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All Russian activities

Activities: How to form and use the imperative mood in Russian?

By: Anna Classing

Activity 1: Complete the texts

Complete the short texts below by using the “you” imperatives of the verbs in the box.

Part 1: A teacher talks to some students

приготовить
Transcription: prigaTOvit
Translation: to get (something) ready
посмотреть
Transcription: pasmaTRYET
Translation: to look
обратить
Transcription: abraTEET
Translation: to focus, to direct
начинать
Transcription: nachiNAT
Translation: to begin
садиться
Transcription: saDEEtsa
Translation: to sit down

Здравствуйте! , пожалуйста! карандаши и бумагу. Сегодня мы будем учиться рисовать натюрморт. на эту вазу с фруктами. внимание на свет и тень. !

Translation: Hello! _______________, please! _________________ pencils and paper. Today we are going to learn how to draw still life. ______________ at this bowl of fruit. _____________ (your) attention to light and shade. ______________!

Part 2: A doctor talks to a patient

стараться
Transcription: staRAtsa
Translation: to try
принимать
Transcription: priniMAT
Translation: to take (meds)
пить
Transcription: peet
Translation: to drink

Вот рецепт, по две таблетки три раза в день, больше воды и избегать стресса и тяжелых физических нагрузок.

Translation: Here is the prescription, ________ two pills three times a day, _____________more water, and _____________to avoid stress and strenuous physical activity.

Part 3: A friend to a friend

проходить
Transcription: prakhaDEET
Translation: to come in
нарезать
Transcription: naRYEzat
Translation: to cut
помыть
Transcription: paMYT
Translation: to wash
помочь
Transcription: paMOCH
Translation: to help

Привет! ! Сейчас будем пить чай. мне, пожалуйста, фрукты и торт.

Translation: Hi! _________________! We are going to have some tea now. _____________ me, please, ____________the fruit and ___________the cake.

Part 4: A mother talks to her child

выходить
Transcription: vykhaDEET
Translation: to go out
надевать
Transcription: nadiVAT
Translation: to put on
ждать
Transcription: zhdat
Translation: to wait
брать
Transcription: brat
Translation: to take

кепку и сандалии, велосипед, на улицу и меня там!

Translation: _____________ your hat and sandals, ___________ your bicycle, ____________ to the street and ____________ for me there!

Activity 2: “We” imperatives

Look at the pictures. What do you think one of the characters in each picture might suggest doing? Use “we” imperative and your own ideas to make your sentences.

  1. A woman is getting ready to have her hair cut at the salon. She and her stylist are looking at each other in the mirror.

  2. A group of people around a table are performing a toast over a table full of food.

  3. Two blond girls, about ten years old, are whispering to each other in a garden.

  4. A photo of a group of people sitting around a conference table with their laptops, listening to a presentation.

  5. A man and woman standing on a walking path by the ocean. He is holding a map, looking at something that she is pointing to in the distance.

  6. A photo of two baby raccoons peering around the trunk of a tree.

Activity 3: Get someone else to do it!

Reply to the commands below by saying that someone else (given in brackets) should do it instead. Use the “he/she/it/they” imperative.

Example:

Отвези нас в аэропорт в субботу, пожалуйста. (Тамара)
Translation: Could you please take us to the airport on Saturday? (Tamara)
Пусть Тамара отвезёт!
Translation: Have Tamara take you!
Now give it a try yourself!
  1. Погуляй с собакой, пожалуйста! (папа)
    Translation: Walk the dog, please! (dad)

  2. Выбирайте цвет стен! (дети)
    Translation: Choose the color for the walls. (children)

  3. Платите налоги! (богатые)
    Translation: Pay your taxes! (the rich)

  4. Не обзывайся! (он сам)
    Translation: Don’t call (him) names! (he himself)

  5. Помоги детям cделать домашнее задание! (сами)
    Translation: Help the kids do their homework! (themselves)