Week 17, Lesson 33, Monday
Choose a present: who gets what
You already say мне and ему́. Today the same to-whom form reaches every noun: ма́ме, бра́ту, дру́гу. Presents are the perfect excuse.
1Recap 5 minutes
Three questions from Month 4, before anything new.
2Goal 1 minute
I can say who I am giving a present to, and give advice about presents.
3The lesson 20 minutes
In this lesson
- Presents
- To whom: the ending of the person
- Giving advice
Presents
Two sisters plan a birthday. Notice who gets the present: that person takes a new ending.
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| пода́рок | present |
| цветы́ | flowers |
| су́мка, кошелёк | bag, wallet |
| перча́тки, часы́ | gloves, a watch |
| Что тебе́ подари́ть? | What shall I give you? |
To whom: the ending of the person
| Person | To whom |
|---|---|
| брат | бра́ту |
| друг | дру́гу |
| ма́ма | ма́ме |
| сестра́ | сестре́ |
| па́па | па́пе |
он words add -у; words ending in -а, even па́па, swap it for -е. The pronouns you know already: мне, тебе́, ему́, ей.
Giving advice
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Что мо́жно подари́ть ма́ме? | What could you give Mum? |
| Мне ка́жется, мо́жно подари́ть цветы́. | I think you could give flowers. |
| Я подарю́ бра́ту кни́гу. | I'll give my brother a book. |
дари́ть / подари́ть: the process verb and the result verb, like Week 15.

4Listen and say 5 minutes
Sound of the lesson: A light final е
In ма́ме and па́пе the final е is short and light: say it, don't drop it.
- ма́ме [MA-mye] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
- сестре́ [sis-TRYE] 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.
- Что тебе́ подари́ть?What shall I give you?
- Мне ка́жется, …It seems to me …
- Отли́чная иде́я!Great idea!
- Не за что!You're welcome!
Words to read aloud
Read each one aloud, then open it to check.
пода́рок
дари́ть / подари́ть
to give (a present)
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)цветы́
кошелёк
перча́тки
часы́
же́нщина
мужчи́на
мо́жно
Мне ка́жется …
It seems to me …
Не за что!
You're welcome!
6Class exercises 15 minutes
Checked instantly. Get one wrong and you can try it again.
Role-play
Take one card each. Swap roles for a second round.
You
- Ask for advice: Что подари́ть ма́ме?
- Choose a present for Екатерина and say why.
Екатерина
- Give advice with Мне ка́жется …
- Disagree once and suggest something else.
7Your turn 5 minutes
Write who gets which present, in three sentences.
See a model answer
Ма́ме я подарю́ цветы́. Бра́ту я подарю́ кни́гу. Дру́гу мо́жно подари́ть часы́.
Saved as you type. It goes to Екатерина together with Homework 33.
8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass
9Feedback 5 minutes
10Check your goal 1 minute
I can say who I am giving a present to, and give advice about presents.
Can you do this now? Be honest: the answer decides your next step.
11Homework
Homework 33 on Tuesday: presents and the to-whom form.
I can say who I am giving a present to, and give advice about presents.