	child (plural: дети, children)	masculine · animate	/rʲɪˈbʲɵnək/ rih-BYOH-nuk	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: ребёнок
семья́ feminine · inanimate	family	feminine · inanimate	/sʲɪˈmʲja/ sih-MYAH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: семья
друг masculine · animate	friend (male); plural друзья covers both sexes	masculine · animate	/druk/ DROOKH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: друг
подру́га feminine · animate	friend (female)	feminine · animate	/pɐˈdruɡə/ puh-DROO-guh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: подруга
мой Pronoun	my, mine	Pronoun	/moj/ MOY	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: мой
твой Pronoun	your, yours (one person you know well)	Pronoun	/tvoj/ TVOY	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: твой
наш Pronoun	our, ours	Pronoun	/naʂ/ NAHSH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: наш
ваш Pronoun	your, yours (several people, or one you address formally)	Pronoun	/vaʂ/ VAHSH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: ваш
хоте́ть imperfective	to want	imperfective	/xɐˈtʲetʲ/ khuh-TYET	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: хотеть
мочь imperfective	can, to be able to	imperfective	/motɕ/ MOHCH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: мочь
нра́виться imperfective	to be pleasing — мне нра́вится means "I like"	imperfective	/ˈnravʲɪt͜sə/ NRAH-vih-tsyuh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: нравиться
хо́лодно Adverb	cold — мне холодно = I am cold	Adverb	/ˈxolədnə/ KHOH-lud-nuh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: холодно
жа́рко Adverb	hot — мне жарко = I am hot	Adverb	/ˈʐarkə/ ZHAHR-kuh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: жарко
интере́сно Adverb	interesting — мне интересно = I find it interesting	Adverb	/ɪntʲɪˈrʲesnə/ in-tih-RYEH-snuh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: интересно
ску́чно Adverb	boring — мне скучно = I am bored	Adverb	/ˈskuʂnə/ SKOOSH-nuh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: скучно
на́до Adverb	must, have to, need to — мне надо + infinitive	Adverb	/ˈnadə/ NAH-duh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: надо
ну́жно Adverb	must, need to — a shade more formal than надо	Adverb	/ˈnuʐnə/ NOOZH-nuh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: нужно
мо́жно Adverb	may, it is allowed — можно? = may I?	Adverb	/ˈmoʐnə/ MOHZH-nuh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: можно
нельзя́ Adverb	must not, it is forbidden, it is impossible	Adverb	/nʲɪlʲˈzʲa/ nil-ZYAH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: нельзя
я Pronoun	I	Pronoun	/ja/ YAH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: я
ты Pronoun	you (informal, singular)	Pronoun	/tɨ/ TIH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: ты
он Pronoun	he	Pronoun	/on/ OHN	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: он
она́ Pronoun	she	Pronoun	/ɐˈna/ uh-NAH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: она
быть imperfective	to be	imperfective	/bɨtʲ/ BIHT	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: быть

Full six-case declension of the 14 nouns in this lesson

Each case is listed with the question word that selects it. Find the question you are answering and the ending follows.

Singular

Form	брат (m)	сестра́ (f)	сын (m)	дочь (f)	мать (f)	оте́ц (m)	ба́бушка (f)	де́душка (m)	муж (m)	жена́ (f)	ребёнок (m)	семья́ (f)	друг (m)	подру́га (f)
Nominative · Кто? Что?	брат	сестра́	сын	дочь	мать	оте́ц	ба́бушка	де́душка	муж	жена́	ребёнок	семья́	друг	подру́га
Genitive · Кого? Чего?	бра́та	сестры́	сы́на	до́чери	ма́тери	отца́	ба́бушки	де́душки	му́жа	жены́	ребёнка	семьи́	дру́га	подру́ги
Dative · Кому? Чему?	бра́ту	сестре́	сы́ну	до́чери	ма́тери	отцу́	ба́бушке	де́душке	му́жу	жене́	ребёнку	семье́	дру́гу	подру́ге
Accusative · Кого? Что?	бра́та	сестру́	сы́на	дочь	мать	отца́	ба́бушку	де́душку	му́жа	жену́	ребёнка	семью́	дру́га	подру́гу
Instrumental · Кем? Чем?	бра́том	сестро́й	сы́ном	до́черью	ма́терью	отцо́м	ба́бушкой	де́душкой	му́жем	жено́й	ребёнком	семьёй	дру́гом	подру́гой
Prepositional · О ком? О чём?	бра́те	сестре́	сы́не	до́чери	ма́тери	об отце́	ба́бушке	де́душке	му́же	жене́	ребёнке	семье́	дру́ге	подру́ге

Plural

Form	брат (m)	сестра́ (f)	сын (m)	дочь (f)	мать (f)	оте́ц (m)	ба́бушка (f)	де́душка (m)	муж (m)	жена́ (f)	ребёнок (m)	семья́ (f)	друг (m)	подру́га (f)
Nominative · Кто? Что?	бра́тья	сёстры	сыновья́	до́чери	ма́тери	отцы́	ба́бушки	де́душки	мужья́	жёны	де́ти	се́мьи	друзья́	подру́ги
Genitive · Кого? Чего?	бра́тьев	сестёр	сынове́й	дочере́й	матере́й	отцо́в	ба́бушек	де́душек	муже́й	жён	дете́й	семе́й	друзе́й	подру́г
Dative · Кому? Чему?	бра́тьям	сёстрам	сыновья́м	дочеря́м	матеря́м	отца́м	ба́бушкам	де́душкам	мужья́м	жёнам	де́тям	семья́м	друзья́м	подру́гам
Accusative · Кого? Что?	бра́тьев	сестёр	сынове́й	дочере́й	матере́й	отцо́в	ба́бушек	де́душек	муже́й	жён	дете́й	се́мьи	друзе́й	подру́г
Instrumental · Кем? Чем?	бра́тьями	сёстрами	сыновья́ми	дочеря́ми	матеря́ми	отца́ми	ба́бушками	де́душками	мужья́ми	жёнами	детьми́	семья́ми	друзья́ми	подру́гами
Prepositional · О ком? О чём?	бра́тьях	сёстрах	сыновья́х	дочеря́х	матеря́х	об отца́х	ба́бушках	де́душках	мужья́х	жёнах	о де́тях	семья́х	друзья́х	подру́гах

Ready-to-use phrases

У меня́ есть брат.

I have a brother. (literally "at me there is a brother")

IPA /u mʲɪˈnʲa jesʲt brat/

Say it oo mih-NYAH YEST BRAHT.

The whole frame is fixed: у + the owner in the genitive + есть + the thing owned in the nominative. Russian has no verb "to have", and я имею is not how anybody says this.

neutral family possession

У тебя́ есть сестра́?

Do you have a sister?

IPA /u tʲɪˈbʲa jesʲt sʲɪˈstra/

Say it oo tih-BYAH YEST sih-STRAH?

A yes/no question again changes nothing but the voice: the ИК-3 rise lands on -стра. ты becomes тебя after у, exactly as it does in Меня зовут… (Lesson 3).

informal family questions possession

У него́ есть дом.

He has a house.

IPA /u nʲɪˈvo jesʲt dom/

Say it oo nih-VOH YEST DOHM.

Two things happen to он after у: it grows an initial н, and its г is pronounced [в] — so него sounds like [nʲɪˈvo], not [nʲɪˈɡo].

neutral family possession

У неё есть дочь.

She has a daughter.

IPA /u nʲɪˈjo jesʲt dotɕ/

Say it oo nih-YOH YEST DOHCH.

The ё of неё is always stressed, so the word needs no accent mark. дочь ends in a soft sign and is feminine, like ночь and мать.

neutral family possession

У нас есть ребёнок.

We have a child.

IPA /u nas jesʲt rʲɪˈbʲɵnək/

Say it oo NAHS YEST rih-BYOH-nuk.

One child is ребёнок; two or more are дети. The plural is a different word entirely.

neutral family possession

У вас есть де́ти?

Do you have children?

IPA /u vas jesʲt ˈdʲetʲɪ/

Say it oo VAHS YEST DYEH-tih?

вы and its genitive вас cover both "you all" and the polite singular. This is the form to use with an adult you have just met.

neutral family questions possession register

У них есть друзья́.

They have friends.

IPA /u nʲɪx jesʲt drʊˈzʲja/

Say it oo NEEKH YEST droo-ZYAH.

они → них after a preposition. друзья is the plural of друг for both men and women.

neutral family possession

Э́то моя́ семья́.

This is my family.

IPA /ˈɛtə mɐˈja sʲɪˈmʲja/

Say it EH-tuh muh-YAH sih-MYAH.

моя, not мой, because семья is feminine. The possessive follows the noun it describes, never the speaker.

neutral family possessives

Моя́ жена́ — врач.

My wife is a doctor.

IPA /mɐˈja ʐɨˈna vratɕ/

Say it muh-YAH zhih-NAH — VRAHCH.

Still no verb "is", and still the Lesson 1 dash between two nouns. жена is stressed on the ending in the singular and on the ё in the plural: жена́, жёны.

neutral family professions zero-copula

Твой брат — студе́нт?

Is your brother a student?

IPA /tvoj brat stʊˈdʲent/

Say it TVOY BRAHT — stoo-DYENT?

твой is the ты-form of "your". With one person you address as вы it becomes ваш: Ваш брат — студент?

informal family questions study

Э́то наш дом.

This is our house.

IPA /ˈɛtə naʂ dom/

Say it EH-tuh NAHSH DOHM.

наш keeps its stress in every form — на́ша, на́ше, на́ши, на́шего — unlike мой, which moves it onto the ending.

neutral possessives places

Э́то ва́ша кни́га.

This is your book.

IPA /ˈɛtə ˈvaʂə ˈknʲiɡə/

Say it EH-tuh VAH-shih kuh-NEE-guh.

ваш declines exactly like наш: ва́ша, ва́ше, ва́ши. It is both the plural and the polite singular.

neutral possessives objects register

Я хочу́ гуля́ть.

I want to go for a walk.

IPA /ja xɐˈtɕu ɡʊˈlʲatʲ/

Say it YAH khuh-CHOO goo-LYAT.

A modal verb plus a bare infinitive — no preposition, no conjunction, nothing in between. The infinitive never changes.

neutral modal hobbies

Ты хо́чешь ко́фе?

Do you want coffee?

IPA /tɨ ˈxotɕɪʂ ˈkofʲe/

Say it TIH KHOH-chish KOH-fyuh?

Note the split inside one verb: хо́чешь has the -ешь of conjugation I, but мы хоти́м has the -им of conjugation II.

informal modal drinks questions

Она́ не хо́чет отдыха́ть.

She does not want to rest.

IPA /ɐˈna nʲe ˈxotɕɪt ɐtdɨˈxatʲ/

Say it uh-NAH NYEH KHOH-chit uh-dih-KHYAT.

не goes straight in front of the conjugated verb, not in front of the infinitive: не хочет отдыхать, never *хочет не отдыхать in this meaning.

neutral modal negation

Мы мо́жем говори́ть по-ру́сски.

We can speak Russian.

IPA /mɨ ˈmoʐɪm ɡəvɐˈrʲitʲ pɐˈruskʲɪ/

Say it MIH MOH-zhim guh-vuh-REET puh-ROO-skih.

могу, можешь, может, можем, можете, могут: the г becomes ж everywhere except in the я-form and the они-form.

neutral modal languages

Мне нра́вится Москва́.

I like Moscow.

IPA /mnʲe ˈnravʲɪt͜sə mɐˈskva/

Say it muh-NYEH NRAH-vih-tsyuh muh-SKVAH.

Literally "to me Moscow is pleasing". The thing you like is the subject and stays in the nominative; you are the dative.

neutral feelings city

Мне нра́вятся ва́ши кни́ги.

I like your books.

IPA /mnʲe ˈnravʲət͜sə ˈvaʂɨ ˈknʲiɡʲɪ/

Say it muh-NYEH NRAH-vyuh-tsyuh VAH-shih kuh-NEE-gih.

Plural thing liked, plural verb: нравятся. Getting this agreement right is the whole trick of the construction.

neutral feelings objects

Мне интере́сно.

I find it interesting.

IPA /mnʲe ɪntʲɪˈrʲesnə/

Say it muh-NYEH in-tih-RYEH-snuh.

No subject, no verb "to be", nothing to conjugate: a dative person plus a state word. Интересно! on its own is the everyday "interesting!" or "I see".

neutral feelings impersonal

Мне хо́лодно.

I am cold.

IPA /mnʲe ˈxolədnə/

Say it muh-NYEH KHOH-lud-nuh.

English says "I am cold"; Russian says "to me it is cold". The same frame covers жарко, скучно, надо and можно.

neutral feelings impersonal weather

Мне на́до рабо́тать.

I have to work.

IPA /mnʲe ˈnadə rɐˈbotətʲ/

Say it muh-NYEH NAH-duh ruh-BOH-tyut.

надо never changes for person or number. Drop мне and it becomes a general "one has to work" — Надо работать.

neutral impersonal work

Мне на́до идти́.

I have to go.

IPA /mnʲe ˈnadə ɪˈtʲtʲi/

Say it muh-NYEH NAH-duh ih-TEE.

The standard way to leave a conversation. идти "to go (on foot)" is taught properly in Lesson 7; learn Мне надо идти as one chunk for now.

neutral impersonal motion

Мо́жно?

May I? / Is that all right?

IPA /ˈmoʐnə/

Say it MOHZH-nuh?

One word that opens doors, asks for permission and checks whether something is acceptable. Add an infinitive and it names the action: Мо́жно чита́ть здесь?

polite politeness impersonal questions

Здесь нельзя́.

It is not allowed here.

IPA /zdʲesʲ nʲɪlʲˈzʲa/

Say it ZDYES nil-ZYAH.

нельзя is the negative of можно and cannot be built from it. Stress falls on the final я.

neutral impersonal politeness place

Скажи́те, пожа́луйста, где кни́га.

Could you tell me where the book is?

IPA /skɐˈʐɨtʲə pɐˈʐalujstə ɡdʲe ˈknʲiɡə/

Say it skuh-ZHIH-tyuh, puh-ZHAH-luy-stuh, guh-DYEH kuh-NEE-guh.

скажите is the polite imperative of сказать "to say": the -те ending is what makes it вы, and therefore polite. The informal version is скажи́.

polite politeness imperative questions

Да́йте ко́фе, пожа́луйста.

Coffee, please. (literally "give coffee, please")

IPA /ˈdajtʲə ˈkofʲe pɐˈʐalujstə/

Say it DAY-tyuh KOH-fyuh, puh-ZHAH-luy-stuh.

да́йте is the polite imperative of дать "to give". This is the shortest possible order in a Russian café, and with пожалуйста it is perfectly polite.

polite politeness imperative drinks

Dialogues

A family photograph

Anna shows Tom a photograph on her phone. They are friends, so they use ты.

Tom
Это твоя семья?

Is this your family?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Это твоя семья?
Anna
Да, это моя семья. Вот мой отец и моя мать.

Yes, this is my family. Here are my father and my mother.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Да, это моя семья. Вот мой отец и моя мать.
Tom
А это твой брат?

And is this your brother?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: А это твой брат?
Anna
Нет, это мой муж. У меня есть брат и сестра.

No, that is my husband. I have a brother and a sister.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Нет, это мой муж. У меня есть брат и сестра.
Tom
У тебя есть дети?

Do you have children?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: У тебя есть дети?
Anna
Да, у нас есть сын и дочь.

Yes, we have a son and a daughter.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Да, у нас есть сын и дочь.
Tom
У тебя большая семья!

You have a big family!
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: У тебя большая семья!
Anna
Да. Это моя бабушка и мой дедушка.

Yes. That is my grandmother and my grandfather.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Да. Это моя бабушка и мой дедушка.

Making plans for the afternoon

Anna and Tom are at home on a free afternoon and cannot agree what to do.

Tom
Анна, что ты хочешь?

Anna, what do you want?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Анна, что ты хочешь?
Anna
Я хочу отдыхать. Мне надо отдыхать!

I want to rest. I need to rest!
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я хочу отдыхать. Мне надо отдыхать!
Tom
Ты не можешь гулять?

Can't you go for a walk?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Ты не можешь гулять?
Anna
Нет, мне надо работать. А ты что хочешь?

No, I have to work. And what do you want?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Нет, мне надо работать. А ты что хочешь?
Tom
Я хочу читать. Дай мне книгу, пожалуйста!

I want to read. Give me the book, please!
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я хочу читать. Дай мне книгу, пожалуйста!
Anna
Вот, пожалуйста.

Here you are.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Вот, пожалуйста.
Tom
Спасибо! Мне нравится читать.

Thank you! I like reading.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Спасибо! Мне нравится читать.
Anna
Хорошо. Тебе можно отдыхать!

Good. You may rest!
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Хорошо. Тебе можно отдыхать!

Meeting Anna's father

Anna introduces Tom to her father. Tom is a stranger, so both men use вы.

Anna
Том, это мой отец.

Tom, this is my father.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Том, это мой отец.
Tom
Здравствуйте! Очень приятно. Меня зовут Том.

Hello! Pleased to meet you. My name is Tom.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Здравствуйте! Очень приятно. Меня зовут Том.
Viktor
Очень приятно. Вы студент?

Pleased to meet you. Are you a student?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Очень приятно. Вы студент?
Tom
Да, я студент. А вы?

Yes, I am a student. And you?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Да, я студент. А вы?
Viktor
Я учитель. У меня есть жена и дочь.

I am a teacher. I have a wife and a daughter.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я учитель. У меня есть жена и дочь.
Tom
У вас большая семья! Вам нравится Москва?

You have a big family! Do you like Moscow?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: У вас большая семья! Вам нравится Москва?
Viktor
Да, мне нравится Москва. А вам?

Yes, I like Moscow. And you?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Да, мне нравится Москва. А вам?
Tom
Мне тоже нравится Москва. Но мне холодно!

I like Moscow too. But I am cold!
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Мне тоже нравится Москва. Но мне холодно!

Exercises

Answer actively — try to recall the Russian before you look at any hint.

Conjugation Exercise 1

Give the present-tense form for "я".

хотеть — я

Show answer and explanation

хочу́

хотеть is a mixed paradigm: the singular behaves like conjugation I (хочу, хочешь, хочет) and the plural like conjugation II (хотим, хотите, хотят). There is no rule that derives this, so learn the six forms as one block.

Conjugation Exercise 2

Give the present-tense form for "они".

хотеть — они

Show answer and explanation

хотя́т

они хотят, never *хотют. The plural of хотеть takes the -ят ending of conjugation II, while the singular keeps -ешь and -ет.

Conjugation Exercise 3

Give the present-tense form for "я".

мочь — я

Show answer and explanation

могу́

The г of мочь alternates with ж, but only in the я-form: могу. Then можешь, может, можем, можете — and back to г in они могут.

Conjugation Exercise 4

Give the present-tense form for "они".

нравиться — они

Show answer and explanation

нра́вятся

нравиться is conjugation II with -ся carried along unchanged: они нравятся. The л of the stem turns into вл in the я-form: я нравлюсь.

Conjugation Exercise 5

Give the polite imperative for "вы".

читать — imperative, вы (polite)

Show answer and explanation

чита́йте

Take the они-form читают, drop the -т and add -те: читайте. The same recipe gives скажите from скажут and дайте from дадут.

Conjugation Exercise 6

Give the imperative for "ты".

говорить — imperative, ты

Show answer and explanation

говори́

говорят → drop the -т → говори. The stress follows the я-form: because говорю is stressed on the ending, so is говори.

Choose the pronoun Exercise 7

Choose the genitive form of я.

У ___ есть брат.

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: меня́ мне мной

меня́

Hint: the genitive of я

After у the pronoun is in the genitive: у меня. мне is the dative (Мне надо), мной the instrumental. You have already been saying this form for a lesson: Меня зовут…

Choose the pronoun Exercise 8

Choose the form that means "he" after у.

У ___ есть дом.

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: него́ его́ нему́

него́

Hint: он after a preposition

After any preposition the third-person pronouns grow an initial н: у него, у неё, у них. Without a preposition there is no н — Я знаю его. Note too that the г here is pronounced [в]: него sounds like [nʲɪˈvo], not [nʲɪˈɡo].

Choose the pronoun Exercise 9

Choose the form that means "we" after у.

У ___ есть дети?

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: нас нам нами

нас

Hint: мы after у

мы → нас in the genitive, and the same н-stem runs through нам, нами and о нас. вы behaves in parallel: вас, вам, вами. None of these forms keeps the consonant of the nominative.

Choose the case Exercise 10

Choose the correct form of брат: "I have a brother."

У меня есть ___ .

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: брат бра́та бра́ту

брат

Hint: the dictionary form

The thing owned is the grammatical subject of the sentence, so it stays in the nominative. Only the owner changes case: у меня. брата and брату are the genitive and the dative, and they arrive in Lessons 8 and 9.

Choose the case Exercise 11

Choose the correct form of книга: "I like the books."

Мне нравятся ___ .

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: кни́ги книг кни́гам

кни́ги

Hint: nominative plural

нравиться governs the nominative for the thing liked, because that thing is the subject of the sentence: Мне нравятся книги, literally "to me the books are pleasing". книг is the genitive plural and книгам the dative.

Choose the ending Exercise 12

Choose the right ending.

Ты хоч___ .

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: ешь ишь ет

ешь

Hint: conjugation I in the singular

The singular of хотеть follows conjugation I: ты хочешь. Only the plural switches to conjugation II — мы хотим, вы хотите, они хотят.

Choose the stress Exercise 13

Choose the correctly stressed form.

Where does the stress fall in «сестра»?

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: се́стра сестра́

сестра́

сестра́, on the ending — and it moves in the plural: сёстры. The same shift appears in жена́ → жёны and in вода́ → во́ды from Lesson 1. Stress has to be learnt with the word.

Choose the stress Exercise 14

Choose the correctly stressed form.

Where does the stress fall in «холодно»?

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: хо́лодно холодно́ холо́дно

хо́лодно

On the first syllable: хо́лодно. Every state word in this lesson is stem-stressed — жа́рко, ску́чно, на́до, ну́жно, мо́жно — with one exception: нельзя́.

Fill the gap Exercise 15

Fill the gap: "I have a brother."

У меня ___ брат.

Show answer and explanation

есть

Hint: the invariant word meaning "there is"

есть never changes — not for person, not for number. It is the surviving present-tense form of быть (Lesson 2), used for "there is" and for possession. In the past and future the frame swaps it for было and будет.

Fill the gap Exercise 16

Fill the gap: "I like Moscow."

___ нравится Москва.

Show answer and explanation

Мне

Hint: the dative of я

The person who likes is in the dative: мне. The verb agrees with the thing liked, and Москва is one thing in the nominative, so it is нравится.

Fill the gap Exercise 17

Fill the gap: "I have to work."

Мне ___ работать.

Show answer and explanation

на́до

Hint: the impersonal word for "must"

надо plus an infinitive, with the person in the dative. надо itself never changes: мне надо, нам надо, им надо. In the past it becomes надо было.

Translate into Russian Exercise 18

Translate into Russian.

I have a brother.

Show answer and explanation

У меня́ есть брат

Hint: у + меня + есть + брат

The frame is у + the owner in the genitive + есть + the thing owned in the nominative. There is no verb "to have" in Russian, and я имею брата is not how anybody says it.

Translate into Russian Exercise 19

Translate into Russian.

This is my family.

Show answer and explanation

Э́то моя́ семья́

Hint: это + моя + семья

семья is feminine, so the possessive is моя, not мой. The zero copula of Lesson 1 is still there — this is literally "this my family".

Translate into Russian Exercise 20

Translate into Russian.

She wants to read.

Show answer and explanation

Она́ хо́чет чита́ть

Hint: она + хотеть (present) + читать

хотеть in the third person singular is хочет, with the -ет of conjugation I, followed directly by the infinitive with no preposition.

Translate into Russian Exercise 21

Translate into Russian.

I have to work.

Show answer and explanation

Мне на́до рабо́тать

Hint: мне + надо + работать

An impersonal construction: the person goes into the dative (мне), надо never changes, and the verb stays in the infinitive. Literally "to me it is necessary to work".

Translate into English Exercise 22

Translate into English.

У него́ есть жена́ и дочь.

Show answer and explanation

He has a wife and a daughter

у него is "he" after the preposition у — the н appears because a preposition is in front. The two things owned stay in the nominative.

Translate into English Exercise 23

Translate into English.

Нам нра́вится ваш го́род.

Show answer and explanation

We like your city

нам is the dative of мы and ваш is the plural or polite "your". Literally "to us your city is pleasing" — the city is the subject, we are not.

Multiple choice Exercise 24

Choose the correct sentence.

Which sentence means "I have a book"?

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: У меня́ есть кни́га. Я есть кни́га. У меня́ есть кни́гу. Мне есть кни́га.

У меня́ есть кни́га.

The frame is у + genitive + есть + nominative, in that order. The thing owned is the subject of the sentence, so it stays in its dictionary form: книга, not книгу. Я есть книга would mean "I am a book", and Russian does not use иметь for everyday possession.

Multiple choice Exercise 25

Choose the correct sentence.

Which sentence means "We like the children"?

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: Нам нра́вятся де́ти. Мы нра́вимся де́ти. Нам нра́вится де́ти. Нас нра́вятся де́ти.

Нам нра́вятся де́ти.

The person who likes is in the dative (нам) and the verb agrees with the thing liked. дети is plural, so it is нравятся. нравится would need a single thing as its subject.

True or false Exercise 26

Answer true or false.

«Мне нравится книги» is correct Russian.

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false

The verb must agree with the thing liked. книги is plural, so the sentence has to be Мне нравятся книги. The dative мне never changes, which is exactly why learners forget to change the verb.

True or false Exercise 27

Answer true or false.

After the preposition у, она becomes неё: «у неё».

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true

Every third-person pronoun grows an initial н after a preposition: у него, у неё, у них, к ним, о них. Without a preposition there is no н: Я её знаю.

Match the pairs Exercise 28

Pair the words.

Match each family word with its English meaning.

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брат brother, сестра sister, отец father, мать mother, сын son, дочь daughter, муж husband, жена wife

These eight are the core of the family nest. мать and отец are the formal words; мама and папа from Lesson 1 are the everyday ones, and both sets are in normal use.

Match the pairs Exercise 29

Pair the words.

Match each subject pronoun with its form after у.

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я меня, ты тебя, он него, она неё, мы нас, вы вас, они них

This column of genitive forms is the second half of the "to have" frame. The initial н appears only in the third person and only after a preposition.

Word order Exercise 30

Put the words in order.

Build the question: "Do you have a sister?"

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У тебя́ есть сестра́?

Hint: у + тебя + есть + сестра

The frame keeps its order in a question, exactly as in Lesson 2: only the intonation changes. меня and нет are distractors — нет belongs to the negative frame У меня нет сестры, which Lesson 8 explains.

Transform the sentence Exercise 31

Rewrite it with не.

Make this sentence negative: «Я хочу гулять.»

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Я не хочу́ гуля́ть

Hint: put не before хочу

One particle, placed immediately before the conjugated verb and never before the infinitive: Я не хочу гулять. Nothing else in the sentence moves.

Transform the sentence Exercise 32

Rewrite it so that it means "I like the books."

Make this sentence plural: «Мне нравится книга.»

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Мне нра́вятся кни́ги

Hint: книга → книги, and the verb agrees

The dative мне does not change, because it is not the subject. The subject is the thing liked: книга becomes книги, and the verb follows it into the plural — нравятся.

Listen and type Exercise 33

Play the audio and type what you hear.

Listen and type the sentence.

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У меня́ есть сестра́

Listen for the reduction: меня is [мʲɪˈнʲа], with the first е reduced to [ɪ], and сестра is [сʲɪˈстра]. There is no verb "to have" anywhere in the sentence.

Flashcard Exercise 34

Recall the English meaning, then rate how well you knew it.

жена́

Show answer and explanation

wife

жена́, plural жёны. The stress moves from the ending to the stem, and because ж is always hard the first syllable sounds like [жы], not [же].

Speak now

Say each sentence aloud three times — slowly, at normal speed, then from memory — and then change one word so that it is true for you: swap in your own family, your own city, your own verb. Say the у-frames without looking at the table. That frame is the one you will use every single day, and it is worth more than any other five sentences in this lesson.

У меня́ есть брат и сестра́. I have a brother and a sister. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: У меня́ есть брат и сестра́.
Э́то моя́ семья́. This is my family. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Э́то моя́ семья́.
Я хочу́ чита́ть, а ты? I want to read, and you? Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я хочу́ чита́ть, а ты?
Мне нра́вится Москва́. I like Moscow. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Мне нра́вится Москва́.
Мне на́до рабо́тать. I have to work. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Мне на́до рабо́тать.
Да́йте, пожа́луйста, ко́фе! Coffee, please! Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Да́йте, пожа́луйста, ко́фе!

Lesson checkpoint

Before you move on, make sure you can do all of this without looking:

Say the seven у-forms from memory: я → меня, ты → тебя, он → него, она → неё, мы → нас, вы → вас, они → них
Name eight members of your own family in Russian, each with the right possessive: мой, моя, моё or мои
Conjugate хотеть and мочь aloud, all six forms of each, without looking at the table
Say three things you like with Мне нравится and three with Мне нравятся, and check the verb agrees each time
Build the imperative of читать, говорить and смотреть for ты and for вы, and say which form is the polite one
Describe how you feel right now with four of the dative state words: холодно, жарко, интересно, скучно

Remember this

Russian has no verb "to have". Possession is the fixed frame у + genitive + есть + nominative: У меня есть брат.
After у the pronouns are меня, тебя, него, неё, нас, вас, них. The third person always grows an initial н after a preposition, and never without one.
A possessive agrees with the thing owned, not with the owner: мой дом, моя мама, моё молоко, мои книги. его, её and их never change at all.
хотеть is mixed — хочу, хочешь, хочет but хотим, хотите, хотят — and мочь alternates г and ж: могу, можешь, могут. Both take a bare infinitive.
In Мне нравится and in the state words (мне холодно, мне интересно, мне надо, мне можно) the person is in the dative and there is no subject; the verb agrees with the thing liked: книга нравится, книги нравятся.
The imperative is built from the они-form: читают → читай, говорят → говори. Add -те for several people or for the polite singular: читайте, говорите, скажите, дайте.

Go deeper: Possessive pronouns: мой, твой, наш, ваш · The Genitive case · The Dative case · Modal verbs and modal expressions · The imperative · Pronoun declension: the full paradigm

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