Russian language self study guide for beginners

Developed by Dr. Julia Rochtchina.
Introduction. Russian letters and sound system
Russian alphabetSounds, handwriting, keyboard
Introductory Lesson 1Reading syllables. Translating This is..., Here is...
Introductory Lesson 2Reading syllables. Conjunctions и and а
Introductory Lesson 3Learn Russian hushing and velar sounds. Stress and vowel reduction (а, о)
Quiz 1Check what you have learned from Lessons 1-3 with this 10 minute quiz.
Introductory Lesson 4Letters ц,й,ы,и
Introductory Lesson 5Learn Russian 7-letter spelling rule
Introductory Lesson 6Learn Russian Hard and Soft сonsonants. Vowel reduction (я, е)
Quiz 2Check what you have learned from Lessons 4-6 with this 15 minute quiz.
Introductory Lesson 7Letters ь and ъ. Pronunciation of я, ё, ю, е. Letters к, г, х
Introductory Lesson 8Unpaired hard and soft consonants. The soft consonant й
Quiz 3Check what you have learned from Lessons 7-8 with this 15 minute quiz.
Introductory Lesson 9Voiced and Voiceless Consonants. Devoicing of Final Consonants. Consonant Clusters
Introductory Lesson 10Pronunciation of г, ч, тся and ться
Phrasebook Topic 1Learn how to greet people and say goodbye in Russian
Phrasebook Topic 2Introducing Yourself in Russian
Quiz 4Check what you have learned from Lessons 7-8 with this 10 minute quiz.
Russian grammar and vocabulary. Unit 1
Grammar Lesson 1Gender of Nouns: Hard Stem. Personal pronouns он (he), она (she), оно (it). "The" and "a"."To be" in the Present tense
Grammar Lesson 2Gender of Nouns: Hard and Soft Stems. Exceptions
Grammar Lesson 3Nominative Plural of Nouns
Grammar Lesson 4Personal Pronouns я, ты, он, она, оно, мы, вы, они. Ты vs. Вы
Phrasebook Topic 3Professions
Phrasebook Topic 4Learn Russian Names: Last Name, First Name and Patronimic
Quiz 5Check what you have learned from Grammar Lessons 1-4 and Phrasebook Topics 3-4 with this 20 minute quiz.
Test 1Check what you have learned from Russian Letters and Sound System section and Grammar Lessons 1-4
Russian grammar and vocabulary. Unit 2
Grammar Lesson 5Asking Whose in Russian? The Possessive Pronouns его, её, их, наш, ваш
Grammar Lesson 6Asking What and Who? Nominative case. Asking Where? Prepositional case
Phrasebook Topic 5Family
Phrasebook Topic 6At the Airport
Quiz 6Check what you have learned from Grammar Lessons 5-6 and Phrasebook Topics 5-6 with this 10 minute quiz.
Grammar Lesson 7What is an Adjective? Nominative Case of Adjectives
Grammar Lesson 8Demonstrative Pronouns этот and тот. Indeclinable это vs. Demonstrative pronouns этот (эта, это, эти)
Phrasebook Topic 7Clothes
Phrasebook Topic 8Learn numbers 1-20 in Russian
Quiz 7Check what you have learned from Grammar Lessons 7-8 and Phrasebook Topic 7 with this 10 minute quiz.
Test 2Check what you have learned from Grammar Lessons 5-8 and Phrasebook Topics 5-8.
Russian grammar and vocabulary. Unit 3
Grammar Lesson 9Location. Prepositions в (во) and на. В доме vs. дома
Grammar Lesson 10What is a Verb. Verb Infinitive. The Past Tense
Phrasebook Topic 9Learn numbers 21-199 in Russian
Phrasebook Topic 10Learn numbers 200-1000 in Russian
Quiz 8 (Week 6)Check what you have learned from Grammar Lessons 9-10 and Phrasebook Topics 9-10 with this 10 minute quiz.
Grammar Lesson 11Present Tense of Verbs. Verb Conjugation. Conjugation of verbs жить, писать. Stress in Verbs
Grammar Lesson 12About what vs about who. The preposition о (об). Prepositional Case of Personal Pronouns. Verbs говорить, рассказывать, спрашивать
Quiz 9Check what you have learned from Grammar Lessons 11-12 with this 10 minute quiz.
Test 3Check what you have learned from Grammar Lessons 9-12 and Phrasebook Topics 9-10.
Russian grammar and vocabulary. Unit 4
Grammar Lesson 13Questions 'Какой' and 'Как?': Adjectives vs Adverbs.Formation of Adverbs. Adverbs of Place and Time
Grammar Lesson 14Talking about languages: русский язык vs по-русски. Language skills vs study or knowledge of language
Phrasebook Topic 11Languages
Phrasebook Topic 12Cardinal and Ordinal Numerals
Quiz 10Check what you have learned from Grammar Lessons 13-14 and Phrasebook Topic 11 with this 10 minute quiz.
Grammar Lesson 15Denoting a Direct Object. Accusative Case of Nouns (Formation of Singular Forms). Transitive and Intransitive verbs
Grammar Lesson 16Accusative Case of Adjectives, Possessive and Demonstrative Pronouns. The verb хотеть - to want
Grammar Lesson 17Studying and Teaching: изучать, учиться, заниматься, преподавать. Verbs with -ся
Phrasebook Topic 13Subjects at School
Phrasebook Topic 14About Myself
Quiz 11Check what you have learned from Grammar Lessons 15-17 and Phrasebook Topics 13-14 with this 10 minute quiz.
Test 4Check what you have learned from Grammar Lessons 13-17 and Phrasebook Topics 11-14.
Russian grammar and vocabulary. Unit 5
Grammar Lesson 18Irregular Plurals of Nouns
Grammar Lesson 19The -ова- Stem Verbs. The verb любить - to love
Phrasebook Topic 15Countries and Nationalities
Quiz 12Check what you have learned from Grammar Lessons 18-19 and Phrasebook Topics 15 with this 15 minute quiz.
Grammar Lesson 20The Prepositional Case of Adjectives. Uses and Forms
Grammar Lesson 21The Prepositional Case of Possessive and Demonstrative Pronouns. Uses. Singular and Plural Forms
Phrasebook Topic 16About My Friends
Quiz 13Check what you have learned from Grammar Lessons 20-21 and Phrasebook Topics 16 with this 15 minute quiz.
Test 5Check what you have learned from Grammar Lessons 18-21 and Phrasebook Topics 15-16.
Russian grammar and vocabulary. Unit 6
Grammar Lesson 22Expressing Possession: Genitive Case of Nouns (introduction). Uses and Singular forms. Question Чей? - Whose?
Grammar Lesson 23Genitive Case of Adjectives, Possessive and Demonstrative Pronouns
Grammar Lesson 24Indicating Having And Not Having Something. Genitive Case of Personal Pronouns
Phrasebook Topic 17Food
Quiz 14Check what you have learned from Grammar Lessons 22-24 and Phrasebook Topics 17 with this 15 minute quiz.
Grammar Lesson 25Verbs of Going (introduction). Going by foot vs. going by vehicle. Saying "Let's go!". Asking Where: Где? vs. Куда?
Grammar Lesson 26Denoting an Indirect Object. Dative Case of Nouns. Uses and forms. Dative Case of Personal Pronouns
Grammar Lesson 27Dative Case of Adjectives, Possessive and Demonstrative Pronouns
Quiz 15Check what you have learned from Grammar Lessons 25-27 and Phrasebook Topic 17 with this 15 minute quiz.
Test 6Check what you have learned from Grammar Lessons 22-27 and Phrasebook Topic 17.
Russian grammar and vocabulary. Unit 7
Grammar Lesson 28Verbs that take the Dative Case. The preposition по
Grammar Lesson 29Expressing Availability and Necessity. Short-form adjectives занят vs. свободен; должен
Grammar Lesson 30Verbal Aspect (introduction). Meaning of Aspect. Aspect and Tense. Future Tense: Imperfective and Perfective Future. Aspectual Pairs
Grammar Lesson 31The Instrumental Case of Nouns. The Instrumental Case of Personal Pronouns. Uses and forms.
Grammar Lesson 32The Instrumental Case of Adjectives, Possessive and Demonstrative Pronouns. Summary of endings
Quiz 16Check what you have learned from Grammar Lessons 28-32 with this 15 minute quiz.
Test 7Check what you have learned from Grammar Lessons 28-32.
Russian grammar and vocabulary. Unit 8
Grammar Lesson 33Verbs of Going: Unidirectional and Multidirectional (идти vs ходить). Present Tense forms of идти, ходить, ехать, ездить). Past Tense of Going Verbs. Introduction
Grammar Lesson 34Uses of the Dative Case: Subjectless Expressions with Dative. Expressing Necessity, possibility and permission. Expressing Age
Grammar Lesson 35Expressing Likes and Dislikes: verbs нравиться and любить
Phrasebook Topic 18Shopping for Gifts
Summary Tables
Noun and Adjective EndingsRussian Nominative, Prepositional, Accusative, Genitive, Dative, Instrumental cases.
Forms of PronounsPersonal Pronouns; Interrogative Pronoun
Summary of Case Uses.Basic uses of Nominative, Prepositional, Accusative, Genitive, Dative, Instrumental cases.
Verb EndingsVerb Endings: First and Second conjugation. Regular Forms.
Most Common Irregular VerbsFirst conjugation verbs with stems ending in a consonant:
Russian Language Games
Hangman GamesRussian Hangman Games Master your vocabulary: practice spelling Russian words
Pics and Audio GamesMaster your Russian vocabulary
Words and Pictures GamesPractice recognizing the words form your Russian vocabulary list
Grammar Games and ExercisesMaster the Russian grammar rules you have learned