{"id":4714,"date":"2013-04-26T08:00:04","date_gmt":"2013-04-26T08:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=4714"},"modified":"2014-07-17T19:25:27","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T19:25:27","slug":"eat-me-drink-me-off-with-his-head","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/eat-me-drink-me-off-with-his-head\/","title":{"rendered":"Eat me! Drink me! Off with his head!"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

As we all know, shortly after the inquisitive Alice falls \u0432\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0437 \u043f\u043e \u043a\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u0438\u0447\u044c\u0435\u0439 \u043d\u043e\u0440\u0435<\/span><\/b><\/span>, she discovers a little glass table with a tiny golden key on top of it, along with an enticing bottle of something that turns out to be
\nshrinking potion<\/span>:<\/p>\n

\u041a \u0431\u0443\u0442\u044b<\/span>\u043b\u043a\u0435 \u0431\u044b\u043b\u0430<\/span> \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0432\u044f<\/span>\u0437\u0430\u043d\u0430 \u0431\u0443\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0436\u043a\u0430, \u0430 \u043d\u0430 \u0431\u0443\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0436\u043a\u0435 \u043a\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u043f\u043d\u044b\u043c\u0438 \u043a\u0440\u0430\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0432\u044b\u043c\u0438 \u0431\u0443<\/span>\u043a\u0432\u0430\u043c\u0438 \u0431\u044b<\/span>\u043b\u043e \u043d\u0430\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0430\u043d\u043e ”\u0412\u042b<\/span>\u041f\u0415\u0419 \u041c\u0415\u041d\u042f<\/span>!”
\n—\u00a0\u00ab\u041f\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u0434\u0435 \u0432\u0441\u0435\u0433\u043e<\/span> \u043d\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u043e \u0443\u0431\u0435\u0434\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043d\u0430 \u044d<\/span>\u0442\u043e\u0439 \u0431\u0443\u0442\u044b<\/span>\u043b\u043a\u0435 \u043d\u0438\u0433\u0434\u0435<\/span> \u043d\u0435<\/span>\u0442 \u043f\u043e\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u043a\u0438 ”\u042f<\/span>\u0434!”\u00bb — \u0441\u043a\u0430\u0437\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u0430 \u0410\u043b\u0438\u0441\u0430.<\/p>\n

* * * * * *<\/b>
\nA small paper tag was tied to the bottle, and on the paper in large beautiful letters was written “DRINK ME!”
\n—\u00a0“First of all I should make sure that there isn’t any \u00abPoison!\u00bb label anywhere on this bottle,” said Alice.<\/p>\n

(The Russian “Alice” excerpts in this post are from the 1966 translation by Nina M. Demurova ; back-Englished by Rob.)<\/i><\/div>\n

Of course, you can’t say “Drink me!” (or “Eat me!” or “Off with his head!”) in Russian without knowing how to form imperative commands. After many years of Russian study, I’m pretty good at the formation part, but I still get confused sometimes about the correct usage of imperatives. So, with a little help from Alice and friends, let’s finish off the week with a look at the…<\/p>\n

\u041f\u043e\u0432\u0435\u043b\u0438\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u043d\u0430\u043a\u043b\u043e\u043d\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0435 \u0433\u043b\u0430\u0433\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0432
\nImperative mood of verbs<\/h3>\n

Even if you’re fairly new to Russian, you may already have figured out (to your sorrow!) that Russian verbs are often characterized by weird spelling changes as well as shifting syllable stress. So, in order to determine what the correct imperative is, there are two key verb forms that you absolutely must know: the third-person plural (\u00ab\u043e\u043d\u0438\u00bb<\/b>) and the first-person singular (\u00ab\u044f\u00bb<\/b>) of the imperfective present or the perfective future.<\/p>\n

With pretty much 99% of verbs (we’ll get to the exceptions later), knowing these two forms allows you to figure out the imperative every single time. Keeping that general point in mind, let’s go step-by-step through:<\/p>\n

Formation of singular imperatives<\/h3>\n

We’re only going to look at the singular imperative, because once you’ve figured out what it is, creating the plural form is no sweat: you just slap on a -\u0442\u0435<\/b> and you’re done.<\/p>\n

First, take the 3rd plural form and “\u043e\u0442\u0440\u0443\u0431\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c”<\/b> (chop off) the last two letters — here, it’s not “off with its head,” but “off with its tail!” Depending on the verb’s conjugation, these last two letters will be either -\u0443\u0442\/-\u044e\u0442<\/b> or -\u0430\u0442\/-\u044f\u0442<\/b>. (With reflexive verbs, of course, it’d be the last FOUR letters, such as -\u0443\u0442\u0441\u044f<\/b> or -\u044f\u0442\u0441\u044f<\/b>).<\/p>\n

What you’re left with is called the “stem,” which can end either with a vowel, or with a single consonant, or with more than one consonant…<\/p>\n

If this stem (i.e., the “chopped” form) ends in a vowel:<\/span><\/h4>\n

Just add -\u0439<\/b>, and you’ve got the singular imperative! (In these cases, you don’t even need to worry about what the 1st-singular form is.) Like so:<\/p>\n

\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0447\u0438\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to read”) \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0447\u0438\u0442\u0430<\/span>|<\/span>\u044e\u0442<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0447\u0438\u0442\u0430<\/span>–<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0447\u0438\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0439!<\/b> “Read!”<\/p>\n

\u043e\u0442\u043a\u0440\u044b<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to open”) \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u043e\u0442\u043a\u0440\u043e<\/span>|<\/span>\u044e\u0442<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u0442\u043a\u0440\u043e<\/span>–<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u0442\u043a\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0439!<\/b> “Open!”<\/p>\n

\u043f\u043b\u0435\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to spit”) \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u043f\u043b\u044e|<\/span>\u044e<\/span>\u0442<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043f\u043b\u044e<\/span>–<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043f\u043b\u044e<\/span>\u0439!<\/b> “Spit!”<\/p>\n

\u043f\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0431\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to try [food]<\/i>“) \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u043f\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0431\u0443|<\/span>\u044e\u0442<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043f\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0431\u0443-<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043f\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0431\u0443\u0439!<\/b> “Have a taste!”<\/p>\n

\u0431\u043e\u044f<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f<\/b> (“to fear”) \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u0431\u043e|<\/span>\u044f<\/span>\u0442\u0441\u044f<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u0431\u043e-(\u0441\u044f)<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043d\u0435 \u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0439\u0441\u044f!<\/b> “Don’t be afraid!”<\/p>\n

\u0441\u0442\u043e\u044f<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to be standing”) \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u0441\u0442\u043e|<\/span>\u044f<\/span>\u0442<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u0441\u0442\u043e-<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u0441\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0439!<\/b> “Halt! Freeze!”<\/p>\n

If the stem ends in MORE THAN ONE consonant:<\/span><\/h4>\n

Again, it’s simple. Just add an -\u0438<\/b> to the stem, no matter where the stress is:<\/p>\n

\u043d\u0430\u043f\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u043d\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to fill”) \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u043d\u0438 \u043d\u0430\u043f\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u043d|<\/span>\u044f\u0442<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043d\u0430\u043f\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u043d-<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043d\u0430\u043f\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u043d\u0438!<\/b> “Fill!”<\/p>\n

\u043f\u043e\u0447\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to clean”) \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u043d\u0438 \u043f\u043e\u0447\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0442|<\/span>\u044f\u0442<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043f\u043e\u0447\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0442-<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043f\u043e\u0447\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0438!<\/b> “Clean!”<\/p>\n

If the stem ends in ONE consonant…<\/span><\/h4>\n

So far, we haven’t bothered looking at the 1st-singular form, but here’s<\/i> where it comes into play, because it’ll tell you whether the imperative is stressed on the ending or on the stem.<\/p>\n

(a) …and the 1st-sing. is end-stressed (on the -\u0443\/-\u044e<\/b>):<\/span><\/h4>\n

In this case you add a stressed –\u0438<\/span><\/b> to the stem to get the imperative:<\/p>\n

\u043f\u043e\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to talk a bit”) \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u043f\u043e\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440|<\/span>\u044f<\/span>\u0442<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043f\u043e\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440-<\/b> \u2192<\/span> (\u044f \u043f\u043e\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u044e<\/span>)<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043f\u043e\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438<\/span>!<\/b> “Talk!”<\/p>\n

\u043f\u0438\u0441\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to write”) \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0448|<\/span>\u0443\u0442<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0448-<\/b> \u2192<\/span> (\u044f \u043f\u0438\u0448\u0443<\/span>)<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043f\u0438\u0448\u0438<\/span>!<\/b> “Write!”<\/p>\n

\u043b\u044e\u0431\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to love”) \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u043b\u044e<\/span>\u0431|<\/span>\u044f\u0442<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043b\u044e<\/span>\u0431-<\/b> \u2192<\/span> (\u044f \u043b\u044e\u0431\u043b\u044e<\/span>)<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043b\u044e\u0431\u0438<\/span>!<\/b> “Love!”<\/p>\n

\u043f\u0440\u0438\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to bring [on foot]<\/i>“) \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u043f\u0440\u0438\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0441|<\/span>\u044f\u0442<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043f\u0440\u0438\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0441-<\/b> \u2192<\/span> (\u044f \u043f\u0440\u0438\u043d\u043e\u0448\u0443<\/span>)<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043f\u0440\u0438\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0438<\/span>!<\/b> “Bring!”<\/p>\n

(b) …and the 1st-sing. is stem-stressed:<\/span><\/h4>\n

If the stress isn’t on the -\u0443\/-\u044e<\/b> in the \u00ab\u044f\u00bb<\/b> form, the imperative will be the stem plus a soft sign (-\u044c<\/b>):<\/p>\n

\u0432\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to stand up”) \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u0432\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043d|<\/span>\u0443\u0442<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u0432\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043d-<\/b> \u2192<\/span> (\u044f \u0432\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0443)<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u0432\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u044c!<\/b> “Stand up!”<\/p>\n

\u043e\u0442\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0437\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to cut off”) \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u043e\u0442\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0436|<\/span>\u0443\u0442<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u0442\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0436-<\/b> \u2192<\/span> (\u044f \u043e\u0442\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u0443)<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u0442\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u0436\u044c!<\/b> “Slice it off!”<\/p>\n

\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to leave alone”) \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0432|<\/span>\u044f\u0442<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0432-<\/b> \u2192<\/span> (\u044f \u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u043b\u044e)<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u044c!<\/b> “Leave it alone!”<\/p>\n

\u0412\u041d\u0418\u041c\u0410<\/span>\u041d\u0418\u0415!<\/b> (“Attention!”) — notice the imperative of \u043b\u044e\u0431\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> is neither \u00ab\u043b\u044e\u0431\u043b<\/span>\u0438<\/span>!\u00bb<\/b> (i.e., spelled like \u044f \u043b\u044e\u0431\u043b\u044e<\/span><\/b>) nor \u00ab\u043b\u044e<\/span><\/span>\u0431\u044c<\/span>!\u00bb<\/b> (i.e., stressed like \u043e\u043d\u0438 \u043b\u044e<\/span>\u0431\u044f\u0442<\/b>) — it’s \u00ab\u043b\u044e\u0431\u0438<\/span>!\u00bb<\/b>, with the spelling of the 3rd-plural but the stress of the 1st-singular. And similarly, one says \u00ab\u043f\u0440\u0438\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0438<\/span>!\u00bb<\/b> rather than \u00ab\u043f\u0440\u0438\u043d\u043e\u0448<\/span>\u0438<\/span>!\u00bb<\/b> or \u00ab\u043f\u0440\u0438<\/span><\/span>\u043d\u043e\u0441\u044c<\/span>!\u00bb<\/b>, and \u00ab\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u044c!\u00bb<\/b>, not \u00ab\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u043b<\/span>\u0438!\u00bb<\/b> or \u00ab\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u043b<\/span>\u044c!\u00bb<\/b><\/p>\n

Finally, if the verb is reflexive:<\/span><\/h4>\n

Add -\u0441\u044f<\/b> to singular imperatives after -\u0439<\/b> or -\u044c<\/b>, but -\u0441\u044c<\/b> after -\u0438<\/b>, and after the plural ending -\u0442\u0435<\/b>. Thus:<\/p>\n

\u043f\u044b\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f<\/b> (“to attempt”) \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u043d\u0438 \u043f\u044b\u0442\u0430|<\/span>\u044e\u0442\u0441\u044f<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043f\u044b\u0442\u0430<\/span>–<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043f\u044b\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u0441\u044f! \u043f\u044b\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u0442\u0435\u0441\u044c!<\/b> “Try! Attempt!”<\/p>\n

\u043f\u043e\u0434\u043d\u044f<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f<\/b> (“to go up”) \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u043d\u0438 \u043f\u043e\u0434\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u043c|<\/span>\u0443\u0442\u0441\u044f<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043f\u043e\u0434\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u043c-<\/b> \u2192<\/span> (\u044f \u043f\u043e\u0434\u043d\u0438\u043c\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u044c)<\/b> \u2192<\/span> \u043f\u043e\u0434\u043d\u0438\u043c\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u044c! \u043f\u043e\u0434\u043d\u0438\u043c\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u0441\u044c!<\/b> “Come up!”<\/p>\n

And then there are the exceptions:<\/span><\/h4>\n

Fortunately for us foreigners, in the case of imperatives the number of exceptions to the above rules is fairly small!<\/p>\n

\u041f\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to drink”), and other verbs with one-syllable infinitives ending in -\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/b>, such as \u043b\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to pour”), \u0431\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to beat”) and \u0448\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to sew”), form their imperatives by removing the -\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/b> from the infinitive and adding -\u0435\u0439<\/b>. This includes their prefixed derivatives, which are usually perfective — thus, from \u0432\u044b<\/span>\u043f\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/b>, we get \u0432\u044b<\/span>\u043f\u0435\u0439 \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f!<\/b>, “Drink me!” Similarly:<\/p>\n

\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0448|<\/span>\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to sew on”) \u2192<\/span> \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0448\u0435<\/span>\u0439!<\/b><\/p>\n

\u0443\u0431|<\/span>\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to kill”) \u2192<\/span> \u0443\u0431\u0435<\/span>\u0439!<\/b><\/p>\n

The imperfective \u0434\u0430\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to give”), its prefixed derivatives, and various other imperfectives ending in -\u0430\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (e.g., \u0432\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b>, “to stand up”) lose the -\u0432\u0430-<\/b> in their present conjugation: \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u0434\u0430\u044e<\/span>\u0442<\/b>, “they give.” However, the -\u0432\u0430-<\/b> is still there in the imperative — so the rule about looking to the 3rd plural for the imperative’s spelling doesn’t work! Instead, just chop off the -\u0442\u044c<\/b> from the infinitive, and add -\u0439<\/b>:<\/p>\n

\u043e\u0442\u0434\u0430\u0432\u0430<\/span>|<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to give back”) \u2192<\/span> \u043e\u0442\u0434\u0430\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0439!<\/b><\/p>\n

And then there are a few totally exceptional verbs whose imperatives you just have to memorize. These include the perfective \u0434\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to give”) and its prefixed forms, along with \u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c<\/b>, “to eat”, and a couple others.<\/p>\n

\u043f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to betray”) \u2192<\/span> \u043f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u0430<\/span>\u0439!<\/b><\/p>\n

\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to eat”) \u2192<\/span> \u0435<\/span>\u0448\u044c!<\/b><\/p>\n

\u0435<\/span>\u0445\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/b> (“to go by vehicle”) \u2192<\/span> \u043f\u043e\u0435\u0437\u0436\u0430<\/span>\u0439!<\/b><\/p>\n

And that pretty much covers the subject of how to form<\/i> imperatives. Now we’ll “go ask Alice” about the usage of…<\/p>\n

Imperfective vs. perfective imperatives<\/h3>\n

This is one of those nuanced areas where native speakers just know<\/i> which verb aspect to use in a given situation. Even so, there are some rules of thumb for the foreign learner:<\/p>\n

\u2022 With positive<\/i> (non-negated) imperatives, the imperfective gives the feeling of an invitation or gentle plea, while the perfective can sound a bit more like an instruction or command. In other words, a Russian hostess speaking to a guest would use the imperfective \u0441\u0430\u0434\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f<\/b> (“sit down”), whose imperative is \u00ab\u0441\u0430\u0434\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u044c!\u00bb<\/b> (“Have a seat!”). But speaking to her 8-year-old child she’d use the perfective \u0441\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u044c<\/b>, whose imperative is \u00ab\u0441\u044f<\/span>\u0434\u044c!\u00bb<\/b> (“SIT!”). Thus, after a hearty chug-a-lug from the \u0412\u042b<\/span>\u041f\u0415\u0419 \u041c\u0415\u041d\u042f<\/span>!<\/b> bottle causes her to \u0443\u043c\u0435\u043d\u044c\u0448\u0438\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f<\/b> (“become smaller”), Alice soon discovers a…<\/p>\n

…\u043f\u0438\u0440\u043e\u0436\u043e<\/span>\u043a, \u043d\u0430 \u043a\u043e\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u043e\u043c \u043a\u043e\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u043a\u0430\u043c\u0438 \u0431\u044b<\/span>\u043b\u043e \u043a\u0440\u0430\u0441\u0438<\/span>\u0432\u043e \u043d\u0430\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0430\u043d\u043e: \u00ab\u0421\u042a\u0415<\/span>\u0428\u042c \u041c\u0415\u041d\u042f<\/span>!\u00bb<\/b>
\n…small pastry, on which was beautifully spelled out with currants: “EAT ME!”<\/p>\n

And, several changes in size later:<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u0412\u0435\u0440\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u044c!\u00bb — \u0437\u0430\u043a\u0440\u0438\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u0430 \u0413\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0430 \u0432\u0441\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0434 \u0410\u043b\u0438\u0441\u0435 — \u00ab\u041c\u043d\u0435<\/span> \u043d\u0443<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u043e \u0441\u043a\u0430\u0437\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c \u0442\u0435\u0431\u0435<\/span> \u0447\u0442\u043e<\/span>-\u0442\u043e \u043e<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u043d\u044c \u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u043e\u0435!\u00bb
\n[…]
\n\u00ab\u0427\u0438\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0439<\/span> \u041f\u0430<\/span>\u043f\u0430 \u0412\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u044f\u043c<\/i>” — \u043f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u043b\u043e\u0436\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u0430 \u0413\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0430.<\/b>
\n“\u0421ome back!” — the Caterpillar yelled after Alice — “I have something very important to tell you!”
\n[…]
\n“Maybe you should try reciting Father William<\/i>,” — suggested the Caterpillar.<\/p>\n

So, the perfective \u00ab\u0432\u0435\u0440\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u044c!\u00bb<\/b> is more like a command, while the imperfective \u00ab\u0447\u0438\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0439!\u00bb<\/b> is mild encouragement.<\/p>\n

\u2022 With negated<\/i> imperatives, the imperfective can sound more like a general prohibition (“Never do so-and-so”), while the perfective can have the effect of an immediate warning (“Look out — mind that you don’t do so-and-so”). So, in a famous line from \u00ab\u0410\u043b\u0438\u0441\u0430 \u0432 \u0437\u0430\u0437\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u043a\u0430\u043b\u044c\u0435\u00bb<\/i>, we have this well-known advice from the Red Queen, with two imperfective imperatives — one positive, one negated:<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u041a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430<\/span> \u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0448\u044c, \u043e\u0442\u043a\u0440\u044b\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0439 \u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0442 \u043d\u0435\u043c\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0433\u043e<\/i> \u0448\u0438<\/span>\u0440\u0435, \u0438 \u043d\u0435 \u0437\u0430\u0431\u044b\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0439 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0431\u0430\u0432\u043b\u044f<\/span>\u0442\u044c “\u0412\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u0435 \u0412\u0435\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0432\u043e”!\u00bb<\/b>
\n“When you speak, open your mouth a little<\/i> wider, and don’t forget to add ‘Your Majesty’!”<\/p>\n

And, finally: if you can’t remember how to form an imperative, you can always fall back on using the infinitive with “imperative force” — typically, you’d use the imperfective infinitive in negated commands, but the perfective for positive commands. Just keep in mind that using the infinitive as a command may sound cookbook-ish, bureaucratic, or rudely abrupt. Thus, the all-purpose catchphrase of the \u0427\u0435\u0440\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u0430\u044f \u041a\u043e\u0440\u043e\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0432\u0430<\/b> (“Queen of Hearts”) isn’t \u00ab\u043f\u043e\u0436\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u0443\u0439\u0441\u0442\u0430, \u041e\u0422\u0420\u0423\u0411\u0410<\/span>\u0419 \u0435\u043c\u0443<\/span> \u0433\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0443!\u00bb<\/b> (“Please chop off his head”) or even \u00ab\u0441\u0438\u044e<\/span> \u0441\u0435\u043a\u0443<\/span>\u043d\u0434\u0443 \u041e\u0422\u0420\u0423\u0411\u0418<\/span> \u0435<\/span>\u0439 \u0433\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0443!\u00bb<\/b> (“Chop off her head this instant!”). It’s…<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u041e\u0422\u0420\u0423\u0411\u0418<\/span>\u0422\u042c \u0438<\/span>\u043c \u0433\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u043e\u0432\u044b!\u00bb<\/b> (“Off with their heads!”)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

As we all know, shortly after the inquisitive Alice falls \u0432\u043d\u0438\u0437 \u043f\u043e \u043a\u0440\u043e\u043b\u0438\u0447\u044c\u0435\u0439 \u043d\u043e\u0440\u0435, she discovers a little glass table with a tiny golden key on top of it, along with an enticing bottle of something that turns out to be shrinking potion: \u041a \u0431\u0443\u0442\u044b\u043b\u043a\u0435 \u0431\u044b\u043b\u0430 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0432\u044f\u0437\u0430\u043d\u0430 \u0431\u0443\u043c\u0430\u0436\u043a\u0430, \u0430 \u043d\u0430 \u0431\u0443\u043c\u0430\u0436\u043a\u0435 \u043a\u0440\u0443\u043f\u043d\u044b\u043c\u0438 \u043a\u0440\u0430\u0441\u0438\u0432\u044b\u043c\u0438 \u0431\u0443\u043a\u0432\u0430\u043c\u0438…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":94,"featured_media":4721,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[8,7828],"tags":[257588,385640,1290],"class_list":["post-4714","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-language","category-russian-for-beginners","tag-imperative-mood","tag-russian-for-beginners","tag-russian-verbs"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4714","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/94"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4714"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4714\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6575,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4714\/revisions\/6575"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4721"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4714"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4714"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4714"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}