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How to Be A Cosmonaut for a Day Posted by yelena on Apr 11, 2011
Are you ready for tomorrow? You might be asking «а что будет завтра?» [just what will be happening tomorrow?]. A quick look at the calendar will tell you that tomorrow is «двенадцатое апреля» [April 12th]. If you enter this date into Google search you will see that, in addition to it being a «сто второй…
April Fool’s Day (Is Over) Posted by yelena on Apr 5, 2011
Do you celebrate April Fool’s Day? Many Russians do since «чувство юмора» [sense of humor] is a valued quality. In fact, many personal ads include this «чувство юмора» as a must-have quality for «серьёзные отношения» [meaningful relationship]. «Но вернёмся к нашим баранам» [But let’s get back to business; lit. – let’s get back to…
Russian Verbs – Perfective and Imperfective Aspects – Part 2 Posted by yelena on Mar 30, 2011
What can be better than a grammar posts on such a complicated and confusing subject as Russian verbal aspects! Two posts on Russian verbal aspects, back-to-back! Today Maria is talking about exceptions to the rules. Russian grammar rules wouldn’t be rules if they were to have no exceptions. This is also true for perfective…
Russian Verbs – Perfective and Imperfective Aspects Posted by yelena on Mar 29, 2011
I firmly believe that the Russian blog has the most awesome readers ever! One of the many reasons you are the best is because of all the fantastic comments – thoughtful, well-researched, in-depth, and immensely helpful you leave on this blog. 33 (!) comments on my previous post about short forms of Russian adjectives are…
How to Use Russian Short Form Adjectives Posted by yelena on Mar 22, 2011
All who’re scared of grammar, raise your hands. Ok, maybe raising hands is not the best idea since it prevents me from typing and you – from scrolling through this post. Anyway, «грамматика» [grammar] can be intimidating. This goes for both learners of Russian as a second (or third or fourth) language and native Russian…
7 Ways to Be More Russian Posted by yelena on Mar 11, 2011
Remember a while ago we talked about how to learn Russian by creating an immersive experience. Except now I realize that in my suggestions I overlooked one major resource. It’s really so simple that I can’t believe I totally missed it! Thankfully I was reminded of it by reading an article in a Russian-language magazine…
International Women’s Day in Russia Posted by yelena on Mar 8, 2011
Today is the day when Russian men «поют дифирамбы» [sing praises] to Russian women. And Russian women, congratulating each other «в стихах и прозе» [in poetry and prose], not so jokingly wish for the day to end. For today, March 8th, Russians celebrate «Международный женский день» [International Women’s Day]. The whole world knows that Russian…