Object clauses: What are they and how to form them in Russian?

An object clause (or “complement clause”), is a phrase with a subject and a verb that acts like the object of another verb. In most cases, object clauses follow verbs that refer to an action of speaking, thinking, or feeling that requires further explanation. For example:

In Russian, object clauses are often introduced by words called“complement conjunctions,” like что (transcribed shto, meaning “that”) or как (transcribed kak, meaning “how”), but they can also be introduced by other words. In this post, we’ll go through the main complement conjunctions in Russian and discuss how to use them to form object clauses. Then we’ll direct you to some further resources. Ready to have a look? Let’s go!

Complement conjunctions are words that are used to introduce object clauses. The most common Russian complement conjunctions are listed below.

• что (transcribed shto, meaning “that, which, what”)

  This is the most widely-used subordinating conjunction in Russian.

  Я знаю, что ты хочешь найти новую работу.

  Transcription: ya ZNAyu shto ty KHOchesh nayTEE NOvooyu raBOtoo.

  Translation: I know that you want to find a new job.

  The conjunction что is mainly used after verbs of speech, thought, and feelings, like:

  • думать (transcribed DOOmat, meaning “to think”)

  • понимать (transcribed paniMAT, meaning “to understand”)

  • помнить (transcribed POMnit, meaning “to remember”)

  • видеть (transcribed VEEdit, meaning “to see”)

  • сказать (transcribed skaZAT, meaning “to say”)

• чтобы (transcribed SHTOby, meaning “that, to”)

  This conjunction is used instead of что for object clauses that express a wish, request, expectation, desire, necessity, or possibility. It cannot be used to introduce facts.

  Я хочу, чтобы ты нашёл новую работу.

  Transcription: ya khaCHOO SHTOby ty naSHOL NOvooyu raBOtoo.

  Translation: I want you to find a new job.

  Literally: lit. I want that you find a new job.

  Чтобы is common after verbs like…

  • хотеть (transcribed khaTYET, meaning “to want”)

  • просить (transcribed praSEET, meaning “to ask”)

  • настаивать (transcribed naSTAivat, meaning “to insist”)

  • сказать (transcribed skaZAT, meaning “to tell”)

  • приказать (transcribed prikaZAT, meaning “to tell, order”)

  • нужно (transcribed NOOZHna, meaning “to need”)

  Чтобы can also be a conjunction of purpose, with a meaning like “so that…” or “in order to…”

• как (transcribed kak, meaning “how”)

  This is used usually after verbs of perception like:

  • видеть (transcribed VEEdyet, meaning “to see”)

  • слышать (transcribed SLYshat, meaning “to hear”)

  • смотреть (transcribed smatRYET, meaning “to look”)

  For example:

  Я наблюдал, как он работает.

  Transcription: ya nablyuDAL kak on raBOtayet.

  Translation: I was watching him working.

  Literally: lit. I was watching how he was working.

  Как can also be a conjunction of comparison, so it might be translated as “than” in a sentence like “He is taller than he used to be.”

• ли (transcribed li, meaning “if, whether”)

  This conjunction is used in reported questions, often with negation either in the main clause or in the dependent one.

  The structure of the dependent clause is normally “the word the reported question is asking about + ли + the rest”

  Я не знаю, действительно ли ты хочешь найти новую работу.

  Transcription: ya nye ZNAyu diystVEEtilna li ty KHOchesh nayTEE NOvooyu raBOtoo.

  Translation: I don’t know if you really want to find a new job (or not).

• будто (бы) (transcribed BOOta (by), meaning “that”)

  This conjunction is used after verbs of speech and thought, such as:

  • говорят (gavaRYAT, “it is said that”) (transcribed gavaRYAT)

  • кажется (transcribed KAzhitsa, meaning “it seems”)

  For example:

  Ходят слухи, будто (бы) ты хочешь найти новую работу.

  Transcription: KHOdyat SLOOkhi BOOta (by) ty KHOchesh nayTEE NOvooyu raBOtoo.

  Translation: There are rumors that you want to find a new job.

  It indicates a lack of credibility of the reported words or ideas.

Just like in English, Russian object clauses can also be introduced by question words like кто (transcribed kto, meaning “who”) or когда (transcribed kagDA, meaning “when”). For example:

These words are not considered to be conjunctions, because, unlike the words we saw above, they also have another function in the subordinate clause. For example, in the sentence above кем is a pronoun, representing a person who is going on the walk.

To learn more about object clauses introduced by words like these, check out our post on reported speech in Russian!

In Russian, object clauses are clauses that act like the object of a verb. They are introduced by linking words like:

• Complement conjunctions, like:

  • что (transcribed shto, meaning “that, which, what”)

  • чтобы (transcribed SHTOby, meaning “that, to”)

  • как (transcribed kak, meaning “how”)

  • ли (transcribed li, meaning “if, whatever”)

  • будто (бы) (transcribed BOOta (by), meaning “that”)

• Question words

Ready to practice? Download the activity below, or take the next step and read our article on indirect speech in Russian. Happy learning!