Week 2, Lesson 4, Thursday
Ask what things are, and count to ten
Two question words open most early conversations: кто, who, and что, what. Add the pronouns and ten numbers, and you can talk about the room you are in.
1Recap 5 minutes
Three questions from Monday, before anything new.
2Goal 1 minute
I can ask who or what something is, use the eight pronouns, and count from 0 to 10.
3The lesson 20 minutes
Кто? and Что?
Russian sorts the world into кто, who, for people and animals, and что, what, for everything else. Э́то does the pointing: it means this is, or it is.
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Кто э́то? — Э́то А́нна. | Who is it? It's Anna. |
| Кто э́то? — Э́то кот. | Who is it? It's a cat. |
| Что э́то? — Э́то дом. | What is it? It's a house. |
Animals take кто, like people. Э́то means this is, or it is.
The pronouns
Eight pronouns cover everyone. Вы does double duty: one person politely, or several people. Оно́, it, is for things that are grammatically neuter; you will meet them soon.
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| я | I |
| ты | you, informal |
| он | he |
| она́ | she |
| оно́ | it |
| мы | we |
| вы | you, polite or plural |
| они́ | they |
No am, is or are
In the present, Russian leaves out am, is and are and simply puts the two ideas side by side. In writing, a dash sometimes marks the gap: Москва́ — го́род.
In the present, Russian simply leaves the verb out: Я студе́нт. I am a student. Она́ учи́тель. She is a teacher. Э́то Москва́. This is Moscow.
Numbers 0 to 10
Numbers come back every week, in prices, times and ages. Say them aloud as you read them; четы́ре carries its stress in the middle.
| Number | Russian |
|---|---|
| 0 | ноль |
| 1 | оди́н |
| 2 | два |
| 3 | три |
| 4 | четы́ре |
| 5 | пять |
| 6 | шесть |
| 7 | семь |
| 8 | во́семь |
| 9 | де́вять |
| 10 | де́сять |
4Listen and say 5 minutes
Sound of the lesson: что sounds like shto
что is said with sh, and э́то ends in a short a.
- что [shto] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
- э́то [E-ta] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
Listen to the textbook
The book's own recordings for this topic, free on the publisher's site. Listen once for the gist, then again with the book open.
5Phrases and words 5 minutes
Phrases to learn whole
Learn each one as a single unit, the way you would learn a word. They come back in your Daily 10.
- Кто э́то?Who is this?
- Что э́то?What is this?
- Да, э́то …Yes, it's …
- Нет, э́то не …No, it isn't …
Words to read aloud
Read each one aloud, then open it to check.
кто
что
[shto] what
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)э́то
[E-ta] this is, it is
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)ты
[ty] you, informal
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)она́
[a-NA] she
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)оно́
вы
[vy] you, polite or plural
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)они́
[a-NI] they
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)6Class exercises 15 minutes
Checked instantly. Get one wrong and you can try it again.
7Your turn 5 minutes
Write three sentences about things around you, starting with Э́то.
See a model answer
Э́то окно́. Э́то ла́мпа. Э́то кот.
Saved as you type. It goes to Екатерина together with Homework 4.
8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass
9Feedback 5 minutes
10Homework
Homework 4 on Friday: write five sentences with Э́то about your room, and count aloud.
I can ask who or what something is, use the eight pronouns, and count from 0 to 10.