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Practice exercises for the Russian word "который"
By: Olga Maroz
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Activity 1: Translate into Russian
Let’s practice translating relative pronouns and relative clauses into Russian!
Part 1.
In this part, translate the word or words in bold using the case in parentheses.
a writer who wrote 100 books → (nominative)
the writer who I love → (accusative)
a writer who I talk about often → (prepositional)
the writer without whom life is boring → (genitive)
the writer with whom I’m going to meet → (dative)
a writer who is interesting to be around → (instrumental)
the place that I’m standing near → (genitive)
a place that is very interesting → (nominative)
the place where the pipe burst (lit. under which the pipe burst) → (instrumental)
the place that I miss (lit. for which I miss) → (dative)
the place that I love → (accusative)
the place in which I live → (prepositional)
Part 2.
Now, we’re going to translate the whole phrase, and we’ve taken away the hints about what case to use to make it trickier!
the book that I love →
the book that I can't sleep without →
the book that I'm talking about →
the book that everyone admires →
the book with which I tell fortunes →
a book that lies on the table →
the students who I help →
the students who study in this group →
the students who I saw yesterday →
the students with whom it is easy to work →
the students who we're talking about →
students who have great talent →
Activity 2: Fill in the blanks
Fill in the blanks in the passage below with the right form of который[kaTOtyi].
Марк Шагал - известный художник-сюрреалист, о знают во всём мире, родился в Беларуси в 1887 году. Шагал, у всегда было стремление к самовыражению, начал свою художественную карьеру как живописец. Он создавал картины, отражали его глубокие чувства и внутренний мир. Его работы, любовались и восхищались*, были яркими и абстрактными, и до сих пор вызывают интерес у любителей искусства.
Marc Chagall, a famous surrealist artist (lit. who is), known all over the world, was born in Belarus in 1887. Chagall, who always had a desire for self-expression, began his artistic career as a painter. His works, which were admired, were vibrant and abstract, and they still arouse interest among art lovers today. He created paintings that reflected his deep feelings and inner world.
В 1910 году Шагал переехал в Париж, в город, в он познакомился с другими художниками, и где продолжил своё творчество до начала Второй мировой войны. Однако в 1941 году он был вынужден покинуть Францию, оккупировала Германия, чтобы избежать угрозы антисемитизма.
In 1910, Chagall moved to Paris, a city where (lit. in which) he met other artists and where he continued his work until the outbreak of World War II. However, in 1941 he was forced to leave France, which was occupied by Germany, to avoid the threat of anti-Semitism.
Шагал переехал в Америку, в он продолжил свою художественную деятельность. Там он напишет картины, в он представит свои американские впечатления, а также отразит боль и ужас Холокоста.
Chagall moved to America, where (lit. in which) he continued his artistic activity. There he would paint paintings that represent his American impressions and also reflect the pain and horror of the Holocaust.
В США Марк Шагал также занимался книжной иллюстрацией и театральными декорациями. Витражную роспись, по также можно судить о таланте художника, сегодня можно увидеть в зданиях и церквях Нью-Йорка.
In the USA, Marc Chagall also worked in book illustration and theater decorations. Stained glass painting, by which one can also judge the artist’s talent, can today be seen in buildings and churches of New York.
О своём американском периоде художник впоследствии скажет: «Я жил и работал в Америке во время всемирной трагедии, затронула всех людей. Годы шли, и я не молодел. Но я мог черпать силы из окружающей меня атмосферы, была полна благожелательности».
The artist would later say about his American period: “I lived and worked in America during a worldwide tragedy that affected all people. The years passed and I didn't get any younger. But I could draw strength from the atmosphere around me, which was full of goodwill.”
Марк Шагал ушел из жизни в 1985 году и оставил богатое наследие в мире искусства.
Marc Chagall passed away in 1985, leaving a rich legacy in the art world.
Activity 3: Replacing other relative pronouns
Rewrite the sentences below using который[kaTOtyi] instead. You will have to add a noun, and you might need to change the verb form, so answers can vary.
Example:
Те, с кем я учился, сейчас живут в других городах.
Those with whom I studied now live in different cities.
→ Ребята, с которыми я учился, сейчас живут в других городах.
The guys with whom I studied now live in different cities.
То, что вы изучаете сегодня, будет полезным всегда.
What you learn today will always be useful.
Всё, о чём мы говорили на уроке, очень важно.
Everything we talked about in class is very important.
Каждый, кто хочет поступить в университет, должен сдавать экзамен.
Everyone who wants to go to university must take an exam.
Любой, кому нужна хорошая работа, должен получить диплом.
Anyone who wants a good job should get a degree.
Сейчас мы сделаем открытия, каких никто ещё не делал!
Now we will make discoveries that no one has ever made before!
Этот учёный, чьи открытия помогают нам сегодня, был неизвестен при жизни.
This scientist, whose discoveries help us today, was unknown during his lifetime.
Все навыки, сколько есть у вас, пригодятся вам в жизни.
All the skills, as many as you have, will be useful to you in life.
