RUSLAN RUSSIAN 1 GRAMMAR GLOSSARY
This is a list of grammatical terminology used in Ruslan Russian 1, with explanations.

Abstract noun
A noun that describes an idea or a feeling ie. something not physical, that you can't touch.

Accusative case
The case used for the object of a sentence, also used after certain prepositions.

Adjective
A word that describes a noun. It answers the question "which one" or "what sort of". Examples in English: "big", "red", "beautiful".

To agree
Adjectives "agree" with the noun they describe. This means that they are in the same case and have the same number and gender.

Agreement
The state of "agreeing".

Animate accusative
In Russian the accusative case of masculine singular animate nouns and of masculine and feminine plural animate nouns is the same as the genitive. This is often called the "animate accusative" case.

Article
The words "a" or "an" and "the" in English, "le", "la", "l'", "les" in French, etc, but which do not exist in Russian. Because of this, Russian native speakers often make mistakes with the article in English and in other languages.

Aspect
Russian verbs have two "aspects" - perfective and imperfective. These are two separate infinitives for the same verb in English. The choice of aspect depends on several factors, including whether an action is regular or repeated (imperfective) or single and complete (perfective). A full understanding of the aspect system is not required until you reach a more advanced level.

Case
Nouns, pronouns and adjectives change according to their function in the sentence. They are given different endings. The form they are in is known as the "case". The cases are: nominative, accusative, genitive, instrumental and prepositional (sometimes called locative).

To conjugate
Verbs change according to the subject. The act of changing is called "to conjugate".

Conjugation
Verbs conjugate in slightly different ways. There are two main patterns in the present tense. These are called "conjugations".

Consonant
A letter that is not a vowel.

Dative case
The case that is used for indirect objects and after certain prepositions.

Declension
Nouns and pronouns change their endings according to case and number, and adjectives change according to gender, case and number. These patterns of ending changes are called "declensions".

To decline
To change endings (of a noun, pronoun or adjective).

Familiar form
"ты" - The form of the word "you" that is used with friends or children.

Feminine
Nouns in Russian have one of three genders, masculine, feminine and neuter.

First Person
The form of a verb that expresses "I" in the singular or "We" in the plural.

Fleeting vowel
A vowel that appears and disappears in nouns as they decline.

Future tense
The mood of the verb that describes actions in the future.

Gender
Nouns in Russian have one of three genders, masculine, feminine and neuter.

Genitive
The case used to express "of" in Russian, and which is also used after numbers and after certain prepositions.

Hard vowels
The vowels "а", "э", "ы", "о" and "у".

Imperative
The form of a verb used for commands or requests.

Imperfective aspect
Russian verbs have two "aspects" - perfective and imperfective. These are two separate infinitives for the same verb in English. The choice of aspect depends on several factors, including whether an action is regular or repeated (imperfective) or single and complete (perfective). A full understanding of the aspect system is not required until you reach an advanced level.

Impersonal expression
An expression that is inverted. For example "It is possible for me to go" instead of "I can go".

Indirect object
Some verbs including "to write to", "to send to" and "to telephone (to)" have a secondary object, known as the "indirect object". You write the letter (direct object) to your friend (indirect object).

Infinitive
The basic form of a verb, translated into English as "to read", "to know" etc.

Instrumental case
The case used to express "with" in Russian.

Intonation
The way the voice rises and falls in speech to express meaning.

Intransitive verb
A verb which cannot have a direct object.

Irregular verb
A verb with an unusual conjugation.

Masculine
Nouns in Russian have one of three genders, masculine, feminine and neuter.

Neuter
Nouns in Russian have one of three genders, masculine, feminine and neuter.

Nominative
The case used to denote the subject of a sentence.

Noun
A word that names a person, place, thing, feeling, event, etc.

Object
The part of the sentence that receives the action of the verb. "I know Ivan" - "Ivan" is the object.

Past tense
The form of the verb that describes actions in the past.

Perfective aspect
Russian verbs have two "aspects" - perfective and imperfective. These are two separate infinitives for the same verb in English. The choice of aspect depends on several factors, including whether an action is regular or repeated (imperfective) or single and complete (perfective). A full understanding of the aspect system is not required until you reach an advanced level.

Person
See "First person", "Second Person" and "Third Person".

Personal pronoun
A word used to replace a person. In English: "I", you", "he", "she", "we" or "they".

Polite form
"вы" - The form of the word "you" that is used in formal circumstances, or in the plural.

Possessive pronoun
A word used to identify a person's possessions. In English: "my" or "mine", "your" or "yours", "his", "her" or "hers", "our" or "ours", "their" or "theirs".

Plural
The form of a word used for more than one item.

Preposition
A word that defines the relationship between two items in a sentence. For example "in", "on", "about", "with".

Prepositional case
A case that is used in Russian after certain prepositions.

Present tense
The form of the verb that describes actions in the present.

Pronoun
A word that takes the place of a noun. For example "He" or "This".

Reflexive verb
A verb in which the subject of the sentence and the object are the same person. For example "The play begins (itself)". In Russian these end with "-ся" (or "-сь" after vowels).

Regular verb
A verb which uses a regular conjugation.

Second person
The form of a verb that expresses "You", both in the singular and in the plural.

Short form
In Russian you can shorten some adjectives in sentences like "The bar is shut". These are called "Short form adjectives.

Singular
The form of a word used for a single item.

Soft vowels
The vowels "я", "е", "и", "ё" and "ю".

Spelling rule
A rule that governs the use of hard or soft vowels after certain consonants.

Stress
In Russian words of more than one syllable there is a syllable in the
word that receives the greatest emphasis. This syllable is said to be "stressed".

Stressed vowel
The vowel in a stressed syllable.

Subject
The person or thing that performs the action of a verb.

Syllable
A unit of pronunciation.

Tense
The form of the verb that indicates the time (present, past or future) that the action takes place.

Third person
The form of a verb that expresses "He", "She" ot "It" in the singular or "They" in the plural.

Transitive verb
A verb which has a direct object.

Unstressed vowel
A vowel which is not stressed.

Verb
A word that expresses an action or condition.

Vowel
In English "a", "e", "i", "o", "u". In Russian "а", "я", "э", "е", "ы", "и", "о", "ё", "у" and "ю".