Week 21, Lesson 41, Monday
Buy a train ticket
A2 opens with a journey. Everything you need at a Russian ticket office fits on one card: where to, which day, one way or return.
1Recap 5 minutes
Three questions from Week 20, before anything new.
2Goal 1 minute
I can buy a train ticket, say where to and when, and understand times on a timetable.
3The lesson 20 minutes
In this lesson
- At the station
- A ticket to …
- The 24-hour clock
At the station
A real train ticket has six facts. Read them before the rules.
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| вокза́л, ка́сса | station, ticket office |
| по́езд, ваго́н, ме́сто | train, carriage, seat |
| биле́т | ticket |
| туда́ и обра́тно / то́лько туда́ | return / one way |
A ticket to …
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Оди́н биле́т до Москвы́, пожа́луйста. | One ticket to Moscow, please. |
| Два биле́та до Петербу́рга. | Two tickets to St Petersburg. |
| На суббо́ту. | For Saturday. |
| Ско́лько сто́ит биле́т? | How much is the ticket? |
до + the ending you know from нет: до Москвы́, до Каза́ни, до Петербу́рга.
The 24-hour clock
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| в восемна́дцать три́дцать | at 18:30 |
| в два́дцать оди́н пятна́дцать | at 21:15 |
| Когда́ отправля́ется по́езд? | When does the train leave? |
Stations, airports and tickets always use the 24-hour clock: the hours, then the minutes.

4Listen and say 5 minutes
Sound of the lesson: Long numbers
восемна́дцать: the stress is on на, and дц sounds like ts.
- восемна́дцать [va-sim-NA-tsat'] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
- два́дцать [DVA-tsat'] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
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.
- Оди́н биле́т до …, пожа́луйста.One ticket to …, please.
- Туда́ и обра́тно.There and back.
- Ско́лько сто́ит?How much is it?
Words to read aloud
Read each one aloud, then open it to check.
вокза́л
по́езд
ваго́н
ме́сто
ка́сса
ticket office
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)биле́т
туда́ и обра́тно
there and back
то́лько туда́
one way
отправля́ется
Да́йте, пожа́луйста …
Give me, please …
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
- Buy a return ticket to Kazan for Saturday.
- Ask when the train leaves and how much it costs.
Екатери́на
- Play the cashier, and ask which carriage you want.
7Your turn 5 minutes
Buy a ticket in two lines.
See a model answer
Оди́н биле́т до Каза́ни, пожа́луйста. На суббо́ту, туда́ и обра́тно.
Saved as you type. It goes to Екатери́на together with Homework 41.
8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass
9Feedback 5 minutes
10Check your goal 1 minute
I can buy a train ticket, say where to and when, and understand times on a timetable.
Can you do this now? Be honest: the answer decides your next step.
11Homework
Homework 41 on Tuesday: tickets and times.
I can buy a train ticket, say where to and when, and understand times on a timetable.