Russian, from zero to B1A1

Week 13, Lesson 25, Monday

Say what you like and don't like

Russian turns liking around: the thing pleases you. Learn seven small pronoun forms and the whole topic opens up.

In this lessonabout 70 minutes
New words13
Focusмне нра́вится, the to-whom pronouns, from ненави́жу to обожа́ю

1Recap 5 minutes

Three questions from Month 3, before anything new.

2Goal 1 minute

I can say what I like, love and hate, and ask others what they like.

3The lesson 20 minutes

In this lesson

  1. Мне нра́вится: it pleases me
  2. To whom? The pronouns
  3. From hate to love

Мне нра́вится: it pleases me

Two friends compare tastes. Notice that the person who likes something is not the subject of the sentence.

Тебе́ нра́вится джаз?Do you like jazz?АДа, о́чень.А тебе́?Yes, a lot. And you?ММне нра́вится рок,а джаз я не люблю́.I like rock, and I don't like jazz.А
Notice: тебе́, мне are the people; джаз and рок are the subjects.
RussianMeaning
Мне нра́вится джаз.I like jazz.
Мне нра́вится э́тот фильм.I like this film.
Мне нра́вятся фи́льмы.I like films. (several: нра́вятся)
Мне нра́вится слу́шать му́зыку.I like listening to music.

The thing you like is the subject, so it decides the verb: нра́вится for one thing, нра́вятся for several. You become мне.

To whom? The pronouns

Seven pronouns, seven new forms. They mean to me, to you, and so on, and they come back with many verbs later in the course.

PersonTo whom
ямне
тытебе́
онему́
она́ей
мынам
вывам
они́им

Тебе́ нра́вится рок? — Да, мне нра́вится. Ей не нра́вится о́пера.

ямнетытебе́онему́она́еймынамвывамони́им
Left: the pronoun. Right: its to-whom form, the one that goes with нра́вится.

From hate to love

Five steps from hate to love. Most everyday opinions sit in the middle three.

RussianMeaning
Я ненави́жу …I hate …
Я не люблю́ …I don't like …
Мне нра́вится …I like …
Я люблю́ …I love …
Я обожа́ю …I adore …

Я люблю́ джаз and Мне нра́вится джаз mean almost the same; люблю́ is a little stronger.

ненави́жуI hateне люблю́I don't likeмне нра́витсяI likeлюблю́I loveобожа́юI adore
From a crossed heart to five hearts.
Week 13 on one plate. Lesson 25, Monday: мне, тебе, ему, ей for я, ты, он, она; Мне нравится джаз, I like jazz; Я не люблю оперу, I don't like opera. Lesson 26, Thursday: Я буду смотреть фильм, I'll watch a film; Завтра мы будем ужинать в кафе, tomorrow we'll have dinner in a café; Когда начинается фильм, when does the film start; Давай пойдём в кино, let's go to the cinema.
Week 13 on one plate. This lesson is band L25.

4Listen and say 5 minutes

Sound of the lesson: Soft л in люблю́

The л in люблю́ and in нра́вится is soft: the tongue is flat and wide, as if a y hides inside the л.

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.

Words to read aloud

Read each one aloud, then open it to check.

нра́вится, нра́вятся

pleases, please (I like)

мне
тебе́
ему́, ей

to him, to her

нам, вам, им

to us, to you, to them

ненави́жу
обожа́ю
му́зыка
джаз, рок

jazz, rock

о́пера
бале́т
конце́рт
актёр, актри́са

actor, actress

6Class exercises 15 minutes

Checked instantly. Get one wrong and you can try it again.

In class. With Екатерина: name three things you love and one you hate, then ask А вам?

Role-play

Take one card each. Swap roles for a second round.

You

  • Say what music, films and books you like, with мне нра́вится and я люблю́.
  • Ask: А вам нра́вится …?

Екатерина

  • Ask about three kinds of music.
  • Disagree once: Нет, мне не нра́вится.

7Your turn 5 minutes

Write what you like and what you don't, in four sentences.

See a model answer

Мне нра́вится джаз. Я люблю́ кино́. Я не люблю́ о́перу. Я обожа́ю ко́фе.

Saved as you type. It goes to Екатерина together with Homework 25.

8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass

9Feedback 5 minutes

10Check your goal 1 minute

I can say what I like, love and hate, and ask others what they like.

Can you do this now? Be honest: the answer decides your next step.

11Homework

Homework 25 on Tuesday: likes and dislikes, yours and your family's.

I can say what I like, love and hate, and ask others what they like.

Can you do this now?