23 



Sg. 



PI. 



In four forms the two sets are distinguished by a pre -final vowel: e_ for one set, m. for 

 the second. The first set has a pre-final vowel ^in the 3rd. pi. form, while the second 

 set has pre-final A in this form. Most variations from these two basic patterns are 

 predictable. Here, for example, are slightly differing types belonging to the first set: 



6yfly "I will be" 6epy "I take" 3HaiO "I know" nOK) "I sing" 



fiyflemb fiepeuib snaemb noeuib 



dyflGT 6epeT snaeT noeT 



SyflBM 



6yj],eTe 



6yflyT 



depeM 



depeTB 



SepyT 



3HaeM 

 3HaeTe 



SHaiOT 



noeM 

 noGTe 



nOKT 



The pronouns add emphasis and are often, as above, dispensed with. In the forms above 

 the variation j/w should be familiar; here the lo is selected after a vowel, e.g. snaio 

 The '^ ,with its distinctive vowel quality, results from the fact that it bears the accent; 

 contrast, for example, 6epeT and dy^eT. Consider now some variations in the second 

 set: 



CJiyffiy "I serve" rOBOpiO "I speak" BH)Ky "I see" JilcdJiK) "I love" 



CJiymHUIb rOBOpHUIb BHJIHUIb JIIOdHUIb 



CJiymHT rOBOpHT BH^HT JIIOdHT 



The 3rd. pi. variation of a/^should also be familiar, while the insertion of an extra 

 consonant in the 1st. sg. form of "I love" will seem strange. There are other similar 

 variations special to the 1st. sg. form; these may be considered in the discussion of 

 "Consonant Alternations "(page 32), 



The Verb: "to be " 



If one looks up the Russian forms of the verb: "to be", the infinitive dHTB will be 

 found. From this there may be derived the four past tense forms: duji dnjia dnjio duJiH 

 Some present forms of this verb are listed on this page, but they have the meaning "will 

 be", etc. Ordinarily, Russian uses no verb forms to express English "is" or "are", e.g. 



3?H3HHa - HayKa. "Physics is a science." 



CTyflBHTH - dOJIbHH. "The students are ill." 



Ohh HB mom KHWrH. "They are not my books." 



There does exist one form, bctb which functions, when used( infrequently), either as a 

 3rd. sg. or a 3rd. pi. ; e.g. , 



I/I3 3T0r0 nOJIOKBHHfl BCTb BHXOfl. 



EcTb JIM y Bac KHnrn? 



"From this position there is a way out.' 

 " Do you havedit.: Are there with you) 

 any books?" 



The Imperative 



Orders, commands and exhortations are expressed in Russian in the following ways: 

 2nd, person imperatives . Since Russian has a singular "you" and a plural "you", there 

 are two such imperative forms. The sg. form is character- 

 ized by the ending: -^/-H/-b; the addition of -TB. makes the 

 pi. form. The base for these imperative forms is the same as 

 that of the present tense. 



